《Fantasy: I Can See The Investment Return》 Chapter 1 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The investment system. The Reliance Sect. Outside. In a square surrounded by magnificent buildings, dozens of young men and women looked around and discussed animatedly. Nan Shan stood at the end of the crowd, a little confused. ¡°It was just a small car accident. How did I transmigrate?¡± As one of the top angel investors on the Blue Planet ¡­ He never dreamed that he would have such a day. Just like that, the ten billion yuan worth of assets that he had worked so hard to save for several years had nothing to do with him! F*ck! He was only twenty years old! What crime did he commit! The heavens actually wanted to punish him like this! He had come to a fantasy world where strength was everything. Nan Shan¡¯s thoughts was like this. ¡®Forget it, since I¡¯m already here, I¡¯ll just take things as they are. I¡¯d better think of a way to live a good life.¡¯ He could only try to comfort himself like this, but the effect was very plain, and he still could not muster up any fighting spirit. He had no choice. His talent was only reflected in his investments and had nothing to do with his cultivation. This was exactly the situation that he was in. Although he was now an in-name disciple of the Reliance Sect, that didnot mean he could enjoy the sect¡¯s protection for the rest of his life, and live out until old age in peace. This was because, among the dozens of people who joined the sect, everyone had entered with their own strength. Except for him! He had to rely on spirit stones! By relying on his family background! By using the back door! Only after paying an expensive registration (bribe) fee (assistant) did he manage to join the Reliance Sect! As one of the major sects of Huafeng state, the Reliance Sect was extremely strict. All of its disciples were given very detailed hierarchical titles. The so-called in-name disciples were the lowest level of existence. It wasnot too much to say that they were handymen, as they might be kicked out of the sect at any time. If he wanted to get rid of this situation, he could only pass the annual assessment and join the Outer Sect, entering a better cultivation environment. Above them, there were the inner disciples who were filled with experts, as well as the unattainable core disciples and true disciples. A difference of one level would result in a huge difference in the sect¡¯s monthly salary. Cultivating in the fantasy world was a competition of resources. Even if one¡¯s talent wasnot good enough, if one had an endless supply of natural treasures, one could still become an expert. Nan Shan was also envious. He wanted to advance further in this sect. Just where should he start¡­ Just as he was thinking, a gray-robed young man with a waistcoat slowly walked toward him. Beside him was a disciple who was also wearing a gray robe. However, there was no waistcoat. Nan Shan keenly observed this detail. The disciples of the Reliance Sect had different titles, and their clothing was different as well. The gray robe represented the Outer Sect. The waistcoat represented dignity. It was obvious that this was the head disciple of the Outer Sect, an existence that they had to address as Senior Brother. His cultivation had definitely reached the peak of the Qi refining stage, and it was uncertain when he would be able to build his foundation and enter the Inner Sect. As the young man entered the arena. The other young men and women who were still talking immediately shut their mouths, and the atmosphere froze. ¡°This is the new batch of people?¡± The gray-robed youth glanced at everyone with an indifferent gaze, ¡°Hmph, your talents are average. Not a single one of you is at the Qi refining stage. It¡¯s a waste of time to bring you all along.¡± These words of ridicule made everyone a little uncomfortable, but no one said anything. The gray-robed young man did not say anything else. He just raised his palm slightly. The outer disciple beside him immediately understood and took a step forward. A white light flashed in his hand. He didnot do anything, but a square wooden box appeared out of thin air. The disciple opened the wooden box and took out a stack of talisman papers. With a wave of his hand, a white light engulfed the papers, which flew on its own and flew to everyone. ¡°Is this a celestial spell? Interesting.¡± Nan Shan saw this, and his desire to become stronger became stronger. He lowered his head to look at the paper. On it were the sect rules, as well as an introduction to some of the basics. It could be considered a beginner¡¯s guide. ¡°Once you¡¯re in the Reliance Sect, you¡¯ll be a part of the sect. You canot act as you please like in the mortal world.¡± The disciple¡¯s tone was equally indifferent. ¡°Memorize the rules on this paper and we will conduct a spot check tomorrow. If there are any disobedient members, they will be expelled from the sect!¡± The atmosphere was heavy, and no one answered. He immediately frowned. ¡°What, are you all mute?¡± The dozens of in-name disciples looked at each other and hesitated for a while. Then, they said, ¡°Yes!¡± and ¡°As you wish!¡± The gray-robed young man waved his hand impatiently. ¡°Bring them to the dormitory for in-name disciples. It¡¯s annoying just looking at them. Later, I¡¯ll ask Junior Brother Changsheng to go to the Administrative Pavilion and have him to this troublesome thing for me.¡± The disciple cupped his hands and bowed respectfully, ¡°Yes, sir. I will do it immediately.¡± Nan Shan stood in an inconspicuous position in the crowd and remained silent. In his short interaction with the reliance sect, there was only one feeling he had. The hierarchy was strict! The weak could only obey the strong. Even if they had the same job title, their status would be as different as the sky and the earth. Very quickly, under the lead of the Outer Sect Senior Brother, everyone arrived at their living quarters. it was a ten-bedroom house, with men and women living separately. Because Nan Shan¡¯s family had spent a lot of money, they were assigned to a single room near the mountain stream. It even had its own courtyard. The scenery was pleasant and the air was fresh, so it was quite comfortable. Many of the other disciples cast envious gazes at him, but because of the presence of the Outer Sect Senior Brother, they didnot dare to protest. However, there were a few female disciples who had ambiguous looks in their eyes, as if they were hinting at something. Nan Shan ignored all of them. After entering his room, he immediately began to read the sect rules. ¡°The Outer Sect, huh¡­¡± He clenched his fists. The letter showed the time of the selection of disciples every year. The next test was in ten days. The sect would only choose in-name disciples who had reached the level of drawing Qi into the body and had broken through to the first level of Qi disciple to be promoted to the outer sect. Although he was not talented, he had taken in a lot of resources over the past ten years because of his family¡¯s good financial situation. Because of this, his current strength was already at the ninth layer of the body refining stage, only one step away from the Qi refining stage. Among the group of registered disciples, they were considered the top team. As long as he familiarized himself with the Reliance Sect¡¯s training methods, he might be able to break through in a few days. It still felt very easy. However, as an excellent angel investor, Nan Shan was cautious by nature. Therefore, he planned to think of a way to see if he could get something to consolidate his Foundation before trying to break through. [ Ding! ] This was the moment a voice in his mind rang! A crisp sound resounded in his mind. [ Strongest Investment System, binding .. ] [ Binding successful! ] [ Registered to the host¡ªNan Shan! ] Nan Shan was slightly stunned at first, then immediately reacted. System? Was this not cheating?! He quickly calmed himself down and focused his mind to understand the system¡¯s functions. The next second, a transparent screen appeared in his eyes. There were dozens of regulations written on it. After a careful look, Nan Shan finally understood the investment system. Its function was still very simple. The system would determine if the people he knew had the qualifications to be invested in. If there were, the system would show the corresponding prompt, and it would be divided into one to five stars according to potential. The higher the potential of the investment target, the more difficult the requirements and conditions to be met to trigger the investment event. The system and the investors would also receive more returns. Nan Shan could not help but laugh when he saw this. Investment? This is his specialty! With such a system helping him behind the scenes, would it not be easy to pass the test? However, when he looked down and saw the last few items, he couldnot help but scratch his head. [ The investment must be evaluated by the system. ] [ The reward received through the system can not be given again. ] [ The system reserves all rights to the final explanation. ] There were a few small disclaimers, but it was not a big problem. Nan Shan felt that his specialty was finally useful in this fantasy world, and his future days were bright. The future was promising! ¡°thump, thump, thump.¡± At this moment, there was a knock on the door, followed by a gentle voice. ¡°Junior Nan Shan? Are you in here?¡± Chapter 2 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Green Investment, starting from Senior Brother! Someone¡¯s here? He even called him Junior Brother? Nan Shan frowned slightly, stroked his chin, and began to think. He currently didnot know any senior brothers in the sect. Who would come to find him now? Could it be that he saw that he was living in a luxurious single room and felt that he was a fat sheep that could be profited from, so he came to extort him? Nan Shan could not make up his mind. Although this was within the sect, there was no guarantee that such a thing would not happen. Even if they didnot rob you openly, they could still use their status to force you to submit! As an excellent investor, his cautious nature made him think. Hide the money first! Put away all the valuable things! Even if they were really here to extort money, he wouldnot feel the pinch even if he had to hand over all of it! MMH! Nan Shan quickly took action. Within a few seconds, he finished hiding his luggage and arranging his clothes. There was no wasted movements at all. After doing all this. He opened the door. A young man with an extraordinary temperament stood outside. However, he had an ordinary appearance and looked very ordinary. ¡°Greetings, Senior Brother.¡± Nan Shan cupped his hands and saluted. It was considered a well-mannered gesture. ¡°No need to be so polite. The senior brother who received you earlier has something else to do, so I came in his stead.¡± Liu Changsheng¡¯s tone was calm and polite. It was obvious that he was not an arrogant person and was easy to talk to. Junior Brother Nan Shan, are you used to living here?¡± Nan Shan raised his eyebrows. It seemed like he was overthinking things. It was the person sent by the grey-robed disciple to receive the new disciple. It shouldnot be anything important. Nan Shan lost interest and did not want to pay too much attention now. He was ready to go back to his room and recite the sect rules. In the end, when he looked up inadvertently, he found that there was a green light flashing above the other party¡¯s head! [ Ding!Found a potential investor! ] As the system notification rang out, a screen of light appeared before his eyes. Liu Changsheng Age: 23 [ Favorability: 40 (Below 10 is disgust, 10-30 is indifference, 31-70 is friendliness, 71-90 is intimacy, 91-100 is life-and-death friendship) ] [ Investment potential star: 1 ] [ Current Status: Available for investment ] [ Return on investment: 10 times ] [ Trouble: stagnant cultivation base. ] [ Character personality: smooth in dealing with people, moderate ] [ Character ability: the sect knows everything and knows many rare ways. If you have any problems that are difficult to solve, you can try to ask him for help. ] ¡­ Whoosh! He was actually an investor! Nan Shan immediately became excited. He didnot expect the system to send money to him right after he awakened¡­ Ah, no, there was someone who came to give him help. He couldnot let this go easily! But¡­ How should he invest? He had to find a way to make them accept it. He couldnot just stuff all his resources into his pocket. They didnot even know each other. If the favorability was not high, Liu Changsheng might not accept it. Thinking of this, Nan Shan¡¯s lips curled up and he immediately greeted the other party. ¡°Senior Brother Liu? Have you had lunch? ¡°It must have been hard on you, right? Do you want to come in and sit? ¡°I have some good tea here. Let¡¯s have a drink?¡± Liu Changsheng was speechless. He was a little confused. He did not understand why Nan Shan, who was cold and indifferent a second ago, suddenly seemed to have changed into a different person. What happened? Seeing this, Nan Shan also knew that his sudden excitement was a little abrupt, so he coughed lightly, adjusted his state of mind, and slowly cupped his hands. ¡°Please forgive me for being presumptuous just now, Senior Brother. I¡­ It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve come into contact with an immortal. Haha, I¡¯m a little excited.¡± Liu Changsheng was infected by his easy-going mood and smiled warmly. it¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not an immortal. I¡¯m just a mere aura refining cultivator. Nan Shan also laughed, and the embarrassment was resolved. The two of them then began to chat and had a good time. The talked from cultivation to family affairs. Liu Changsheng¡¯s smooth personality made him good at getting along with strangers. Chatting with Nan Shan, this wily old fox who had lived two lives, his company was very enjoyable. After getting to know each other better, Liu Changsheng even took the initiative to introduce the unwritten rules of the sect to Nan Shan. This was all from his experience, and it was extremely precious. It would allow Nanshan to survive better in the sect. Nan Shan listened very carefully and remembered everything in his heart. Liu Changsheng emphasized one thing. ¡°Junior Brother, You Must Remember This.¡± ¡°If honorary disciples can¡¯t join the Outer Sect within a year, they will be expelled from the sect. ¡°We can¡¯t relax when the time comes. ¡°Even if there are other tests waiting for you after you enter the Outer Sect. ¡°If you don¡¯t meet the standards, you¡¯ll be assigned to some unimportant places to work and be slowly marginalized. ¡°Not to mention that when one¡¯s monthly salary is low, he is often looked down upon by others and is ordered around by the new disciples who catch up later. ¡°At that time, it will be difficult to turn the tables.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think that this is a sect. In fact, money and resources are more important here than in the secular world. ¡°If you want to improve your cultivation quickly, you can¡¯t it do without the help of external resources.¡± As they chatted, Liu Changsheng sighed again. He patted Nan Shan¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Junior Brother, remember, you must put all your energy into breaking through. Don¡¯t be like me, your senior brother, who indulges in sect affairs and wasted my cultivation time.¡± Nan Shan¡¯s heart moved, feeling that the opportunity had come. He immediately went along with the flow and asked, ¡°Senior brother, have you encountered difficulties in your cultivation?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, my cultivation has been stagnant for a long time, I can¡¯t make any progress.¡± Liu Changsheng sighed softly. it¡¯s quite difficult to self-study when it comes to cultivation. It¡¯s just that the sect doesn¡¯t care about you. We can use our contribution points to exchange for cultivation techniques and slowly comprehend them. ¡°I¡¯m the same,¡± Nan Shan nodded gently. ¡°I¡¯m now at the ninth level of the body refinement realm. I feel like I can¡¯t improve no matter how much I train my body.¡± There are shackles between the major realms. One must have a certain amount of experience and comprehension to be able to integrate them and touch a deeper great Dao. ¡°The higher the cultivation level, the harder it gets. Don¡¯t underestimate the difference between the ninth level of the body refining stage and the first level of the Qi refining stage. This is a gap that many people can¡¯t cross in their entire lives. Don¡¯t you know?¡± Liu Changsheng said in a disappointed tone. Nan Shan was speechless. He really didnot know that the threshold from body forging to Qi refining could also filter out a large number of people. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Liu Changsheng could feel that Nan Shan was a little nervous and immediately comforted him, ¡°With Junior Brother¡¯s wealth and aptitude, it won¡¯t be difficult for you to break through to the Qi refining stage.¡± ¡°I want to play it safe and find other ways to assist my cultivation.¡± ¡°Do you have any wise ideas, Senior Brother?¡± asked Nan Shan. ¡°There¡¯s a way.¡± Liu Changsheng said slowly, ¡°If you want to improve faster, you can only find those senior brothers and sisters who improve faster to give lectures and share their insights. As for how much you can learn, it will depend on your own ability.¡± Chapter 3 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Return on investment, Origin Cultivation pill! Nan Shan understood that this was the same principle as a gym instructor. No matter how strong the teacher was, no matter how correct the teaching was, it still required your own hard work and self-discipline. ¡°Senior Brother, which senior brother or sister in the outer sect is good at teaching?¡± he asked. Liu Changsheng thought for a moment. ¡°In this aspect¡­ Big Senior Sister Jiang Congshuang should be the first one that comes to mind. She¡¯s currently the number one in the Outer Sect and will soon enter the Inner Sect. Her lectures are very good. ¡°There was a senior brother from the Inner Sect who heard that Senior Sister Jiang was beautiful and wanted to take a look at her. In the end, he was attracted by the homework she taught and even broke through a small realm.¡± Nan Shan was stunned. The Outer Sect and the Inner Sect¡­ He even allowed him to break through. Cultivators who could achieve this were definitely one in ten thousand! ¡°Hearing Senior Brother¡¯s evaluation, I really want to go and see it for myself.¡± Nan Shan took the opportunity to ask, ¡°Senior Brother, do you have a way to get me into a class?¡± Liu Changsheng scratched his head. ¡°Senior Sister Jiang started her class two days ago, and she has already explained half of the content. If you go now, you might be confused.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m going to try.¡± Nan Shan was calm and composed. They could get investments while studying. It was killing two birds with one stone, so it would be a waste not to do it. ¡°I do have some connections.¡± Liu Changsheng¡¯s expression changed halfway through his sentence. ¡°However, the tuition fees¡­ It¡¯s very expensive, and one course has to be at least on the level of a Constitution-enhancing pill.¡± After hearing this, Nan Shan could not help but raise his eyebrows and immediately reached for the storage bag in his waist. Liu Changsheng could not help but shake his head when he saw his actions. AConstitution-enhancing pill was not an ordinary pill. This thing could compact the physical body of cultivators in the body forging stage and the Qi refining stage, laying an excellent foundation for future cultivation. Even in the Reliance Sect, it was a rare item. At the very least, it would be sold for a high price of ten middle-grade spirit stones. One must know that the monthly salary of an outer sect disciple was only five low-grade spirit stones. One medium-grade spirit stone was equivalent to 100 low-grade spirit stones, so 10 medium-grade spirit stones were equivalent to 1000 low-grade spirit stones. For an Outer Sect disciple, even if he did not eat, drink, or buy cultivation resources, he would have to save up for a full seventeen years to exchange for such a pill! The average family could not afford it at all. Even if he was from a rich family, he would still feel the pain for a long time. Originally, Liu Changsheng thought that Nan Shan was just putting on an act and did not want to lose face in front of him. Later on, he would use the excuse of ¡®not bringing¡¯ or ¡®not buying¡¯ to avoid it. However¡­ The next moment, he saw Nan Shan holding two exquisite Jade boxes in his hands. He looked up and saw Nan Shan¡¯s sunny smile. ¡°Is this the thing?¡± Liu Changsheng caught it in a daze. When he opened it and saw the pill that was glowing with a light blue luster, he couldnot help but be shocked. It really was a Constitution-enhancing pill! Liu Changsheng rubbed his eyes and even sniffed the scent of the pill. After a few seconds, he looked at Nan Shan with a dazed expression. He opened his mouth a few times, but not a single word came out. He had no words! He was truly shocked. He had never expected that he would meet such a rich and powerful young man today. A Foundation-building pill that was worth thousands of low-grade spirit stones was produced just like that! He didnot hesitate at all! What was even more outrageous was that he even took out two! What was the meaning of this? Two classes? He seemed to have noticed the confusion in Liu Changsheng¡¯s expression. Nan Shan said, ¡°This is just a Small Constitution-enhancing pill. I¡¯ll have to rely on Senior Brother for the next step.¡± Liu Changsheng was stunned. The extra one was actually for him! He did not understand why Nan Shan was so generous, but he was shocked. Of course, he didnot dare to accept such an expensive gift, so he quickly refused. ¡°What are you doing? It¡¯s no big deal.¡± Liu Changsheng shifted his gaze away from the jade box with difficulty. He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, ¡°The value of this pill is no small matter. I appreciate Junior Brother¡¯s good intentions.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. Senior Brother, didn¡¯t you say that you¡¯ve also reached a dead end? Let¡¯s go to class together, maybe it will help.¡± Nan Shan pushed the pill that had just been pushed back and smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s all improve together. Now, you¡¯re the only one I know in the sect. If you successfully advance to the outer sect in ten days, I¡¯ll have to trouble Senior Brother to take care of you.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Liu Changsheng still did not take it. He was very hesitant. This little Junior Brother in front of him was actually willing to give away something that was worth ten middle-grade spirit stones so casually. With such courage, he would definitely have great achievements in the future. Even though his purpose of this trip was to befriend this rich young master. However, as the saying goes, one should not receive a reward without doing anything. If it was just a favor, it really did not cost that much money. If he accepted this so-called ¡®thank you gift¡¯, would he not be treating him as a fool? After hesitating for a long time, Liu Changsheng finally managed to squeeze out a sentence. ¡°Junior Brother, why don¡¯t you present something smaller? You don¡¯t need to use this foundation building pill.¡± ¡°Why are you being so polite? Senior Brother, although we¡¯ve met by chance, I regret not having met you earlier.¡± The corners of Nan Shan¡¯s mouth curled up. I¡¯ve learned a lot of things from you. Who knows, it might save my life one day. If you treat me as a friend, don¡¯t refuse me anymore.¡± ¡°Friend?¡± Liu Changsheng was touched. ¡°Then¡­ It¡¯s better to obey than to show respect.¡± Success! Nan Shan revealed a satisfied smile. He casually tossed a jade box over. Liu Changsheng was nervous. He hurriedly caught it, afraid that it would fall to the ground. When he held such a precious thing in his hands, he could not help but feel excited. This was a foundation-building pill! It was a treasure that many people dreamed of. There was a price but no market, and ordinary people could not buy it at all! He got it just like that? An unreal feeling welled up in Liu Changsheng¡¯s heart. This favor was too heavy. It was not something that could be measured with 1000 low-grade spirit stones. ¡°I¡¯ll get it done right away.¡± Liu Changsheng kept the pill and cupped his fists. ¡°I¡¯ll try to come back as soon as possible to give you an answer, Junior Brother.¡± Nan Shan nodded with a faint smile. ¡°If the tuition fees are not enough, I¡¯ll make up for it later.¡± Liu Changsheng could not help but be moved. If he were to use this as an excuse to ask, he would definitely be able to make a fortune from it. However, would he do such a thing in the face of such trust? The answer was no. He had been in the Outer Sect for many years, so he was not that stupid. He knew very well that the favorability of a Junior Brother with extraordinary potential was far more precious than some cultivation resources. Junior Brother, if you have any errands for me in the future, just tell me. I will do my best to help you! With that, Liu Changsheng cupped his fists and left. He quickly used the connections he had accumulated in the outer sect for many years and tried to help Nan Shan complete this matter in the shortest time possible. A few hours later. The sun set in the west. When the sky turned dark, someone knocked on the door of Nan Shan¡¯s courtyard again. He opened the door and saw Liu Changsheng standing outside, covered in sweat. ¡°Junior Brother! I didn¡¯t let you down. You¡¯re in luck this time. Some disciples couldn¡¯t keep up with the class and withdrew.¡± Liu Changsheng grinned and handed over a token. ¡°This is something to verify your identity. You can sit in the front row for a year. As long as Senior Sister Jiang has a class, you can attend it.¡± Nan Shan was stunned for a moment. Such a coincidence? Just in time to withdraw? Or the front row? Wait ¡­ What¡¯s up with this year¡¯s classes? Did they not say that each class would cost the price of a foundation building pill? Why was he now getting a year¡¯s worth of classes? On second thought, he understood. This should be the return of the investor. The foundation building pill had a price, but there was no market for it. Liu Changsheng was most likely planning to use it for himself. Then, he used his own money to sign him up. Nan Shan could not help but feel a little touched. However, seeing that Liu Changsheng did not intend to mention it, he did not expose him. Just as he was about to express his gratitude, a familiar notification sound suddenly rang in his mind. [ Ding! ] [ The first round of investment targeting one-star Liu Changsheng has been completed! ] [Investment item: Constitution-enhancing pill. A 10-fold return is now being made. Reward: one essence-cultivating pill!] [ Vitality pill ]: has the effect of expanding meridians, allowing the user to better absorb the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth. Chapter 4 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Breakthrough! Qi refining stage! Cultivation pill? Nan Shan¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. He had never expected that the system¡¯s tenfold interest was not in quantity, but in quality! This thing was far more precious than the Constitution-enhancing pill. Not to mention the secular world, you can not even find one in the sect! 10 Constitution-enhancing pills were worthless in front of it. Even a hundred of them might not be enough to exchange for one! It was a good treasure that could expand the meridians! This effect could easily raise a person¡¯s cultivation aptitude, which was extremely heaven-defying. No matter how untalented you were, you could easily draw Qi into your body and cross the threshold of Qi refinement after taking it. Other than that, there might be other more magical uses. It was a pity that Nan Shan knew very little about alchemy and only knew some basic things. However, this was enough. Now that he had this pill, he no longer had to worry about whether or not he could enter the Outer Sect in ten days. As long as he took the pill, he would grow steadily, find new investors, and continue to strengthen himself. ¡°Many thanks, Senior Brother.¡± Nan Shan sincerely thanked him. Liu Changsheng¡¯s appearance had indeed helped him a lot. ¡°No, I should be the one thanking you. With the help of this Constitution-enhancing pill, I might be able to break through my bottleneck without Senior Sister Jiang¡¯s teaching.¡± Liu Changsheng laughed heartily, his heart filled with gratitude. ¡°Then I hope Senior Brother will get his wish.¡± ¡°Thanks for Junior Brother¡¯s auspicious words! If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be going back to cultivate.¡± ¡°Take care, Senior Brother.¡± ¡­ A simple farewell. Looking at Liu Changsheng¡¯s back as he walked further and further away, Nan Shan fell into deep thought. On the surface, his investment this time only seemed to be giving out two medicinal pills and obtaining another medicinal pill. However, in the long run, he had already established a foothold in the Reliance Sect, and had a reliable friend who could help him. Nan Shan had also thought about whether Liu Changsheng would be ungrateful, but this question was quickly thrown to the back of his mind. There was no need to worry. After all, this was a fantasy world. It was easy to go back on one¡¯s word, but the consequences were not so easy to bear. Perhaps it wouldnot have serious consequences in the short term, but to cultivators who could easily live for thousands of years, it would be very fatal. On a smaller scale. Karmic hindrance could easily breed mental demons. In serious cases, it could even lead to the descent of Heavenly Tribulation, which would destroy one¡¯s soul and make one unable to enter Samsara. This kind of thing was recorded in various ancient books, and most people would avoid it and try not to do things that went against their word for the sake of profit. Moreover, he still had the System to back him up. After all, Liu Changsheng was a person selected by the System. A confirmed potential investor. No matter what, the System wouldnot harm its master! Nan Shan felt very assured. His thoughts returned to normal, and he focused on the reward he had just received. ¡°Receive the energy cultivation pill!¡± Whoosh~ The space trembled and white light flashed. A black pill appeared before his eyes. Nan Shan caught it firmly and put it into his mouth without any hesitation. The energy cultivation pill instantly melted and turned into a warm current that slowly flowed into his body. The strange thing was that it didnot fall into his stomach, but spread to his limbs and bones, fusing into his blood. Nan Shan only felt that the meridians in his body gradually began to swell after accommodating the medicinal power. After a short while, he actually felt a sharp pain! He resisted the urge to cry out in pain and gritted his teeth. He allowed the medicinal power to continuously attack his meridians, widening his originally dry and small meridians bit by bit. Nan Shan felt as if he was in a sea full of thin needles, and he was in great pain. However, at the same time, the spiritual energy from the outside world seemed to be attracted and kept surging into his body, bringing him a cold and comfortable feeling. The two contradictory feelings intertwined, making Nan Shan feel like he was about to die. ¡°F*ck .. Cultivation¡­ It¡¯s really not something a human would do!¡± He gritted his teeth. After an unknown period of time, this feeling finally slowly faded away. Nan Shan tried to move his limbs¡­ Then, an intense numbing sensation hit him and rushed straight to his brain. ¡°F*ck!¡± Nan Shan crashed on the spot and fell unconscious. When he woke up, it was already bright outside. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me ¡­¡± He was a little confused. After spending nearly half a minute to sort out his thoughts, he suddenly sat up and hurriedly checked the condition of his body. He was surprised and happy when he clearly felt an active spiritual aura wandering in his body. ¡°Hahaha! Spiritual Qi! Success! I didn¡¯t expect it to be so simple. I¡¯ll be fine after taking some medicine and sleeping!¡± When spiritual Qi entered the body, it was the sign of stepping into the Qi refining stage. He had easily stepped over the threshold that had hindered many people for their entire lives, and a sense of accomplishment welled up in him. Not only that, but Nan Shan even felt that there was a lot of spiritual energy surplus in his body. Unfortunately, due to the limitations of the cultivation techniques he had learned so far, he was unable to find a way to sum up these ¡®little cuties¡¯. It would probably slowly dissipate and become invisible soon. This was a bit of a pity. He didnot want to waste the energy pill like this. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to change to a stronger mental cultivation method.¡± When cultivators used their bodies to store spiritual energy, they would usually use one method-opening the aperture acupoints. This was something that every cultivator could do with their mental cultivation method. With the spiritual energy absorbed into it, the consumption was minimal, and it was very convenient to use. It could be used with a single thought. Under normal circumstances, the better the mental cultivation method, the more acupuncture points could be opened and the faster the speed of absorbing spiritual Qi could be, which could provide a cultivator with the ability to fight for a long time. However, while medicinal pills were easy to find, mental cultivation methods were hard to come by. Even though he was already an in-name disciple of the Reliance Sect, it wasnot easy for him to acquire a suitable mental technique. ¡°I remember that Senior Brother Liu said that after becoming an outer disciple, you can choose your own heart technique?¡± Nan Shan recalled in detail, and it seemed that there was such a thing. However, ten days later¡­ It would take a long time, and the spiritual energy stored in his body would probably be consumed by a lot. Unfortunately, there was no other way at the moment. He could only wait quietly. ¡®I¡¯d better go listen to the class first. I¡¯ve just stepped into the meditational stage and I don¡¯t know anything. This won¡¯t do.¡¯ Nan Shan packed up, washed up, and cleaned up the filth on his body before leaving for the lecture hall. Chapter 5 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Three-star potential investor The Reliance Sect grounds was huge. Just the outer gate territory to the east stretched across dozens of mountains. Each mountain peak had a special sect building with different functions. Under normal circumstances, everyone would choose Enlightenment Mountain, which had a spirit gathering array, to conduct their lectures and cultivation. Nan Shan had just arrived and did not know the way. He asked a few Outer Sect senior brothers before he found his destination. Naturally, a few lower spiritual stones were gone from his pocket. In the end, he ran into Liu Changsheng not long after he arrived at Enlightenment Mountain. ¡°Junior Brother Nan?¡± Liu Changsheng took the initiative to welcome him with a smile on his face. ¡°You¡¯re here so early. The class hasn¡¯t started yet.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with this area, so I came to take a look in advance in case I couldn¡¯t find the place. ¡°Senior Brother, what are you doing here?¡± Nan Shan looked at him and asked. ¡°Yesterday when I went back, I took the Constitution-enhancing pill and adjusted my breathing overnight. My realm has indeed loosened up, but I still feel that there is something missing, so I decided to come to listen to Senior Sister Jiang¡¯s class to see if I can get some inspiration.¡± While speaking of this, Liu Changsheng was very happy. The smile on his face grew wider, and he could not hide his excitement. He had never thought that the dead end that had troubled him for so long would actually be solved with the help of a small pill. As long as his cultivation level could improve and he successfully entered the foundation establishment stage, his future would be rewritten. Foundation establishment meant that one could become an Inner Sect disciple. At the same time, he would be able to obtain more cultivation resources, and he would not have to worry about being kicked out of the sect. At that time, he would even have the opportunity to pursue longevity. This was all thanks to Nan Shan. Without the appearance of this Little Junior Brother, he would definitely not be able to obtain such a bright future! Liu Changsheng had already made up his mind. In the future, Nan Shan¡¯s matters would be his matters. No matter how difficult it was, he would do his best to solve them! Ding¡ª Ding¡ª At this moment, the melodious sound of a bell rang. The gate of the grand building on the square of Enlightenment Mountain slowly opened. ¡°It¡¯s time.¡± Liu Changsheng took a deep breath and looked at Nan Shan, ¡°Junior Brother, shall we go in?¡± ¡°Alright,¡± he said. Nan Shan nodded gently. Liu Changsheng led the way in front. As he walked, he said, ¡°The teaching hall is a building of the sect. It has five floors and hundreds of halls. Everyone can teach here, but they have to pay a certain fee. The higher the floor, the denser the spirit Qi, and the more expensive the fee is. ¡°Relatively speaking, an environment with dense spiritual Qi is extremely beneficial to those disciples who have yet to enter the Qi refining stage. Those with outstanding talent might be able to draw Qi into their bodies after listening to one class. As he spoke, he looked at Nan Shan and smiled. ¡°Junior Brother, you¡¯re already at the peak of body forging at such a young age. Perhaps you¡¯ll be able to get what you want after today.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see how lucky we are,¡± Nan Shan did not mention that he had already broken through. Although he had successfully stepped into the Qi refining stage and his body was full of spiritual energy, in fact, he did not know how to guide the spiritual energy into his body. It was as if he only knew how to eat and not cook. This was too awkward. There was no need to mention it, it would be embarrassing. Jiang Congshuang¡¯s lecture was on the fourth floor. After showing the token, they were allowed in. Soon, the two of them entered the lecture hall side by side and sat down in the front row. Nan Shan glanced around and saw that the spacious lecture hall was filled with at least two to three hundred people. He could not help but sigh. ¡°There are so many rich people.¡± Ten middle-grade spirit stones was not a small sum, and even outer disciples might not be able to afford it. However, he did not expect that most of the people present were in-name disciples who were dressed in secular clothes like him. Liu Changsheng laughed. ¡°Those who can enter a sect to cultivate can¡¯t be too poor. For the sake of their children¡¯s immortal path, those parents would do everything they could to amass a sum of money. It¡¯ll help them gain a foothold in the Reliance Sect in the short term. ¡°Of course, I can¡¯t compare to you, Junior Brother. I¡¯m afraid that no one in this batch of disciples can compare to you.¡± At this point, he reminded him in a low voice, ¡°Junior Brother, don¡¯t reveal your wealth. You must be very careful when you spend money in the future. Don¡¯t be targeted by others. The sect is more complicated than you think.¡± Nan Shan silently nodded. He was not strong enough yet, so he should be more careful. Especially in terms of investment, it was best to do it without any strangers looking. ¡­ They chatted to pass the time. Liu Changsheng also shared a lot of his experience in judging people. Although Nan Shan did not really need it, he still listened patiently, not letting down the other party¡¯s good intentions. Suddenly, a fragrant wind blew over. Liu Changsheng¡¯s expression froze. He quickly sat up straight and looked straight ahead. ¡°Quickly sit down, Senior Sister Jiang is here¡­¡± Nan Shan looked over and saw a woman in an exquisite long dress standing on the stage. She looked to be about 23 or 24 years old. Her hair fell to the side of her exquisite oval face, her red lips were like fire, her nose was tall, and her eyes were big and full of spirit. At first glance, she was indeed an outstanding beauty. This was the age when a woman was the purest and most charming. She was still young and immature, with a mix of charm that made people unable to look away. However, she looked very cold. They were a few meters apart. Nan Shan could still feel the unapproachable temperament exuding from her. Jiang Congshuang, just like her name, was like the snow lotus on the Sky Mountain, one could only look at it from afar and not touch it. The lecture hall was completely silent. Regardless of gender, everyone¡¯s eyes were attracted to her. ¡°I¡¯ve already explained the concept of Qi refinement in the previous class. Now, let¡¯s talk about how to become a Qi refinement cultivator by drawing Qi into the body.¡± Jiang Congshuang turned to the side and raised her hand. Blue spiritual Qi was released and flew to the stone brush on the podium. After that, the stone brush moved according to her will and wrote two beautiful words on the stone slab that was erected behind him. Qi refinement! Everyone felt a surge of emotions when they saw this scene. He was full of anticipation for the content of this class. Nan Shan blinked, his attention not on this at all. His gaze moved up and fell on the orange cloud above Jiang Congshuang¡¯s head, which only he could see. Jiang Congshuang Age: 22 [ Favorability: 12 ] [ Investment potential star: 3 ] [ Current Status: Available for investment ] [ Return on investment: 100 times ] [ Character personality: academic perfectionist, cold and aloof ] [ Character ability: gifted and intelligent. In terms of cultivation, no matter what you do, you will be able to achieve significant results in a short period of time. ] ¡­ He smacked his lips, feeling surprised. This Senior Sister. She was actually a three-star investment! Chapter 6 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Drawing Qi Into The Body, Shocking The Entire Scene Nan Shan had been in the lecture hall for so long and had already secretly looked at everyone, but he had not found a single investor. He had originally given up hope and was prepared to listen to the class and study in peace. In the end, Jiang Congshuang had given him a big surprise! Three-star as an investor, so they had a hundred times interest! This was too alluring. Just thinking about it made him happy. However, the favorability was really low. It just happened to be on the line of disgust. With their current relationship, it would be difficult for him to invest. He had to work hard. Just like how he treated Liu Changsheng, he had to cater to his interests and get closer to him! ¡°Academic perfectionist¡­ talented and intelligent¡­ This kind of person must be very lonely and very eager to have someone to explore the unknown with.¡± Nan Shan thought to himself, ¡®If I want to get to know her, I have to show my extraordinary talent.¡¯ On the stage, Jiang Congshuang had already started her lecture, and her tone was clinical and gentle. ¡°Drawing spiritual Qi into the body is the first step in one¡¯s comprehension of heaven and earth. Only by refining spiritual Qi for one¡¯s own use can one¡¯s physique be further improved, laying the foundation for the foundation establishment in the future. ¡°This stage is not difficult to achieve. Auxiliary foreign objects can play a decisive role. ¡°Whether it¡¯s food, medicinal baths, or an environment with rich spiritual energy, they can help you cross this threshold. ¡°To a talented person, it¡¯s even easier. It¡¯s just a matter of a thought. ¡°The real difficulty is how to control the spiritual Qi¡­¡± At this point, she paused. ¡°To draw Qi into the body, the first thing to do is to find the sense of Qi.¡± ¡°The simplest method is to breathe. ¡°The spiritual energy of heaven and earth is everywhere. Take a deep breath and see if you can feel a warm feeling in your dantian. ¡°Remember, keep your spirit in one body and focus your mind. You must feel it carefully.¡± As soon as he said this, all the in-name disciples at the body forging stage in the lecture hall began to try out the method she mentioned. Jiang Congshuang waited for a while and looked at the reaction of the people in the hall calmly. Most of them were overjoyed after trying it out. Only a small number of Qi layer Outer Sect disciples did not move. She spoke at the right time and continued to guide everyone on the next step of the operation. After searching for Qi, it was time to absorb Qi. One had to learn how to store this power and ensure that it stayed in the body without leaking out. This had to be done with the help of mental cultivation methods. Everyone¡¯s mental cultivation methods were different, so Jiang Congshuang added a few more categories of mental cultivation methods and their grades. It was very similar to the division of the cultivation realm. Regardless of whether it was a Qi-nurturing heart technique or a cultivation technique that made use of spirit Qi. According to the grades, the worst was Black Iron, followed by Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum ¡­ Each level was further divided into nine grades. From one to nine, the three lower grades were inferior, the three middle grades were medium, and the three upper grades were superior. Nan Shan cultivated a high-grade Black Iron Heart technique, which was compatible with cultivators at the body forging stage. Now that he had broken through to the Qi refining stage, he didnot have enough. Even if this cultivation technique was cultivated to the extreme, it could only open one aperture in the body, barely having the strength of the 1st level of the Qi refining stage. At this time, if he wanted to improve, he had to change his mental cultivation method. Jiang Congshuang did not go too deep into the conversation. In fact, at this point, the lecture hall had already begun to ¡®divide¡¯. Almost half of the people failed after trying to take in the Qi. Jiang Congshuang had given them nearly two hours to try and make mistakes, but not many of them had succeeded. The difference in talent was obvious. However, the class could not be interrupted because of this. After she finished explaining her experience in taking in Qi, she did not care about those who couldnot keep up and began to explain the method of controlling Qi. Putting aside the cultivation technique¡­ Everyone could make use of their control over their aura to make the spiritual energy in their bodies give feedback. This was also a very important thing. To cultivators, it was extremely helpful in actual combat. If two cultivators with the same cultivation technique and realm fought, one would be unfamiliar with controlling Qi and would have to accumulate energy for a long time to make a move, while the other could control spiritual Qi as he wished. The result was obvious, and the latter would definitely win. You¡¯re still gathering power, and I¡¯m already making my move. How can I fight? After listening to the entire course, Nan Shan gained a lot and felt that his horizons had been widened. Jiang Congshuang then emphasized that Qi refinement cultivators should pay the most attention to these three steps when drawing Qi into their bodies. Next, they would be given two hours to familiarize themselves with the process. Later, the in-name disciples sitting in the first three rows would have to go on stage to demonstrate. He was ready to point out their shortcomings at any time. Cultivation knew no time. When a person was focused, time would always pass by in a flash. In the blink of an eye, two hours had passed. The young in-name disciples were all rubbing their fists and wiping their palms. They all wanted to show off in front of this icy beauty. Their faces were full of confidence and they were eager to try. The demonstration began. It was carried out from the front to the back. The first to enter the arena was a youth with a strong and stocky build. Although he looked ordinary, his aura was extremely powerful. He was definitely at level 9 of the body forging stage. In fact, the people who could sit in the first row were either rich or talented. The gap between them was not very big. Compared to the disciples sitting behind, the stronger he was, the higher the possibility of the demonstration being successful. A spirit stone was placed on the stage. What he had to do was to guide a trace of spirit Qi into his body. This was a little more difficult than using mental cultivation methods to absorb the spiritual energy from the outside world, but it was easier to observe. Jiang Congshuang stood to the side and gave him the stage to show off. Hundreds of pairs of eyes looked over at the same time, and the atmosphere was tense. ¡°Watch me!¡± The young man shouted. As he secretly circulated his mental cultivation method, he smashed his fists together. Whoosh~ It was as if some mysterious force had affected the spirit stones on the table. It suddenly trembled. Immediately after, the clear air flow that was slowly circulating inside gradually became violent under everyone¡¯s gaze, constantly attacking the spirit stone wall. After a short while, a thin thread actually broke through the blockade and flew towards the young man. However, the veins on the young man¡¯s body were bulging, and it looked like he had used all his strength. He exerted all his strength and was ready to go all out, using the last bit of strength in his body. However, a few seconds later, when the clear air was about to touch his fingertips, he suddenly lost all his strength and fell to the ground. The spiritual Qi that he had drawn out with great difficulty had returned to the spiritual stone. ¡°It¡¯s possible to forcibly absorb spiritual energy into the body, but how much spiritual energy can be accumulated after a day of cultivation?¡± Jiang Congshuang shook her head gently. spiritual energy is a product of the great Dao of heaven and earth and is not repulsed by the human body. It can exist in space, so it can naturally exist in your body. What you need to do is guide it, not control it. ¡°¡­Thank you for your guidance, Senior Sister. I will remember it. ¡± The young man looked defeated and returned to his seat silently. When everyone in the hall saw this scene, they didnot praise him or boo him. It could be seen that this young man¡¯s talent was very ordinary. The second person entered the venue. This time, it was a handsome young man. He looked elegant, but there were some traces of pretentiousness in his movements. He stood on the stage and turned to look at Jiang Congshuang, revealing a smile that he thought was handsome. ¡°Senior Sister, I think I¡¯ve used the wrong method too. Can I try the method you just mentioned¡­ Guidance?¡± It seemed like he wanted to show off his talent. There were already people in the field who snorted in disdain at this eye-catching move. Jiang Congshuang was calm, as if she had seen many people like this. She nodded slightly with a cold expression. The man took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes. A meter away from the spirit stone, he reached out his right hand. After a long time¡­ nothing happened. The spirit stone didnot even move. ¡°¡­¡± The man opened his eyes in surprise. ¡®That¡¯s strange. I clearly used my will. How can there be no reaction at all¡­¡¯ Before Jiang Congshuang could say anything, the crowd burst into laughter, and someone among them sneered. ¡°Idiot! Spiritual sense is something that only foundation establishment cultivators have, you don¡¯t even know this?¡± ¡°He¡¯s sitting in the first row with this level of skill? This year¡¯s in-name disciples are surprisingly weak. Get lost!¡± ¡°Hehe, if you want to act tough, you have to see if you have the ability!¡± The handsome young man¡¯s expression was extremely ugly, but seeing that the people who spoke were all outer sect disciples in gray robes, he did not dare to say anything and could only step down the stage while being scolded. After that, a few more people went up, each using their own methods. Unfortunately, they all ended in failure. Jiang Congshuang gave them advice and guidance one by one, but there was already a look of disappointment in her eyes. The disciples who came to listen to the class this time were really lacking in talent. Finally, it was Nan Shan¡¯s turn. Before he even stood on it, many people were already waiting to see him make a fool of himself. However, Nan Shan did not try it directly. instead, he asked first. ¡°Senior Sister, can we hold this spirit stone in our hands?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± After getting an affirmative answer, Nan Shan began to act. He held the spiritual stone in his hand and closed his eyes like the second person who went on stage. At this time, some impatient outer sect disciples began to ridicule. ¡°It can¡¯t be another ¡®shixiong¡¯ who wants to use his spiritual sense, right? Hahaha, are you planning to embarrass yourself again after seeing others embarrass themselves?¡± ¡°Sigh, this is boring. If I knew this would happen, I would have come to register for the course a few days later. I thought that there would be one or two genius disciples this year.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t say that. Even if you¡¯re extremely stupid, you¡¯re still a genius. Don¡¯t you think that ordinary people can¡¯t do this?¡± ¡°Hahahaha, what Senior Brother said makes sense!¡± Upon hearing this, Liu Changsheng suddenly turned around and glared at him. If Jiang Congshuang had not been present, he would have probably fought with the other party. The result. The next moment. Nan Shan¡¯s body suddenly lit up with a dazzling blue light. Immediately after, the spiritual stone trembled and all its luster disappeared, turning into a piece of waste. What was even more exaggerated was¡­ The spiritual energy that flowed into Nan Shan¡¯s body actually flowed little by little along his meridians. After it moistened his entire body, it was then gathered in his dantian. ¡°This is ¡­ Second Qi layer? you must be joking, right?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he just an in-name disciple? How is that possible?¡± Chapter 7 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Jiang Congshuang¡¯s Wooing Regardless of the honorary disciples or outer disciples, everyone was shocked. That included Jiang Congshuang. She had never seen an in-name disciple who had just entered the sect for a day. Not only could he draw spiritual energy into his body, but he could also circulate spiritual energy so skillfully! One had to know that even she, who was known as the number one female cultivator of the outer sect, was a ¡®blessed daughter of heaven¡¯. It took her three days to learn how to circulate his spiritual energy! On the stage, Nan Shan was as quiet as a mountain, still enjoying the pleasure of the spiritual energy washing through his meridians. Below the stage, hundreds of people were staring at each other. All of them were affected by the silence buff and lost their voices. Liu Changsheng was also surprised. He didnot expect that his Little Junior Brother, who was still at the body forging stage yesterday, would suddenly transform into a Qi refining fellow Daoist today. What did this mean? This meant that Nan Shan had learned how to draw Qi into the body after a night¡¯s comprehension without any help! Furthermore, he had reached the level of ¡®Qi acceptance¡¯ that Jiang Congshuang had mentioned! This was too exaggerated! He had been a know-it-all in the reliance sect for many years, but had never seen someone like this. Genius? Geniuses were nothing! Nan Shan¡¯s appearance might break the record for the fastest Qi condensation disciple in the history of the reliance sect! Unfortunately, there was no ranking list, so there was no way to investigate. Otherwise, he would really have mocked the group of people who had just been rude. At the side of the lecture hall. Jiang Congshuang¡¯s eyes sparkled. The gazes they used to look at Nan Shan became much gentler and were full of admiration. However, she didnot reveal too much of her emotions in the class. He only commented in a gentle tone. ¡°Junior Brother¡­ To be able to figure out the method of using spiritual energy to guide spiritual energy, he¡¯s truly talented.¡± The crowd burst into an uproar. What kind of standard did Jiang Congshuang have to give such a high evaluation to an in-name disciple who had just entered the sect? It cannot be, right? Everyone found it hard to believe that such words would come out of their Senior Sister¡¯s mouth. Some even picked their ears, as if they had heard wrong. Nan Shan smiled and cupped his hands. ¡°Senior Sister is too humble. You¡¯ve already taught me a lot just now. If not for that, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to think of such a method.¡± The corners of Jiang Congshuang¡¯s mouth rose slightly, and she did not say anything more. She nodded, signaling for him to return to his seat. Next, it was the second and third row¡¯s turn to demonstrate. Whether it was in terms of talent or Foundation, these people could not be compared with the disciples in the first row, not to mention that there was a monster like Nan Shan. No matter how good the demonstration was, it couldnot bring about a great impact. Not to mention, no one succeeded. The class ended. Only the name Nan Shan was well known. One spread to ten, ten to a hundred. Until the end of the class, the disciples left one after another, their faces still full of excitement. As they walked, they talked about the possible impact of Nan Shan¡¯s actions. It was estimated that for a long time, this would become a topic of conversation between them and their friends. Nan Shan and Liu Changsheng were ready to go to the nearby peaks to familiarize themselves with the layout of the outer gate. ¡°Junior Brother, please hold on for a moment,¡± A melodious, Skylark-like voice rang out. Liu Changsheng, who was standing at the back, turned around and saw Jiang Congshuang. ¡°Senior Sister¡­ you called me?¡± He was very surprised. He had never thought that this fairy-like woman would one day talk to him. However, as soon as he said this, Liu Changsheng regretted it. He then remembered that Jiang Congshuang loved to study cultivation and would not pay much attention to ordinary people like him who had no talent. Only juniors with great potential could gain her attention. Today, Junior Brother Nan Shan¡¯s performance was so brilliant that he must have shocked Senior Sister Jiang. What did it have to do with him? I¡¯m completely overthinking this! Sure enough. Jiang Congshuang tidied up her messy hair and shook her head. ¡°You¡­ Let¡¯s go first, I have something to discuss with Junior Brother Nan Shan.¡± ¡°Ah, this¡­¡± Although he knew the result, Liu Changsheng still felt heartbroken and disappointed. He could only smile at Nan Shan. ¡°Then..¡±. he said. ¡°Junior Brother, you can chat with Senior Sister Jiang first. I¡¯ll wait for you outside?¡± ¡°Alright,¡± he said. Nan Shan knew that he had successfully attracted Jiang Congshuang¡¯s attention. From the system interface, his favorability had increased from 12 to 57, which was a very safe number. Soon, Liu Changsheng left, and Jiang Congshuang also explained why she had stopped him. Refund the tuition fees! He was ready to return the middle-grade spirit stones to him! This was because Jiang Congshuang felt that judging from Nan Shan¡¯s performance in class, it was obvious that she did not teach him to draw Qi into the body. With Nan Shan¡¯s talent, he might not even need his guidance in the future. Even if he encountered any special questions in his cultivation and came to ask her, he might not be able to answer them. In the end, it would become a discussion, and both sides would benefit. In this case, it was a little inappropriate to collect tuition fees. After Nan Shan heard this, his expression became serious. ¡°Senior Sister, spirit stones are just worldly possessions. I¡¯m already very happy to be able to meet such a young and beautiful woman like you. ¡°In the future, I still have many things to learn from Senior Sister. If there is anything I have to do, please help me.¡± Jiang Congshuang smiled. ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Nan Shan was stunned for a moment. ¡°He often comes to me for advice.¡± Jiang Congshuang raised the corner of her mouth and looked quite happy. is it true?¡± She seemed to be looking forward to a ¡®genius youth¡¯ in the future, who would come over from time to time to discuss the difficulties she faced in cultivation. Nan Shan also laughed. ¡°That¡¯s for sure. I¡¯ve signed up for a year of your course, Senior Sister.¡± ¡°Mm¡­ Then, I¡¯ll give you a little something.¡± As she spoke, Jiang Congshuang took a small green jade pendant from her waist and handed it over. Nan Shan took it in his hand and immediately felt a cool feeling surge out of the jade pendant. It flowed down his arm and sank into his dantian. Then, it passed through his acupuncture points and meridians, and continued to flow in his body, forming a Qi circulation. Indistinctly, the speed at which his body absorbed the spiritual Qi from the outside world seemed to have increased a little. Although it would not dissipate as fast as the spiritual Qi that had not been stored in the acupuncture points, once this period of time passed and he entered the outer sect to obtain a stronger mental cultivation method to replace it, this would be a free cultivation speed! Not only that. Nan Shan took a closer look. The word ¡®Jiang¡¯ was also carved on the jade pendant. Obviously, this meant that after he accepted the jade pendant, he would be a member of eldest Senior Sister¡¯s line. In the future, when he walked around the sect, he would have a strong background. If an ordinary person wanted to bother him, they would have to consider their own abilities! Chapter 8 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The Reliance Sect¡¯s Dark Workshop ¡°Many thanks, Senior Sister.¡± Nan Shan thanked her, the kind that was sincere. It could be seen that Jiang Congshuang was a kind person. In the face of this in-name disciple whom he had just met, to protect him without considering the gains and losses, an ordinary person would not be able to do it. ¡°No need to be so polite.¡± The smile on Jiang Congshuang¡¯s face grew wider. ¡°Practice well and don¡¯t waste your talent.¡± ¡°Senior Sister is right.¡± Nan Shan nodded heavily. Since he had gained an advantage, he had to strike while the iron was hot and gain another wave of favorability. As for the investment¡­ That was not possible at the moment. With Jiang Congshuang¡¯s personality, there was a high chance that she would not accept his gift. Even he himself didnot know where to start to give something to Senior Sister. Give what? Resources? She was the number one in the Outer Sect, so she didnot need this at all. Give her a living thing? Does my sister lack a little puppy to warm her bed? Hehe .. Hahahaha. Nan Shan felt that he would only ask such a question if he wanted to die. It seemed that he could only wait until they were more familiar with each other. Anyway, there was still a long way to go, so there was no need to rush. However, Jiang Congshuang liked people who were eager to learn, so he could take advantage of the situation and ask questions that were beyond his current stage. It refreshed her perception of herself again! Hence¡­ ¡°Senior Sister, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any problem with drawing Qi into my body now. There¡¯s no difficulty in ¡®taking in Qi¡¯, but this¡¯ controlling Qi¡¯. It¡¯s only at the level where it can be circulated. I want to release it out of my body, but I keep feeling like something is missing. What¡¯s the reason?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already reached such a level?¡± Jiang Congshuang was a little taken aback. She thought for a while before explaining, ¡°The ability to manifest spiritual energy is an ability that can only be controlled after one has cultivated to a higher level of the Qi refinement stage. It can be manifested through cultivation techniques, but¡­ with your aptitude, it¡¯s not difficult for you to externalize it now. you just need a medium.¡± ¡°A medium?¡± Nan Shan asked, ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°At your current stage, weapons are the best.¡± Jiang Congshuang explained carefully, ¡°With spiritual Qi attached to it, it will always be connected to you. It is much easier than transforming it into something out of thin air, and it can also make the weapon sharper and stronger.¡± Nan Shan understood and immediately had the idea of buying a weapon. Jiang Congshuang was smart enough to see the eagerness in his eyes and said goodbye at the right time. Nan Shan sent her off and only separated when they were outside the teaching hall. Liu Changsheng immediately came up to him. ¡°How is it? Junior Brother, what did Senior Sister Jiang say to you?¡± His big eyes were filled with curiosity. ¡°He said that he wanted to refund my tuition and some things about cultivation.¡± Nan Shan pinched his chin. ¡°Senior Brother, where can we get weapons in our sect? Is there a place to collect it?¡± ¡°So it¡¯s like this¡­¡± Liu Changsheng blinked his eyes. He looked as if he was disappointed that he had not heard anything special. He thought for a while and changed the topic. ¡°The sect¡¯s rules forbid in-name disciples from opening up weapons, cultivation techniques, medicinal pills, and all sorts of other resources. It¡¯s hard to even buy them, let alone collect them.¡± Then, he grinned. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Senior brother, I have a secret method!¡± Nan Shan was speechless. Can you not take a deep breath when you¡¯re talking? He really wanted to hit him, or else he would not be able to calm down! ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that!¡± Liu Changsheng put his arm around Nan Shan¡¯s shoulder and walked toward the teleportation array of enlightenment mountain. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take you to see the world today!¡± he said. He took out two low-grade spirit stones. The teleportation array flashed and swallowed the two of them. When they reappeared, they were already in the wilderness. The corners of Nan Shan¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. ¡°Senior Brother, you call this seeing the world? I only saw two piles of cow dung and a pair of wild dogs mating¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mind the details. If you want to buy something that is strictly prohibited in the sect, how can you take the ordinary path?¡± Liu Changsheng chuckled and led him into the depths of the forest. When they arrived outside a dark cave. Liu Changsheng found a dozen tokens strung together in the storage bag at his waist. After rummaging through it for a while, he took one of them and suddenly threw it into the air. The token kept spinning in the air, and the complicated lines on it gradually glowed with orange light. ¡°Boundless heaven and earth, borrowing the power of the universe, open!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the token seemed to have hit something, and it suddenly stopped in mid-air. A thin and smooth light screen appeared. The light that flashed from the token caused water-like ripples to spread out, causing the space to constantly distort. After a while, a small door actually cracked open, revealing a completely different scenery! The sounds of bidding and other noises interweaved and kept pouring out. The place that was supposed to be a cave had become a crowded alley. On both sides of the street were low-rise buildings filled with magical artifacts, talismans, and other things that only cultivators could use. Although the road was narrow, it was very lively. ¡°F*ck!¡± Nan Shan looked at this scene in amazement. He had never imagined that there would be such a place in the reliance sect. It was really a different world! Liu Changsheng took back the token and led him inside. The torn light curtain immediately recovered. From the inside, it looked like they were at the end of the street. ¡°Stop!¡± Suddenly, a brown-robed disciple walked over from the side. He held a long sword in his hand and stared at Liu Changsheng. ¡°Kid, I don¡¯t need to tell you the rules of the dark workshop, do I?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Senior Brother, I understand.¡± Liu Changsheng immediately took out a bag full of spirit stones and handed it to the other party. The Inner Sect disciple weighed the sword in his hand. His expression was calm as he lowered the blade in his hand. Liu Changsheng pulled Nan Shan and quickly walked into the crowd. He only slowed down after he confirmed that the other party¡¯s gaze was not on him. He said in a low voice. ¡°Junior Brother, remember what I said. Don¡¯t reveal your wealth.¡± Nan Shan nodded without leaving a trace and turned to look elsewhere. Finally, he had the chance to observe the environment of ¡®dark workshop¡¯ up close. At a glance, most of the people had just set up a stall on the ground, and the things they were selling were also very varied. From finished products to materials, many kinds of things took up a lot of space. In the distance, there were a few buildings that seemed to be selling higher grade items. After walking around for a while, Nan Shan stopped at a small stall that sold weapons and matching cultivation methods. Chapter 9 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Then Are You Selling It? ¡°Don¡¯t miss it if you¡¯re passing by!¡± ¡°A fresh sword-type magic artifact, the first choice for killing and stealing!¡± ¡°It¡¯s on sale today. The lowest is 30% off!¡± Nan Shan was attracted by the shouts and walked over with Liu Changsheng. The stall owner¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw the customers. Because Nan Shan was dressed in secular clothes, it was obvious that he was an in-name disciple. This kind of person had long hair but short insight and didnot know anything. It was best to deceive him! Although the older person next to him was wearing the Outer Sect disciple¡¯s clothes, he was standing at the back and was obviously not the one making the decisions. Without another word, he walked past the stall and smiled. ¡°Hey, my two junior brothers, what do you want to buy?¡± Nan Shan said indifferently, ¡°A weapon that I¡¯m comfortable with.¡± The stall owner saw that he was the first to speak and immediately understood that his guess was right. He had an idea and looked at his stall. In the end, he chose a thin sword that was crystal clear and had exquisite patterns. Not to mention other things, like his good looks! It would definitely make this young man, who had never seen the world, love her so much that he wanted to die! He immediately raised his hand and asked, ¡°Junior Brother, what do you think of this sword?¡± Nan Shan looked in the direction pointed by the stall owner, and his eyes twitched slightly. Trash! It was just something made with the materials of the cultivation world, supplemented by the craftsmanship of the secular world. On the whole, it was better than any divine weapon in the mortal world. However, to cultivators, it was not worth mentioning. It didnot have the strength to carry spirit Qi at all. It would break with a single touch and was only good to look at but useless! It was obvious that the stall owner felt that the registered disciple did not have the ability and judgment to test the strength, so he deliberately set a trap for him. Hehe¡­ ¡®Do you really think I don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you? ¡®The sword I¡¯ve touched is more than the woman you¡¯ve played with ¡­¡¯ Cough, you¡¯ve crossed so many bridges! Nan Shan¡¯s eyes flickered, and he deliberately showed a hint of displeasure. if you¡¯re not sincere, I¡¯ll find someone else to do business. You¡¯re not the only sword seller in the dark workshop. ¡°Ah¡­ These words¡­¡± The stall owner was stunned. Could it be that this kid was a discerning person? He thought it was a pity that he wouldnot be able to earn much money from this deal. At the moment, he did not have any motivation to receive them, so he sat back in his seat and let Nan Shan look at the goods. Nan Shan did not care about him and started to look at the stall. It had to be said that even though it was just a street stall, the quality of the goods was still guaranteed. Very quickly, he had his eyes on an aqua blue long sword. It was a bronze quality item, probably between low and medium. Even though it wasnot something particularly good, it was very suitable for him, who was in the lianqi stage. The color and style were also very suitable. However, in the face of such a slippery and cunning stall owner, Nan Shan felt that he would definitely be scammed by him if he bought a sword directly. He had to think of a way¡­ Nan Shan¡¯s eyes turned and looked at the accompanying sword manual at the side. ¡°Boss, how much are you selling this?¡± The stall owner did not care at first, but when he glanced around, he suddenly found that Nan Shan was actually pointing at the most expensive sword manual in his stall, and he suddenly became spirited. ¡°Are you sure you want to buy this?¡± ¡°Of course, give me a sincere price.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want spirit stones, I only want sect contribution points.¡± The stall owner was cautious, afraid that the spirit stones would be tampered with, and directly changed the trading mode. Nan Shan could not help but frown. I¡¯ve only joined the sect for two days. How can I use my sect contribution points to exchange with you? ¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± The stall owner crossed his arms in front of his chest. ¡°If you can¡¯t pay, you can ask the person next to you to pay. I don¡¯t recognize people.¡± ¡°Name a price.¡± Liu Changsheng suddenly said. ¡°One thousand!¡± The stall owner raised a finger. not a single bit less! Nan Shan looked at Liu Changsheng. ¡°Senior Brother, is it worth it?¡± ¡°Eight hundred at most.¡± Liu Changsheng shook his head gently. ¡°I¡¯ve seen a sword manual of a similar grade in the sect¡¯s library. It was only sold for nine hundred.¡± The stall owner was instantly unhappy. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! Where can you find such a good thing! 800 Yuan? Why don¡¯t you just rob someone!¡± ¡°Are you selling it?¡± Nan Shan just smiled slightly. Of course, he believed Liu Changsheng. ¡°I¡¯m not selling!¡± ¡°Alright,¡± he said. Nan Shan immediately turned his head. ¡°Senior Brother, let¡¯s go.¡± Seeing that the two of them were really about to leave, the stall owner immediately panicked. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, let¡¯s talk this out. You haggle, I raise. Isn¡¯t this a normal exchange? Talk more, don¡¯t be in a hurry to leave.¡± Nan Shan turned around, stood still, raised his index finger and thumb, and used the same tone to return the other person¡¯s greeting. ¡°Eight hundred, not a single cent more!¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The stall owner looked conflicted. ¡°Your friend said that this thing is sold for nine hundred in the library pavilion. You can¡¯t get it at all now. How can you lower the price in the black market?¡± ¡°The thing on your hand, it¡¯s not clean, right?¡± Nan Shan laughed. ¡°You want to get rid of it quickly and earn more money? Is there such a good thing?¡± The stall owner seemed to have been hit where it hurt, and he stopped talking. ¡°Are you selling? I¡¯m not selling.¡± Nan Shan stretched lazily. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about if you have money. I don¡¯t believe that there¡¯s no other place to buy the sword manual outside of your place.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The stall owner stomped his foot and gritted his teeth, ¡°We¡¯ll hand over the money and the goods!¡± As he spoke, he took out the token he used to accumulate contribution points. Nan Shan looked at Liu Changsheng. ¡°Senior Brother, have you contributed enough? I¡¯ll give you some spirit stones later.¡± Liu Changsheng nodded. ¡°I haven¡¯t exchanged for any resources in the past two months. I have just over 800 Yuan. It¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s quickly trade!¡± The stall owner urged. ¡°Hold on.¡± Nan Shan called out slowly and looked at the stall owner with a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯ll buy a sword manual from you and give me an ordinary sword as a gift. Is that okay?¡± ¡°You! Don¡¯t go too far!¡± The stall owner¡¯s eyes widened. He seemed to be stunned. He had never seen such a shameless haggler. Nan Shan put his hands behind his back. ¡°You only accept contribution points, but I don¡¯t have more contribution points to buy a sword. And I like your sword. What should I do? I can only ask you to send me off. How about I leave?¡± The stall owner gritted his teeth. ¡°Which one? ¡± ¡°This one.¡± Nan Shan pointed. The stall owner heaved a sigh of relief. Fortunately, it wasnot something valuable, so he gave it away. For the 800 contribution points of the sword manual, he had to endure! In a short while, the transaction was completed. Liu Changsheng immediately transferred the 800 contribution points from his token. Nan Shan also got what he wanted and obtained The Blue Sword and the accompanying sword manual. ¡°Senior Brother, I¡¯ll give you this sword manual.¡± As soon as he got it, Nan Shan handed the sword manual over to Liu Changsheng. Along the way, he also took out a large bag of spirit stones to make up for the loss of his contribution. ¡°Junior Brother, you¡­¡± Liu Changsheng was dumbfounded. Chapter 10 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The Thousand-Sided Sword Technique Nan Shan smiled and pulled him to a secluded corner, explaining in a low voice. ¡°Actually, I only want this sword. I was planning to give you this sword manual.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Liu Changsheng was shocked. ¡°I¡­ It wasn¡¯t¡­ Junior Brother, why are you giving me something out of the blue?¡± ¡°Senior Brother, don¡¯t be so formal. It¡¯s just a small gift,¡± Nan Shan said. ¡°This isn¡¯t a matter of treating you as an outsider. I treat you as a friend not because of this.¡± Liu Changsheng said in all seriousness, ¡°I can¡¯t accept this gift, and I shouldn¡¯t accept it.¡± Nan Shan pursed his lips. He had spoken so seriously that he did not know what to say for a while. This senior brother was too honest. He didnot even want free things. The quality of the sword manual was not low. For Qi layer cultivators, it was already a very good thing. It was enough to last until the foundation establishment stage. He did not expect that Liu Changsheng would actually refuse such a great temptation. ¡®This¡­¡¯ How was he supposed to invest in this?! Liu Changsheng saw that Nan Shan was a little depressed, so he patted his shoulder and comforted him. ¡°Junior Brother, if you also treat me as a friend, then keep it for yourself and cultivate well.¡± Nan Shan had an idea. He directly said, ¡°Senior brother, it¡¯s because I treat you as a friend that I gave you this sword manual.¡± Liu Changsheng was stunned for a moment and asked in confusion, ¡°Why do you say so?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t even mastered ¡®Qi manipulation¡¯ yet. It¡¯s a waste of energy to practice it. It¡¯s a waste to leave it with me.¡± Nan Shan¡¯s expression was serious. ¡°It¡¯s better to let Senior Brother practice it first.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Liu Changsheng hesitated for a moment. ¡°Then wouldn¡¯t I be taking advantage of you for nothing¡­¡± The corners of Nan Shan¡¯s mouth curled up. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? Senior Brother, didn¡¯t you also help me pay for a year¡¯s tuition fees?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Nan Shan saw that Liu Changsheng still wanted to speak, so he directly stuffed the sword manual into his hands without any explanation. ¡°If you¡¯re any more polite, this friendship will fade.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Liu Changsheng opened his mouth. He looked at the sword manual in his hand in a daze, with mixed feelings. He had been in the reliance sect for many years, but this was the first time he had felt the warmth of a friend. In the past, when he interacted with others, it mostly involved a conflict of interest and flattery. However, this time¡­ ¡°Forget it.¡± Liu Changsheng smiled. ¡°If you continue to refuse, it would seem like I really don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Nan Shan smiled even more happily. Because the moment Liu Changsheng agreed, the system¡¯s response came into his mind. [Ding!] [The investment targeting one-star Liu Changsheng has been completed!] [Investment item: ¡®Traceless sword technique¡¯. Now, a tenfold return will be made. Reward: ¡®Thousand square sword technique¡¯! [Thousand-sided sword technique] (High Bronze grade): It originated from the hands of an ancient almighty swordsman, and less than one-tenth of it has been left. Only the first volume is left. When it is cultivated to perfection, its power is infinite. It can fight against ten groups, and one sword can fight against ten swords. It can fight against Foundation establishment cultivators alone and is not at a disadvantage!] ¡°Thousand-sided swords¡­ One against ten¡­ Fighting a Foundation Stage cultivator alone¡­¡± Looking at this introduction, Nan Shan instantly became energetic. No matter how powerful the Traceless sword technique was, it was only a Qi layer cultivation technique. Whether it was fighting one against many or fighting an enemy that was a large tier higher than him, it was impossible. He could only fight with people of similar strength. In comparison, the thousand way sword technique was much more powerful. Even if he cultivated to the foundation establishment stage, it would still be useful. If he could obtain the latter volume in the future, he might be able to continue improving! Infinite upper limit! Without a second word, he received it directly! Nan Shan put his hands behind his back, ready to put them into his storage bag when no one was paying attention. Unexpectedly, the expected heaviness did not appear in his hands. Instead, he felt a sharp pain in his head. Countless patterns and insights gathered together at this moment and swarmed into his mind. ¡°This is¡­¡± Nan Shan¡¯s eyes dimmed slightly. ¡®The sword is made of ordinary iron. It is psychic when held, moved by the heart, lived by the blood, and died by not thinking. The art of controlling the sword lies in regulating the breath¡­¡¯ This was actually the content of the thousand way sword technique! In an instant, every move of the sword technique, as well as the circulation method of spiritual Qi, were deeply imprinted in the depths of his memory. It was as if he knew how to use these moves. Nan Shan¡¯s heart skipped a beat and he tried to use it. Who would have thought. The spirit Qi in his aperture acupoints was really mobilized by him, and it quickly flowed into the blue Sword that he had just bought. The body of the sword lit up instantly, and a strong force was released. However, he resisted the urge to attack and retracted his spiritual energy. At the same time, he also put the sword into his storage bag. ¡®I didn¡¯t expect to be able to learn the cultivation technique rewarded by the system directly. It even allowed me to master the Qi control technique!¡¯ Nan Shan was greatly surprised. He really did not expect it to bring such benefits. Liu Changsheng, who was at the side, was very surprised to see his actions. ¡°Junior Brother, are you practicing your Qi control?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Nan Shan nodded and casually said, ¡°Just now, my sword-wielding avatar felt something, so I gave it a try. I didn¡¯t expect it to really work.¡± ¡°Your talent is truly monstrous!¡± Liu Changsheng¡¯s face was filled with envy. ¡°With my talent, I can only say that I¡¯m far behind. I¡¯m afraid that I¡¯ll have to call you Senior Brother soon.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, you¡¯re too kind. We¡¯re good friends. In the future, you can just call me by my name. Don¡¯t worry about how you address me. The most important thing is to work hard together and join the inner sect as soon as possible!¡± ¡°Good fellow, you haven¡¯t even entered the Outer Sect and you¡¯re already thinking about the Inner Sect?¡± Liu Changsheng laughed and said seriously, ¡°But then again, Junior Brother, you¡¯ve helped me time and time again. I really don¡¯t know how to repay this favor.¡± ¡°Ah, Senior Brother, if you ask me, you¡¯re still too rigid.¡± Nan Shan waved his hand casually. ¡°This Traceless sword technique is not some rare treasure. You have to drip your blood on it to recognize you as its owner before you can learn it. It¡¯s the same if you let me learn it after you¡¯ve learned it. You can even make a bunch of copies and sell them to others to learn.¡± Liu Changsheng scratched his head. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that make this Sword Art known to everyone? if everyone knows it, they won¡¯t have any advantage at all. By then, it¡¯ll be easy for others to break or dismantle the moves.¡± ¡°So what? we¡¯re only selling in the sect. Even if we¡¯re fighting, we can¡¯t fight to the death, right?¡± Nan Shan stroked his chin and pondered. ¡°The sect rules don¡¯t allow disciples to kill each other, right?¡± Liu Changsheng came to a sudden realization and smacked his head. ¡°Junior Brother, your brain is still the fastest! Why didn¡¯t i think of using this method to earn spirit stones?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not too late now,¡± Nan Shan¡¯s gaze swept across the place. there seems to be quite a number of outer sect disciples here. ¡°As long as you lower the price and don¡¯t sell them in large quantities in public, I¡¯m sure many people will pay for them!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get it done later! I¡¯ll give you 80% of the profits!¡± Liu Changsheng looked excited, as if he could already see the day when his hands would cramp from counting money. At this time, Nan Shan suddenly smacked his head. ¡°It¡¯s broken!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I think we¡¯re going to do a spot check on the recitation of the sect rules today. I forgot!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already told you in advance. I won¡¯t check you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good. I don¡¯t want to be bullied.¡± ¡°Hahaha, I¡¯m in charge of receiving the new disciples. How could Senior Brother do such a thing?¡± As they talked and laughed, the two continued to stroll around. Suddenly, there was a disturbance in the depths of the dark workshop. They all looked over. A figure was thrown out of a broken window on the second floor. Before he could react in mid-air, he smashed into the stall below into pieces. From Nan Shan¡¯s perspective. This person¡­ There was light on his forehead! Chapter 11 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The Chuunibyou Ye Xuan [Ding! Found a potential investor!] Nan Shan raised his eyebrows. He was indeed an investor! However, the distance was a little far, so he couldnot see his personal attributes. However, judging from the light, this was a two-star investor. The return on investment was at least fifty times! Without a doubt, he was tempted. In just two days, he had obtained a pill to break through the realm from Liu Changsheng, a one-star investor, as well as a Thousand-sided sword technique to stabilize his realm and cultivation. The improvement was huge. Now that Senior Jiang¡¯s three-star investment had made no progress, Liu Changsheng was unlikely to accept his gift in the short term. In the face of such a new investor, Nan Shan naturally would not let go of this opportunity easily. Moreover, that person seemed to be in trouble. It was the best time to get a good impression! ¡°Senior Brother, let¡¯s go and take a look.¡± Nan Shan did not say anything and rushed over. Who would have thought that Liu Changsheng would pull him back. ¡°Junior Brother, are you going to save him?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Nan Shan did not hide his intentions. ¡°Ah.¡± Liu Changsheng sighed softly and said earnestly, ¡°Junior Brother, I know you¡¯re a kind person, but I still advise you not to get involved in this kind of thing.¡± Then, he paused for a moment and looked into the depths of the dark workshop. ¡°Most of the people who can occupy the shops there are powerful in the sect. They use their background to force people to buy and sell at a high price in the dark market. That kid will understand after suffering a loss. Everyone knows this rule. Don¡¯t get into trouble.¡± ¡°Senior Brother.¡± Nan Shan silently brushed his hand away. ¡°Cultivation is also a cultivation of the heart. It¡¯s all about following one¡¯s heart. If one doesn¡¯t dare to break the norm, then this cultivation path can be considered to have ended.¡± Liu Changsheng was speechless. One sentence directly suppressed him on the spot, unable to control himself for a long time. ¡°Breaking the norm¡­ Just do as you wish¡­¡± He repeated these two words in his mind and couldnot help but reflect on himself. Was it wrong for him to be so smooth and slick in dealing with people? It seemed like he was really wrong ¡­ Cultivation was to defy the heavens and change one¡¯s fate. If one blindly followed the will of others, was that still called changing fate? Liu Changsheng slowly raised his head and looked at Nan Shan¡¯s back as he gradually walked away. He could not help but smile bitterly. ¡°I¡¯ve cultivated for so many years, but I can¡¯t see as clearly as Junior Brother who has cultivated for a few days. Really¡­ Sigh¡­¡± He took a deep breath, and his eyes gradually became determined. He raised his steps and chased after Nan Shan. ¡°Today, I¡¯ll play with you!¡± ¡­ In the distance. Hundreds of people gathered around to watch the show. In the middle of the field, a young man¡¯s hands were held by two people and he was forced to kneel on the ground. His eyes were filled with resentment. He was also dressed in a gray robe, and was an Outer Sect disciple of the Reliance Sect. However, he was a bit weak. The aura he exuded was only at the second or third level of the Qi refining realm. He was being punched and kicked by a few burly men. Although it was only an in-name disciple who was fighting, there were many of them, and each punch hit the flesh hard. The young man could not hold on for long. After a while, he was kicked out and fell hard in front of a shop. Under the huge impact, the young man could not help but vomit a few mouthfuls of blood. He didnot even have the ability to stand up, and could only support his body with one hand on his knee. ¡°Kid, I¡¯ll teach you a lesson today. Next time, when you come to the dark workshop, remember that you have to pay for anything you touch in my shop!¡± At the entrance of the shop stood a disciple who was also dressed in a gray robe. He had an arrogant expression. ¡°Where are the spirit stones? Hand it over and save yourself the physical pain, understand?¡± ¡°Bah!¡± The young man spat out the blood in his mouth and slowly raised his head. He looked at him without fear. ¡°No!¡± ¡°Hehe, looks like you haven¡¯t had enough fun.¡± The grey-robed disciple sneered and kicked the youth¡¯s chin. A crisp sound was heard. The young man flipped in the air and fell to the ground. Fresh blood spurted out and splattered all over the grey-robed disciple. This time, he tried to get up with his hands on the ground, but after several attempts, he failed. The kick just now had already shattered a portion of the bone in his lower jaw. The pain dominated his brain, so much so that his body was unable to make any coordinated and coherent movements. ¡°What bad luck, you even dirtied my clothes.¡± The gray-robed disciple snorted coldly. He took a few steps forward and stomped on the youth¡¯s abdomen. This time, he didnot continue to ask. Instead, he reached out and groped the young man¡¯s body. After searching for a while. The gray-robed disciple frowned. ¡°What?¡± ¡°How can there be nothing?¡± He retracted his palm and looked at the young man, sizing him up several times. After confirming that there was no storage equipment, he could not help but frown. ¡°Speak! Where did you hide the spirit stone?¡± The gray-robed disciple¡¯s gaze was fierce, and he looked as if he had lost his patience. However, the young man still glared at him with resentment. Even though his jaw was already injured, he still responded with a tough tone. ¡°If you have the ability, then kill me!¡± ¡°The river flows thirty years East, and thirty years West. Don¡¯t try to show off here!¡± ¡°Three years later, I, Ye Xuan, will return the humiliation today several times over!¡± When the surrounding disciples heard this, they all thought of one word. ¡®He¡¯s finished!¡¯ It was fine if he did not give them the spirit stones, but he even threatened them in their faces. Was he not looking for trouble? Nan Shan rushed over and suddenly heard this. He also felt a chill in his heart. ¡°This person¡­ he¡¯s a little stubborn¡­¡± However, when he saw the character panel, he was relieved. [Ye Xuan] [Age: 16] [Favorability: 15] [Investment potential star: 2] [Current Status: Available for investment] [Return on investment: 50 times] [Character personality: Chuunibyou, full of justice] [Character abilities: unyielding, never giving up, always serious in doing things, often immersed in his own world, unable to listen to the advice of others. However, as long as the method is right, it is easy to achieve success.] ¡­ So he was a Chuunibyou teenager. No wonder he would do such a thing. It was all because of a moment of passion, and he didnot care about the consequences at all. Or rather, he was not afraid of any consequences. The result was obvious. The grey-robed disciple¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of ruthlessness. ¡°You¡¯ve reminded me.¡± As he spoke, he stretched out his hand and pressed it directly on the young man¡¯s shoulder. The spirit Qi in his body circulated and quickly filled his entire palm. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve crippled one of your arms and severed your meridians, what can you do to me even if I give you thirty years, let alone three years? ¡± On the side, the underlings who were acting as thugs all looked like they were watching a good show. The others might not know, but they understood it very well. Senior Brother Zhao Ze was no ordinary person. He had the third-ranked senior brother of the Outer Sect behind him. Although Senior Brother Zhao Ze did not dare to kill someone, it wasnot a problem for him to just cripple the cultivation of an ordinary Outer Sect disciple. As long as no lives were lost, that Outer Sect senior brother would be able to help them suppress it. In the past, this kind of thing had happened a lot. The disciples who were robbed by them all held back their resentment and handed over the spirit stones with both hands. It was not as if there werenot any tough guys like Ye Xuan. However, all of them had their arms crippled by Zhao Ze, and their cultivation speed was greatly reduced. In the end, they were forced to leave the sect because they couldnot pass the assessment. However¡­ Today, this person¡¯s end might be even worse. After all, not only did Ye Xuan not pay the spirit stones, but he also threatened her. Senior Brother Zhao Ze would never forgive this kind of behavior! The spirit Qi in Zhao Ze¡¯s hand had already formed and was as sharp as a knife. He was about to kill him. Suddenly, Nan Shan stepped into the center and looked at the crowd as he slowly spoke. ¡°When it¡¯s possible to forgive people, let them be. Stop. I¡¯ll make up for how many spirit stones he owes you.¡± Chapter 12 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The Zhao Brothers, Third Place In The Outer Sect! ¡°Yo, a busybody.¡± Zhao Se sneered. ¡°You¡¯re just an in-name disciple. How dare you interfere in my business? Get lost!¡± Of course, he did not believe that Nan Shan was telling the truth. He only felt that he was stalling for time. Who knows, he might have already sent his companion to complain to the Sect. Nan Shan¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What if I insist on getting involved?¡± Zhao Ze didnot bother to say anything more and prepared to continue. On the side, an in-name disciple holding a short stick quietly came behind Nan Shan. Just as he was about to launch a sneak attack. Suddenly! A bright sword light flashed! The short stick instantly broke into pieces and fell to the ground. The in-name disciple was dumbfounded. He had no idea what had happened. He looked up. At some point in time, Nan Shan was already holding a blue sword in his hand. His whole body was emitting spiritual energy, and his eyes were cold. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that you can¡¯t kill each other within the same sect, you would already be a corpse.¡± This move had stunned everyone present. ¡°How is that possible? He didn¡¯t even have a sect badge, could he have just entered the sect two days ago? You¡¯ve already reached the Qi refining stage?¡± ¡°Not only that, he only used one move, but there were several sword marks, and they even changed direction in the air. It seems that he has already reached the level of ¡®Qi control¡¯.¡± ¡°Oh my god, there¡¯s a genius among the new disciples this year.¡± ¡°So what if you¡¯re a genius? You didn¡¯t cultivate properly and came here to meddle in other people¡¯s business. You¡¯re still a little too impetuous.¡± ¡­ The surrounding people were discussing. No one would have thought that an in-name disciple could actually possess spiritual energy, and even be so skilled in controlling it to protect his body without dispersing it. However, more than that, he felt sorry for his irrational behavior. ¡°I was wondering why he dared to boast so shamelessly. So he has some skills.¡± Zhao Ze was also distracted by this scene, but he didnot care too much. He ordered, ¡°Catch him and bring him here! I¡¯m going to cripple one of his arms and legs!¡± ¡°Everyone, attack!¡± Several registered disciples who had also entered the Qi refining stage took the lead and took out their weapons from their storage bags. They spread out and surrounded Nan Shan. Nan Shan was not afraid, and the sword in his hand was ready to attack. ¡°Stop!¡± Suddenly, a loud shout came from outside the crowd. Zhao Ze turned his head and saw the figure who had split the crowd. He couldnot help but frown. ¡°Senior Brother Liu? You want to get involved? ¡°Not bad.¡± Liu Changsheng walked to Nan Shan¡¯s side and stood still. ¡°Junior Brother Zhao, give me some face and let that young man go. I¡¯ll come to thank you in the future.¡± ¡°Some face? Hahahahaha!¡± Zhao Ze laughed out loud and looked at him with disdain. ¡°Liu Changsheng, I called you Senior Brother, but you¡¯re really pretending? I¡¯m telling you, my brother is third in the Outer Sect! Can you compare to him?¡± They started to move the background. Zhao Ze knew that his strength was not as good as Liu Changsheng¡¯s, so he wanted to use his brother¡¯s name to intimidate the other party and make Liu Changsheng retreat. After all, even though Liu Changsheng had a certain reputation in the Outer Sect, his prestige was very low. Everyone¡¯s impression of him stopped at the concept of a ¡®tool¡¯. As long as you have a bit of background in the sect, you can make him work for you for free! In the long run, everyone felt that Liu Changsheng was the kind of loser who only knew how to live in the cracks. Once he encountered something troublesome, he would stay far away and avoid it. Zhao Ze felt that Liu Changsheng would do what he did in the past, find a decent excuse, and leave with the nosy in-name disciple. Who would have thought. Liu Changsheng met Zhao Ze¡¯s sharp gaze and took a step forward, standing in front of Nan Shan. ¡°I naturally can¡¯t compare to Brother Zhao, but no matter how big he is, he can¡¯t be bigger than the sect rules!¡± As he spoke, he pointed at Ye Xuan, who was on the ground. ¡°You¡¯ve injured your fellow disciple to this extent. If I report this to the Inner Sect, I wonder who will protect you!¡± ¡°You dare to threaten me?¡± Zhao Ze was very surprised and looked at Nan Shan again. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you, Liu Changsheng. You would actually stand up for a newly-entered in-name disciple. How much benefits did he give you?¡± ¡°Friends don¡¯t ask for anything in return for helping each other.¡± Liu Changsheng¡¯s expression was firm. How can someone like you understand?!¡± Nan Shan was sweating. He felt like he was being scolded by him. ¡°You!¡± Seeing Liu Changsheng being so unyielding, Zhao Ze felt embarrassed and couldnot accept it from the bottom of his heart. If he took a step back today and was cowed by Liu Changsheng, who could be bullied by anyone, how could he survive in the sect in the future? Shaking people down! Zhao Ze immediately waved his sleeve and had his underling run to deliver the message, asking his Big Brother to make a decision. It was impossible for Nan Shan to sit there stupidly and wait for the other party to call for help, so he immediately wanted to take him away. Liu Changsheng protected him from the side, advancing and retreating together. In the end, Zhao Ze stepped on Ye Xuan¡¯s chest again. ¡°If you take one more step, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless!¡± ¡°Despicable!¡± Liu Changsheng¡¯s charging motion halted, and he gritted his teeth as he stood still. He looked at Nan Shan and said in a low voice. ¡°Junior Brother, at this distance, I don¡¯t have the confidence to directly save that youth from his hands. Don¡¯t act rashly.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Nan Shan¡¯s expression was calm. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I already have a countermeasure.¡± Liu Changsheng could not help but be surprised. In the face of the upcoming Third Outer Disciple, what could they use to fight? Just as he was puzzled, he saw Nan Shan take out a red string jade pendant from his arms and hanged it around his waist. This was¡­ Senior Sister Jiang¡¯s item? Liu Changsheng¡¯s heart brightened, and the pressure on him immediately decreased. No wonder Junior Brother was so calm. It turned out that he had already hooked up with Senior Sister Jiang, this big tree! ¡°All of you, move! Don¡¯t you have eyes? How dare you block senior brother Zhao¡¯s way!¡± Just then, there was a commotion in the crowd. He turned around and saw that it was Zhao Ze¡¯s lackey who had returned with his brother. ¡°Senior Brother Zhao Lei¡­¡± Liu Changsheng gave a polite bow and was about to speak when he was interrupted by the other party. ¡°Liu Changsheng, how dare you bully my brother?¡± Zhao Lei was tall and strong. Standing in front of Liu Changsheng, he gave off an oppressive feeling. ¡°Bully? I don¡¯t think so.¡± Nan Shan suddenly opened his mouth and said in an indifferent tone, ¡°My friend is still being stepped on by your brother. How should we settle this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking to Liu Changsheng. When is it your turn¡­¡± Zhao Lei hated it the most when others interrupted. He was just about to flare up. However, when he turned around, he saw Nan Shan¡¯s upright figure. The most eye-catching thing was the jade pendant on his waist. Jiang¡­ Zhao Lei¡¯s heart trembled. Senior Sister Jiang Congshuang? How could an in-name disciple have such a personal item? What the h*ll? His Younger Brother didnot mention this when he was contacted! F*ck! Chapter 13 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Hurry up And Let Him Go! Who was Jiang Congshuang? Anyone who went to the Reliance Sect¡¯s Outer Sect to ask would be able to tell them a few of the great things this cold-faced fairy had done. Even in the Inner Sect, she would be quite famous. The prestige that had been accumulated over the years had already been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. If Jiang Congshuang claimed to be second in the Outer Sect, no one would dare to claim to be first! Zhao Lei sighed at his inferiority. However, in all these years, he had never heard of Jiang Congshuang protecting any in-name disciple who had just entered the sect. He looked at Nan Shan carefully. He could not see anything special about him. ¡­However, this token could not be faked. This kid must be under Jiang Congshuang¡¯s protection! If there was a direct conflict¡­ At that time, it would not be a matter that could be resolved with a few words. Many thoughts flashed through Zhao Lei¡¯s mind, and he made a decision in the blink of an eye. He would first handle the current matter properly and make a decision after a thorough investigation! He immediately changed his words. Zhao Lei glared at him and pointed at the underling who had just brought him over. ¡°I¡¯m talking to Liu Changsheng. when did it become your turn to stand here and get in the way?¡± The underling was speechless. What did he do? Why did he suddenly get blamed? ¡®I don¡¯t understand!¡¯ After that. He saw Senior Brother Zhao Lei, who usually had an arrogant attitude towards everyone, actually nod at the in-name disciple beside Liu Changsheng. He looked very friendly! ¡°This Junior Brother is right. The sect rules state that ¡®killing each other is forbidden within the same sect¡¯. This matter was indeed my Younger Brother¡¯s fault, and I will deal with it impartially.¡± F*ck! What was going on? Zhao Ze was also confused. ¡°Brother, you are¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Zhao Lei vented his anger on his younger brother. I told you to run the shop well. What are you doing here? Hitting someone?¡± Zhao Ze¡¯s mind went blank. I¡­ ¡°You what you!¡± Zhao Lei saw that he was so insensible and became even angrier. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you releasing him? Waiting for me to beg you? Idiot!¡± Zhao Ze was also unhappy. It was impossible for him not to be angry after being scolded by his brother in public, but he did not dare to say anything. He could only do as he was told. Nan Shan took the seriously injured Ye Xuan and left the place without saying anything. He knew that Zhao Lei would definitely not pursue Zhao Ze¡¯s crimes. This was something both sides had a tacit understanding of. In the future, she might even find trouble with him in private. This was not important. He had achieved his goal of saving Ye Xuan. After a few rounds of investment, what would a mere third place in the Outer Sect be? It was just a stepping stone for him to make a name for himself in the Reliance Sect. He wasnot even a stumbling block! Having lived two lives, Nan Shan still had this bit of confidence. Liu Changsheng followed closely behind, but before he left, he cupped his hands and saluted the Zhao brothers, which was also a sign of respect. Unfortunately¡­ However, such a move didnot calm the two Zhao brothers down. His underlings had already started to drive away the crowd that had gathered to watch the show. Zhao Lei¡¯s gaze was deep as he looked at the distant Nan Shan. After a long time, he let out a disdainful cold snort from his nostrils. Seeing this, Zhao Ze immediately understood that his brother was just putting on an act. He felt a little indignant and couldnot help but grumble, ¡°Brother, what¡¯s this kid¡¯s background? Even you don¡¯t dare to touch him?¡± ¡°Idiot!¡± It would have been fine if he hadnot mentioned it, but he exploded the moment he did. Zhao Lei pushed him into the shop and scolded, ¡°Are you blind? Do you know who he is? The Outer Sect is so big, of all people, why did you have to offend Jiang congshuang¡¯s people?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Zhao Ze was stunned. ¡°That kid is Jiang Congshuang¡¯s man? That¡¯s impossible, right? A disciple who just entered the sect, what qualities does he have to be favored by Senior Sister?¡± ¡°How would I know!¡± Zhao Lei was extremely angry. ¡°Next time, you better open your eyes when you do things. If you provoke this kind of person again, see how I¡¯ll deal with you!¡± ¡°I know, brother.¡± Zhao Ze felt bitter but couldnot say anything. God knows that such a person would suddenly appear¡­ ¡°Hmph.¡± he snorted. Zhao Lei squinted his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s that kid¡¯s realm?¡± Zhao Ze answered submissively, ¡°Around the second or third level of the aura refining realm.¡± Hearing this, Zhao Lei fell into deep thought. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then he will definitely participate in the Outer Sect assessment in eight days. ¡°Very good. When he reaches the Outer Gate, I have plenty of ways to deal with him! ¡°Don¡¯t think that you¡¯ll have an easy time if you dare to embarrass me!¡± ¡­ At the same time, Nan Shan and Liu Changsheng hurriedly took Ye Xuan out of the dark workshop and returned to the outside world. Ye Xuan had already endured the pain and opened his mouth to take a healing pill to stop the bleeding, but his broken bones wouldnot recover so quickly. This injury would probably take a long time to heal. However, even though he could not walk now and had to rely on Nan Shan and the others to help him move, this did not prevent him from expressing his emotions. ¡°Detestable¡­¡± Ye Xuan¡¯s heart was filled with anger. He looked up at the starry sky. ¡°Power¡­ I want¡­ strength.¡± His eyes were filled with unwillingness, but also with a little hope. Just as he was fantasizing, a meteorite suddenly fell from the sky, and there was something inside that improved their physique, affecting the three of them. However, after a series of changes in his body, he was the only one who had successfully mastered this mysterious power. From then on, he would trample over the Zhao brothers, rise to the top, sweep through the Reliance Sect, save the world, and win the hearts of countless senior and junior sisters! ¡°Zhao Ze, you better pray that this day won¡¯t come!¡± Nan Shan was speechless. What was going on? He glanced at Ye Xuan, who was still in a daze. Was this kid¡¯s brain damaged? When they came to a secluded place, Nan Shan put him down and squatted down to help check his injuries. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± The intense pain brought Ye Xuan back to his consciousness. He frowned as he looked at the bruises on his chest and abdomen. His desire for revenge grew stronger. After Nan Shan¡¯s examination, he took an ordinary healing medicine from Liu Changsheng, crushed it, and applied it to the wound. ¡°Senior Brother Ye, the injuries on your body are not serious. You will be fine after a few days of rest. However, your internal organs have been shaken. You have to carefully nourish them with spiritual energy every day. As for the injury on your lower jaw¡­ I don¡¯t have a good solution for the time being, and I don¡¯t have the medicine to treat it. I can only wait.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright¡­¡± Ye Xuan forced himself to sit up. ¡°Thank you¡­ I, Ye Xuan, am not someone who doesn¡¯t know how to repay a favor. This Junior Brother and Senior Brother Liu have helped me out. I will always remember your kindness in my heart!¡± ¡°No need to thank me. It was Junior Brother Nan who saved you. I was only responsible for carrying you out.¡± Liu Changsheng smiled gently. ¡°How did you get into a conflict with someone like Zhao Ze? Looking at your cultivation, you should have been an Outer Disciple for some time, right?¡± At the mention of this, the resentment on Ye Xuan¡¯s face could no longer be contained, and all of it emerged. ¡°That dog didn¡¯t show up at the beginning. I didn¡¯t even know that it was his shop. ¡°I was just taking a walk around to see if there were any suitable swords. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought that they¡¯d force me to buy it after just touching it! ¡°A mid-grade black iron sword, and you¡¯re selling it to me for two mid-grade spirit stones. I won¡¯t let you go if you don¡¯t buy it! ¡°I was so angry that I pushed down a shelf in his store.¡± Nan Shan and Liu Changsheng looked at each other, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. As expected of a young man in his teens. In a moment of passion, he dared to do anything! Chapter 14 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Devouring Fiend Sword! ¡°You all saw what happened after that. They tried to get my spirit stones by force but failed, so they came to snatch them.¡± ¡°Hmph! ¡°What a bunch of disgraceful thugs. ¡°I¡¯ll make them pay the price sooner or later!¡± Ye Xuan was in a terrible mood. After venting, he was a little depressed. ¡°Senior Brother Ye, it¡¯s more important to recuperate now. We need to plan for revenge.¡± Nan Shan saw this and took out the blue sword that he had just bought from his storage bag and handed it to him. ¡°This sword is not a good thing. I¡¯ll give it to Senior Brother for self-defense first. If you encounter similar things in the future, you won¡¯t be bullied for no reason.¡± ¡°Then¡­ many thanks, Junior Brother Nan.¡± Ye Xuan was not a pretentious person. He really did lack a weapon at the moment, and he believed that he could repay Nan Shan¡¯s kindness in the future, so he didnot refuse. After he accepted the gift, the sound of the investment completion notification echoed in Nan Shan¡¯s mind. [Ding!] [The investment targeted at two-star investment target, Ye Xuan, has been completed!] [Investment item: a medium bronze grade sword-type weapon. Now 50 times return. Reward item ¡®Devouring Fiend¡¯!] [Devouring Fiend] (low gold, sealed): The legendary weapon was made by a famous swordsman of a generation. It was made from the ¡®cold soul Mystic Crystal¡¯ that had been extinct in the extreme north for a thousand years, and was refined with the blood refining method. Even without unsheathing the sword, it could still use the ¡®cold congealing blood Qi¡¯ to injure the enemy. It was extremely overbearing. It was rumored that the ¡®devouring fiend¡¯ required the sacrifice of a living person¡¯s blood essence when it was used. The more blood was used, the stronger the sword Qi!] ¡­ As expected! The system¡¯s reward would never disappoint him! Taking the risk of offending someone to save Ye Xuan was really the right thing to do! This was a gold quality weapon! It was far more powerful than The blue sword he had given away. Comparing the two of them was like comparing the moon to a firefly. What was even more terrifying was that the ¡®evil-devouring beast¡¯ was still in a sealed state! After breaking the seal, it might become a medium or even high gold grade divine weapon! This was already a treasure that was above the middle. Even the core disciples of the Reliance Sect might not be able to have something like this. Now, he, who had just entered the Qi refining stage, had such a sword! Such a treasure, not to mention the foundation establishment stage, even if it was used to the higher golden core stage, it was more than enough! Nan Shan¡¯s heart was burning. ¡®Cold congealing blood Qi¡¯, it sounded very domineering! He didnot lose anything this time! However, although this sword was strong, it was a little strange. It could only be used by sacrificing blood essence. Otherwise, it was no different from scrap iron. It wasnot easy to use it in the Reliance Sect. From the looks of it, he had to wait for an opportunity to go down the mountain, find some wild animals, and sharpen its blade first. There were still a few days before the Outer Sect examination, so he had plenty of time. After he and Liu Changsheng settled Ye Xuan down and let him recuperate in peace, he returned to his residence and began to pack his bags. He had to bring his belongings with him, and the rest was just some clothes to change into. There was nothing special. Liu Changsheng looked at him and could not help but feel surprised. ¡°Junior Brother, you¡¯re going out?¡± Nan Shan nodded. yes, I plan to go down the mountain for a while and gain some experience. Liu Changsheng was in a difficult position. ¡°The sect¡­ It¡¯s not that easy to get out, especially for honorary disciples. Although I¡¯m the one receiving you now, if I let you out of the mountain without permission and the higher-ups find out, I¡¯ll be punished, but you¡¯ll face the risk of being expelled from the sect.¡± ¡°Is it like this? Is there no other way?¡± Nan Shan was stunned for a moment before he asked. ¡°Let me think¡­¡± Liu Changsheng scratched his head and pondered. After thinking for a while, he suddenly snapped his fingers. ¡°There is!¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°There are many things to do in the sect. The Mission hall is short of manpower every day. You can go there and ask around. You can find a simple mission. Not only can you leave the mountain, but you can also earn contribution points.¡± ¡°A mission? That¡¯s fine too.¡± Nan Shan did not hesitate at all. He bade farewell to Liu Changsheng and stepped onto the transmission array, arriving at the mountain peak where the Mission hall was located. This place was even more lively than he had imagined. Even though it was night time, there were still many Outer and in-name disciples coming and going. In front of the Mission hall, there was a long line. Those who handed in the mission and those who accepted the mission were mixed together. They waited for a long time, but there was not much movement of people. Nan Shan was very patient. He quietly waited at the end of the line. In the blink of an eye, a few hours had passed, and it was finally his turn. The disciple behind the counter glanced at Nan Shan and asked indifferently. ¡°Accept the mission or submit the mission?¡± ¡°Accept.¡± ¡°Identity token.¡± ¡°¡­Not yet.¡± ¡°Just entered the sect?¡± The disciple at the counter immediately frowned and waved his hand impatiently. ¡°Don¡¯t join in the fun when you¡¯ve just entered. It¡¯s a waste of everyone¡¯s time. You haven¡¯t even reached the threshold of the lianqi stage, so why are you still doing missions?¡± This attitude was a little bad. Nan Shan was very displeased. Although he knew that strength spoke for itself in the sect, and whoever was stronger could be arrogant, he just couldnot stand this kind of bullying. Pa! Nan Shan directly pressed the jade pendant that Jiang Congshuang gave him on the table. ¡°Is this an identity token? ¡± ¡°You¡­¡± The disciple at the counter was about to chase him away, but when he saw the graceful ¡®Jiang¡¯ character on the top, his hands trembled instantly, and a name involuntarily came to his mind. Jiang Congshuang! The cold and elegant Senior Sister who was firmly seated on the number one throne of the Outer Sect! He changed his tone and asked carefully, ¡°Junior Brother, did Senior Sister Jiang send you out of the sect to handle some matters?¡± Nan Shan¡¯s face was cold. ¡°Do I need to report to you? ¡± ¡°Naturally not¡­ There¡¯s naturally no need¡­¡± The disciple at the counter smiled and apologized. He looked at the red string jade pendant again and confirmed that it belonged to Jiang cCongshuang. Then, he immediately recommended something to Nan Shan that had ample time and a light task. The first task was to run an errand. He was to go to a temple outside the sect and personally hand a letter to the abbot. The time limit was three days. It was just in line with Nan Shan¡¯s thoughts. ¡°I¡¯ll take this.¡± ¡°Then¡­ Junior Brother, take this certificate and go to the back to get a horse.¡± The disciple at the counter immediately handed him a letter. With the proof in hand, Nan Shan immediately took action and went to the back hall to get a fast horse. After many years of practicing martial arts in the secular world, he had naturally mastered some horsemanship skills. After using the teleportation formation to get to the mountain gate. Nan Shan walked on the official road and galloped on his horse. Under the bright moonlight. All that was left was his figure. Chapter 15 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Out Of The Mountain! Bandits! In this fantasy world, spiritual Qi was abundant. Ordinary animals would have some changes in their physiques if they were to survive in such an environment. When they ran, their speed would be extremely fast. Horses like these that came from sects were even more outstanding. The mission location wasnot too far away, only a few hundred miles. At full speed, they would arrive in half a day. There was still a lot of time left in the limited three days. Therefore, Nan Shan was not in a hurry. He was only moving at half speed. From time to time, he would pay attention to the creatures in the surrounding environment. He was looking for an offering that could sharpen the edge of the sword. The night was getting darker. In the depths of the desolate forest in the wild, the terrifying cries of wolves and birds could be heard from time to time. Nan Shan had been cultivating for many years, so naturally, he was not afraid of these wild beasts. However, after being in such an environment for a long time, it was inevitable that he would be a little nervous. Coincidentally, there was the smell of fireworks not far away. It seemed to be a tavern. He might as well go there and ask for directions to see if there were any inns nearby. It would be good to rest for the night, relax his body and mind, and start on his journey the next morning. Nan Shan did as he thought. He had disguised himself slightly. Wearing a bamboo hat and carrying a long sword on his back, he pretended to be a swordsman passing by, not disturbing the lives of these mortals. Cultivators and mortals did not exist in the same world. Too much contact would only add to his troubles. As they neared, the horses neighed and someone came out to welcome them. ¡°Sir, are you here to fight or to stay in the hotel?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to ask for directions.¡± Nan Shan casually threw out a small piece of silver. When the waiter caught it, he was immediately overjoyed. ¡°Please say, please say, this little one will tell you everything I know!¡± ¡°Are there any inns nearby?¡± ¡°Oh, what a coincidence. We have a place to stay in this shop.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Nan Shan nodded gently, got off the horse, and handed the reins to the other party. ¡°Give me half a catty of beef and two taels of good wine. Clean up a superior room. I¡¯ll be staying here tonight.¡± ¡°Good Lord Xiao!¡± The waiter immediately called out. The main hall of the inn was very quiet. Nan Shan stepped into it, and only a weak candle flame dispelled the darkness. He randomly found a seat and sat down. He watched as the waiter went back and forth between the backyard and upstairs. He was busy in and out. Then he took out two pieces of silver and put them on the table. Soon, the dishes and wine were served. In addition to the meat, the waiter also gave him some extra food to go with the wine. Nan Shan pointed at the silver on the table. ¡°This little one will reward you. The rest should be enough to pay for the meal and room, right?¡± ¡°My Lord, you ¡­¡± The waiter immediately felt a little embarrassed. ¡°Didn¡¯t I just give it to you? I¡¯m not the kind of person who is insatiable.¡± Nan Shan picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. The sauce was rich, the texture was chewy, and the taste was unexpectedly good. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Keep it. I have something to ask you,¡± he said with a smile. The waiter hesitated for a moment. Seeing that the young man in front of him had an extraordinary appearance, he must be a particular person who did not care about these small change. At that moment, he didnot hesitate and directly accepted the silver. ¡°Yes, please speak, this little one will tell you everything I know!¡± Nan Shan took out the letter he was going to send and asked, ¡°I¡¯m going to Heqing temple. Which way is the fastest?¡± ¡°Master, if we follow the main road, there¡¯s a fork about thirty li away. It¡¯s the closest.¡± The waiter thought for a moment. ¡°However, Heqing temple hasn¡¯t been very peaceful recently. Master, you must be careful when you go there.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Nan Shan was a little puzzled. The Heqing temple was also a place for cultivation. Although they were far from the reliance sect, they still had one or two Qi condensation cultivators. With their protection, it shouldnot be a problem to protect the safety of the region. How could it not be peaceful? Who would have thought that the waiter would shake his head and say that he didnot know what was going on. Heqing temple was too far away, so he had only heard of it from passing merchants. Now that everyone had changed their trade routes, they would not go that way. Nan Shan did not say anything. After the meal, he went upstairs to rest. The vertical sun. Early in the morning, the noise downstairs was endless, so noisy that people couldnot sleep. Fortunately, after reaching the Qi refining stage, as long as he meditated and absorbed spiritual Qi, he could nourish his spirit and recover his physical strength. He didnot really need sleep. Nan Shan was in good shape and was not affected much. He put on his bamboo hat and carried his longsword. He didnot do something as boring as finding trouble with others and continued on his way. When he arrived at the main hall, the waiter was greeting a few tables of guests. When he saw him coming downstairs, he immediately came up to him. ¡°Master, you¡¯re awake. This one will go and prepare breakfast for you.¡± ¡°No need, bring the horse over.¡± Nan Shan tightened his clothes and slowly walked out of the store. ¡°Alright, Master Shan, please wait a moment.¡± The waiter hurriedly ran to the backyard. The people who were eating saw this scene. They stopped talking at the same time and looked over. One of the men with a fierce face and a knife scar on his face narrowed his eyes. After taking a big gulp of hard liquor, he gave a look to his companions at the tables next to him. The dozen or so people nodded in understanding. Seeing Nan Shan leave on his horse, the knife-scarred man got up first and walked towards the backyard. After a few breaths. They galloped straight in the direction of Nan Shan¡¯s departure. ¡°AI! My lords! You haven¡¯t paid yet!¡± The waiter had been chasing after them for a long time, and his mouth was full of dust. ¡­ A few hundred miles wasnot a long journey. Nan Shan went out early in the morning and could arrive at Heqing temple before noon. However, after running for nearly two hundred miles, he came to another fork. Looking at the two paths on his left and right, he was a little troubled. Which way was the way to Heqing temple? He had no choice but to dismount and wait to see if anyone would pass by. Who would have thought that not long after, a dozen figures on horses would arrive, holding sabers and long Spears, as fierce as bandits. ¡°This is the kid!¡± ¡°D*mn it, he ran so fast. Surround him!¡± Nan Shan raised his eyebrows and could not help but laugh. ¡°You¡¯re really persistent.¡± As a cultivator, he had long discovered that someone was following him. He didnot take it to heart at first. They were all mortals, so there was no need to be calculative. Moreover, he was riding on the sect¡¯s horse, which was extremely fast. When these people realized that they couldnot catch up, they would definitely give up. Who would have thought that after stopping for a while, they would actually catch up. Nan Shan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, letting the other party surround him. One of the men with a knife scar rode his horse forward a few steps, a long knife on his shoulder, and sneered. ¡°Brat, you¡¯re really good at running. You¡¯ve made me chase you for so long,¡± Nan Shan didnot reply and quietly watched the other party¡¯s intentions. ¡°Be tactful and hand over your money and the sword behind you. Otherwise¡­¡± The knife-scarred man gave him a look. A few of his underlings immediately dismounted and surrounded Nan Shan with weapons. ¡°You won¡¯t even be able to keep your corpse intact!¡± Chapter 16 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation A Small Punishment And A Big Warning Nan Shan laughed. He didnot expect to encounter such a thing on his first trip out of the mountain. They didnot know if he was the lucky one or if they were the unlucky ones. Was there any chance for a mortal to win against a cultivator? Not at all! Even a first Qi layer cultivator who hadnot mastered the method of absorbing Qi would be able to beat up this group of fourth or fifth layer body refining cultivators! Not to mention that he had already cultivated the thousand way sword technique. Taking care of them was no different from drinking water. It was completely effortless! However, Nan Shan did not intend to kill anyone. The Devouring Fiend sword¡¯s effect was that the more and purer the blood essence it absorbed when it was sharpening, the stronger it would be after sharpening. The few trash in front of him werenot worthy to be the souls of the sword of the evil devouring beast. Nan Shan shook his head gently, his expression indifferent. ¡°Everyone, it¡¯s not easy to survive in this chaotic world. I understand.¡± As he spoke, he threw an ingot of gold into the knife-scarred man¡¯s arms. ¡°This little money can be used to solve a disaster. I have no intention of fighting with you. You can leave now.¡± ¡°Motherf*cker, are you trying to send away a beggar?¡± The knife-scarred man originally saw that Nan Shan was calm and composed, and he was a little uncertain. Now that he heard these kind words, he felt that Nan Shan was just pretending to be calm. Would a powerful person be so easy to talk to? Let them rob him? The knife-scarred man didnot think that was possible. Driven by his greed, his courage also doubled. ¡°I want all the money, don¡¯t even think about keeping a single cent!¡± The knife-scarred man shouted, ¡°Do it! We¡¯ll just snatch it!¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Nan Shan could not help but sigh. ¡°Since you¡¯re asking for it, don¡¯t blame me.¡± He raised his right hand and activated his spiritual Qi. A transparent barrier was formed several meters away from him. The few underlings suddenly didnot know. They only felt that their bodies, which were still charging forward, were suddenly blocked by an invisible force. No matter what they did, they could not take another step forward. Buzzzzzz! The astral wind instantly erupted and swept out from Nan Shan¡¯s body. The robbers were immediately sent flying by the strong wind for more than ten meters. They fell into the mud, spitting blood. The rest of the people didnot have it easy either. It was a scene of complete chaos. A few unlucky ones were even trampled by the frightened horses and had a few of their ribs broken. ¡°He¡¯s actually an immortal cultivator!¡± The knife-scarred man was terrified. He stumbled to his feet and shouted, ¡°Run! Split up!¡± As he ran, he didnot forget to turn around and say some harsh words. ¡°You have guts! Little brat! When I get Big Brother to come over, you¡¯ll get it!¡± Nan Shan was amused. ¡°Who gave you the wrong impression that you can escape from the hands of cultivators?¡± He circulated his spirit Qi to his feet, and his speed doubled. He caught up with the knife-scarred man in a few steps and directly kicked him to the ground. The rest of the robbers ran even faster when they saw this. Nan Shan looked down at the knife-scarred man and said lightly, ¡°Ask your men to come over. Save your strength. Don¡¯t make me waste my energy to catch them one by one.¡± ¡°Hehe, what nonsense are you talking about? If you have the ability, then kill me. Cultivators killing mortals will only increase their karmic hindrance. Do you think I don¡¯t know that?¡± The knife-scarred man was full of confidence. After his men ran to inform his big brother, this kid would not be able to escape. ¡°Your stupidity has really opened my eyes. You¡¯re not a good person, so how can killing you increase my karmic hindrance?¡± Nan Shan¡¯s palm was filled with spiritual energy, and he pretended to kill him. ¡°Don¡¯t! Hero, stop!¡± The knife-scarred man was shocked and quickly shouted, ¡°Why are you idiots running! Did he really think that he could escape? All of you, get over here and listen to the immortal master¡¯s lecture!¡± After this shout, half of the people hesitated. They looked back but didnot go over. The rest were still running. Nan Shan shouted lightly, and his spiritual energy swept across again, sending them flying. ¡°If you take one more step, I won¡¯t just be using 10% of my strength!¡± ¡°Ten percent¡­¡± The knife-scarred man at his feet swallowed his saliva, unconsciously comparing the young man in front of him to his big brother. Big brother¡­ Could he even have 50% of his strength? As soon as this thought appeared, the knife-scarred man couldnot help but want to submit to him. It was better to be obedient and save his life first. AI! Today was truly an unlucky day. It wasnot easy to meet someone who seemed to be rich, but who would have thought that he was actually a cultivator! Soon, the rest of the robbers also slowly approached. Nan Shan¡¯s eyes swept across the room. ¡°Be more aware and hand over all the money you have.¡± The people present couldnot help being stunned. Why did these words sound so familiar? F*ck! Was this immortal master trying to rob them? These people didnot react. Nan Shan directly stepped on the knife-scarred man¡¯s foot. ¡°What are you doing? be an example. How do you lead your little brother?¡± The knife-scarred man felt a sharp pain in his chest, and he almost suffocated. Although he felt that it was ridiculous, he still handed over all the treasures he had on him. At the same time, he pointed at the horses that were scattered not far away. ¡°Immortal master, most of the money we robbed this time is in the bag beside the horse. If you want it, you can take it yourself¡­¡± Nan Shan pouted and commanded, ¡°Go, bring the bags over and let me see. The surrounding underlings were more sensible this time, and they hurriedly ran over. After collecting them, he threw them on the ground beside the knife-scarred man, forming a small mountain nearly a meter high. ¡°You¡¯re quite rich. You even have spirit stones?¡± Nan Shan looked at them and was greatly surprised. He waved his hand and put all of them into his storage bag. This wealth was enough for him to invest for a period of time. The knife-scarred man¡¯s heart felt like it was being cut by a knife. The results of his hard work for half a month were all gone! Nan Shan kicked him again. ¡°I¡¯m asking you a question. Answer me. Why are you so blind?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± The knife-scarred man was a little dazed from the beating. ¡°Forget it,¡± he said. Nan Shan didnot care. He pointed at the fork in front. Which one is the way to Heqing temple?¡± ¡°Left side¡­¡± ¡°How far away are we?¡± ¡°I guess¡­ We¡¯ll reach it in another ten li.¡± Nan Shan nodded. He was very satisfied with his attitude of answering all questions. ¡°Go, find a rope and tie everyone together. Tie your hands together.¡± ¡°Ha?¡± The knife-scarred man looked like he was about to cry. ¡°Immortal master, I didn¡¯t do anything too overboard¡­ What are you doing?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry so much, just do as I say.¡± Nan Shan sneered. ¡°That means you didn¡¯t do anything overboard? After chasing for two hundred li, if I didn¡¯t have my cultivation, I¡¯m afraid I would have already been killed by your blade, right?¡± The knife-scarred man didnot dare to answer and could only do so. More than a dozen robbers were tied to a rope one after another. Nan Shan held the end of the rope and rode them on horses, slowly finishing the last part of the journey. Chapter 17 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The Blood Sect¡¯s Heretic Practitioner The mountain road was difficult to walk on. More than a dozen robbers were more or less injured. When they finally arrived at the Heqing temple, they were almost half dead. Nan Shan got off the horse and threw the end of the rope to the ground. The robbers didnot have any intention of running away. They fell to the ground and breathed heavily. They all let out a sigh of relief. ¡°I wonder if the temple will accept this group of people.¡± Nan Shan mumbled and went forward to knock on the door. He had originally planned to send these bandits to the Yamen and let the secular officials deal with them. Whether they were imprisoned or killed, it had nothing to do with him. However, they would have to take a detour and might have to walk hundreds of miles, which was time-consuming and laborious. Therefore, he simply brought these people to the temple and prepared to let them become monks. They could repent and make up for their mistakes in such a peaceful place of Buddhism. Soon, there was a dull sound from the door, and it opened with a gap that was only as thick as an arm. A cool breeze blew. The fragrance of wildflowers mixed with a faint fishy smell entered Nan Shan¡¯s nose. He couldnot help but frown slightly and look inside with rapt attention. Behind the crack stood a monk in a Kasaya, who looked like the abbot of Heqing temple. He was quite young, and his energy was very good in all aspects. He was not the kind-looking old monk that Nan Shan had imagined. However, it was a little strange to wear a hat on such a hot day. ¡°Amitabha.¡± The abbot chanted the name of Buddha and slowly said, ¡°The temple is closed today and no guests are allowed. Alms giver, please go back.¡± Nan Shan took out an envelope and handed it over. ¡°I am Nan Shan, a disciple of the Reliance Sect. I pay my respects to the abbot. I have come on orders from the sect to deliver this letter.¡± When the abbot heard the words ¡®Reliance Sect¡¯, his eyes widened. After thinking for a while, he reached out to take the envelope. He opened it and read it a few times, his face uncertain. After a long time, he finally pushed open the temple door and smiled. ¡°So it¡¯s fellow Daoist from the Reliance Sect. I¡¯ve been impolite. How about you stay in the temple for today, and when you¡¯re done recuperating, you can return to the sect tomorrow?¡± ¡°As soon as possible.¡± Nan Shan still wanted to unsheathe the blade for the evil-swallowing beast, so he urged him. The Abbot¡¯s expression did not change. He maintained a smile and made way for Nan Shan to enter. Nan Shan crossed the threshold, turned around, and cupped his fists. ¡°Abbot, these are the bandits I caught on the road. They have done many evil things. I¡¯m going to let them cultivate in the temple to atone for their sins. Is it convenient?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s convenient,¡± The Abbot¡¯s eyes brightened slightly. He turned to look at the dozen robbers outside the door and nodded gently. He then chanted the name of Buddha, ¡°The Buddha is merciful. He has put down the butcher¡¯s knife and become a Buddha immediately. I hope that all benefactors can wake up soon.¡± The knife-scarred man¡¯s face darkened. Going up the mountain to cultivate¡­ He could not touch women and couldnot eat meat. How bitter was that! This was worse than killing him! After that, the abbot led the way and took Nan Shan to the guest room. After a casual conversation, he left with the robbers, saying that he would shave their heads and chant sutras to get rid of their hostility. Nan Shan didnot think much about it and turned around to stroll around the temple. ¡°Strange, why isn¡¯t there anyone here?¡± He was a little puzzled. Although Heqing temple was not large, only a few people who had a slight understanding of Buddhism had cultivated to the Qi refining stage, which was even worse than a small sect. However, it was still okay for the surrounding areas. Logically speaking, there should be hundreds of monks cultivating here. Why did he not see a single one after walking in circles for so long? With this doubt. Nan Shan began to observe more carefully. Soon, he found even more strange things. The main hall where the Buddha statues and bodhisattvas were enshrined was unguarded. Not only that, there wasnot even a single lit incense. Even the platform under the Buddha statue was covered in dust, as if no one had come to clean it for a long time. Was this normal? It was obviously abnormal! This was an important place of Buddhism, a place of faith that could not be tainted by any filth. As a monk, how could he just ignore it? ¡°Could it be that there¡¯s a problem with the host?¡± Nan Shan was careful. After returning to his residence, he pretended to not know anything and started cultivating. Time passed by slowly. In the blink of an eye, the sun set and night fell. The wind howled outside, and dark clouds covered the sun. Not a single ray of light could be seen. Suddenly, a few black shadows that seemed to have blended in with the environment appeared outside the door. His body was hunched as he hid under the corner of the wall. One of them took out a self-made hollow bamboo stick, quietly stuck it into the window, and gently blew. The white smoke instantly filled the air and rushed towards the bed. ¡°Kill!¡± After waiting for a few seconds, they suddenly jumped up at the same time and rushed into the room, slashing at the bed with all kinds of weapons. However, the expected sound of flesh being pierced did not come. There was only the sound of wood breaking. The candlelight lit up. One of them lifted the quilt under the dim light and found that it was just a piece of wood. ¡°Are you guys looking for me?¡± Nan Shan¡¯s teasing voice sounded from above. The few of them looked up. There was no one on the beam! ¡°Not good, we¡¯ve alerted the enemy, retreat!¡± The five of them scattered like birds and beasts, hurriedly escaping from the house for fear of an ambush. In the end, as soon as they came out, they saw Nan Shan leaning against the eaves of the roof and looking at them with a smile. The few of them looked at each other and did not act rashly. They had already lost the initiative, and they did not know the depth of Nan Shan¡¯s cultivation. If they attacked blindly, it was easy for them to capsize in an easy task. Nan Shan could not help but raise his eyebrows when he saw how well-trained they were. ¡°You¡¯re not from Heqing temple, are you? Have you ever thought about the consequences of attacking me? ¡± During the day, the person who Nan Shan had mistaken for the host had a dark look in his eyes and did not answer at all. After making a hand gesture, they threw out the weapons in their hands. Taking advantage of the time Nan Shan was blocking and dodging, the five of them quickly retreated and plunged into the darkness. Nan Shan took a deep breath. This matter was a little difficult to handle. Now that he had returned to the sect, he couldnot give an explanation. He had to figure out the ins and outs of the matter. ¡°Heqing temple is only this big. Let¡¯s see where you can hide!¡± Nan Shan¡¯s mind moved. He held the devouring evil in his hand and began to search through the various buildings in the temple to see if there were any secret rooms or secret passages. The Abbot¡¯s dormitory, no. There was nothing in the side hall. There was no one in the backyard. There was nothing in the training room. The sutra library didnot have any men either. There was nothing in the front mountain. It seemed that they were not hiding here. However, there was still the back mountain of the Heqing temple, where the terrain was complicated and the trees stood. If it were him, there was a high probability that he would choose this place as his hiding place. Soon, Nan Shan came to the alchemy room in the back mountain. Before he even pushed open the door, the stench of blood from inside assaulted his nose. ¡°It smells like this during the day.¡± He frowned and stepped in. In an instant, a terrifying scene entered his eyes. The house was only about ten square meters, but there was a pool that occupied half of the area! There was no water inside, but a small, broken body that was stained with blood! At this moment, there were still a few pale heads placed neatly by the pool. The pill furnace at the side was also operating. He looked through the hole. It was actually half of a head that had almost melted! Dark red blood poured into it and evaporated under the heat, turning into a red fluorescent light and fusing with the skull. Nan Shan instantly clenched his fists. ¡°Blood sect heretic practitioner!¡± Chapter 18 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Still Trying To Run? Nan Shan was extremely shocked and angry. When he saw this scene, he had already guessed why there were so many abnormal places in Heqing temple. The evil cultivators had invaded! Judging from the current situation, all the monks of heqing temple had probably been killed. This originally solemn place had turned into hell on earth! What was even more infuriating was¡­ The five of them had killed so many monks, and they didnot even let the children go. If he was not mistaken, these children were all from the nearby villages and counties, who had specially sent them here to cultivate and seek immortality. Who would have thought that they would all become materials for alchemy and die without even leaving an intact corpse? In an instant, Nan Shan had the intention to kill. He really couldnot accept such a method. ¡°Scum of the Blood Sect, come out and face your death!¡± Nan Shan opened his right hand, and the evil-devouring sword was instantly driven by spiritual energy. It flew out of the scabbard on his back and fell into his palm. The pill furnace was still running, which meant that the person had not left for long. Perhaps they were observing him in the dark and were up to no good. He was not afraid. The anger in Nan Shan¡¯s chest made him want to fight to his heart¡¯s content! You want to trick me? Come at me! However, things did not go as he wished. The people of the blood sect seemed to be particularly cautious. After he shouted that, he did not move for a long time. It seemed that he did not even want to show his face. Nan Shan snorted coldly, and sword Qi surged around him. ¡°You¡¯ve been preparing this pill room for a long time, right? If you don¡¯t come out, I¡¯ll destroy it with my sword!¡± ¡°Fellow Daoist, why do you have to force me?¡± The fake Abbot¡¯s hoarse voice rang out. ¡°You and I don¡¯t even know each other. Why must we fight to the death? ¡± Nan Shan turned around and saw that the door was empty. ¡°Cut the crap and show yourself for battle!¡± ¡°You want to take the risk of fighting one against five because you¡¯re afraid that you won¡¯t be able to report back to the sect.¡± The fake Abbot walked out of the darkness and stood not far from the door. He said slowly, ¡°Cultivation is not easy. If we fight, there will definitely be casualties. Why don¡¯t we each take a step back? I will write a reply on your behalf, and you can turn a blind eye and leave? ¡± ¡°You¡¯re too noisy!¡± Nan Shan was too lazy to say more and made a move. He wasnot a three-year-old child, so how could he believe such nonsense? I¡¯ve seen your secret, and you¡¯re letting me go back to report it? Are you stupid or am I stupid? At the same time that the Devouring Fiend sword in his hand shone brightly, Nan Shan flicked his sword. Immediately, several rays of sword Qi flew out, and the sharp Qi could be felt from far away. The fake Abbot¡¯s expression changed slightly. With a light shout, four more figures appeared beside him. The few of them attacked one after another. The blood-red light joined together and collided with the sword Qi. ¡°Whoosh!¡± There were no violent rumbles or strong shock waves. After the two forces came into contact, they only resisted for a moment before they turned invisible at the same time. They turned into spiritual Qi and returned to heaven and earth. The recoil came. Nan Shan did not move, but the five people on the other side were all shaken and took a few steps back. The fake Abbot¡¯s expression was grave. ¡°This is tricky, be careful.¡± The people around him looked at each other and nodded at the same time. He hadnot expected that the youth from the Reliance Sect, who had come to deliver a letter, would be so powerful. Judging from the spiritual Qi fluctuations, he was only a kid at the first or second Qi layer. How could he make the five of them use all their strength to barely block that round of sword Qi that seemed to be just a test? This was too exaggerated. What kind of sword was this? What kind of cultivation technique was this? How could he be so powerful? Without waiting for them to think too much, Nan Shan made another move. This time, he used all his strength to take his life. The evil cultivators felt the pressure increase, as if they were fighting with a third Qi layer cultivator. In a short while, the two weaker people were wounded and bleeding. It was also at this moment that a strange scene appeared. The part that was injured by Tun Sha was actually emitting a cold air. The two evil cultivators desperately circulated their spiritual energy to resist, but it was to no avail. Soon, he could only watch as his wound and his entire body turned into an ice sculpture! ¡°What¡¯s going on? What did you do to me!¡± The heretic practitioner shouted in horror. Nan Shan was also a little surprised, but he quickly felt relieved. From the looks of it, this was the ¡®cold congealing Blood Fiend energy¡¯ mentioned in the system¡¯s introduction. It was indeed overbearing! However, this ¡®cold condensation¡¯ had shown itself. Where did ¡®Blood Fiend¡¯ go? On second thought. Could it be that he had to wait until after drinking blood and drawing his blade? Nan Shan immediately became impatient. His moves became more and more powerful. The fake Abbot knew that he could not resist anymore and couldnot help but want to retreat. No matter how rare the ingredients in the pill room were, they were not as important as his life. In the end, he could only grit his teeth and make a decision. ¡°Retreat!¡± He used the same trick again, throwing out another weapon to delay for a moment, while he himself turned around and fled without stopping. The other four did the same and left in different directions. ¡°You still want to run?¡± Nan Shan¡¯s brows furrowed. How could he let them have their wish again? With a thought. The sword seemed to know what he was thinking. The sword glowed brightly and a burst of Azure Mystic Qi suddenly flew out. It split into five and flew towards the escaping evil cultivator. ¡°Ah!¡± A few screams rang out in succession, all of them greatly restricted by this ¡®freezing¡¯ force. Nan Shan slowly stepped forward. The fake Abbot¡¯s face was filled with panic. ¡°Don¡¯t ¡­ Don¡¯t kill me ¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t kill you?¡± Nan Shan¡¯s face was extremely cold. He pointed to the child¡¯s head that was still placed by the pool in the alchemy room. ¡°They also begged you back then, right? Who did you let go?¡± The fake Abbot was about to open his mouth. The next moment, the sword light flashed. The fake Abbot¡¯s head was separated from his body and he fell to the ground. The rest of the evil cultivators saw this scene and started to struggle madly. However, all of this was in vain. In the face of absolute power, they had no room to resist at all. After Nan Shan mastered the true magical effect of the devouring evil spirit, he became more and more adept at using the sword. He didnot even need to get close, he just raised his hand and waved. His spiritual Qi was like an arm, controlling the sword to sweep across and kill all the remaining evil cultivators. ¡°You¡¯ve done so much evil, and only killed like this. It¡¯s still too easy on you.¡± Nan Shan snorted coldly, the anger in his heart had not completely dissipated. However, he wasnot a cruel and bloodthirsty person. It was impossible to stab these corpses again. At this moment, the Devouring Fiend sword suddenly let out an undetectable buzz. Then, it started to shake violently. The blood that was flowing on the ground surged continuously. Under the influence of the surrounding spiritual Qi, it turned into powder and crystals and gathered towards Tun Sha. Tun Sha flew out of his hand and into the air, greedily absorbing the essence condensed from blood. Not only that, but the blood in the blood pool in the alchemy room was also affected. The amount of red light that gathered was far more than what the five evil cultivators outside had brought. ¡°It seems like this process will take a while.¡± Nan Shan was not in a hurry. He searched the bodies of the evil cultivators and put away the storage bags. When he opened it, most of them were cultivation resources and spiritual stones. After rummaging through them, he found two good things. [Alchemy: the basic alchemy technique, which records thousands of alchemy recipes and refining techniques.] [Pisces Jade Pendant: a relic of the abbot of Heqing temple. It has a certain defensive effect with the support of a formation. It also contains Buddhist techniques. Those with wisdom will naturally see it.] Nan Shan accepted all of them, and first took out the Pisces Jade Pendant to comprehend it. ¡®Hmm¡­¡¯ He didnot feel anything. It seemed that he did not have the root of wisdom. ¡®Forget it! ¡®Don¡¯t humiliate yourself! ¡®Look at the pill formula!¡¯ Nan Shan was able to pick up and let go, not at all entangled on this, and instead immersed in the joy of reading. ¡°Wuwuwu¡­¡± ¡°Wuwuwu¡­¡± Eh? Who was crying? Nan Shan shivered and subconsciously looked around. It was pitch black everywhere, with only a few corpses that had their blood sucked dry. There wasnot even a gust of wind, so where was the person? ¡°It can¡¯t be a ghost, right?¡± Nan Shan chuckled and made a joke to himself. In the end¡­ ¡°Wuwu¡­¡± ¡°Wuwuwu¡­¡± Chapter 19 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Little An Nuan Nan Shan took a deep breath. This time, he heard it clearly. Someone was indeed crying. The sound was muffled and weak, as if there was a layer of medium between them. Coming from underground? Could it really be a ghost? Nan Shan smacked his forehead. ¡°Why are you scaring yourself? ¡°These evil cultivators kidnapped children into the temple. They might be the lucky survivors. ¡°I can¡¯t just leave them to die. I have to find a way to find them.¡± He cleared his thoughts and started to listen carefully. After confirming the general direction, Nan Shan waited for a while, and the demon swallowing beast finally sucked all the blood dry. However, the sword was still buzzing for some reason. Nan Shan did not care too much. He directly put the devouring evil spirit back into its sheath and strode toward the depths of the back mountain. Soon, they arrived at a place called the Arhat meditation room. The door was locked, and there was a faint smell of blood coming from inside. Nan Shan frowned slightly and took out the keys from the storage bag he had just obtained. He tried them one by one and soon opened the door. What came into view was a long corridor that led to the underground. Walking down the steps, the corridor grew deeper. There were meditation rooms of the same size on the left and right. When he pushed the door open, he saw that the inner walls were filled with Buddha statues. There was an old futon on the ground, and a layer of weeds was at the bottom. Other than that, there was nothing else. The crying continued, drifting from the deepest part. Nan Shan was not in a hurry to walk over in one breath. Instead, he opened the meditation rooms one by one. Finally, he saw a figure sitting with his back to the door in the 42nd room. It was the knife-scarred man. Nan Shan went forward to check. He was already dead. All the blood in his body had been drawn out, and his skin had shriveled. He walked to the next meditation room. There was another corpse inside, one of the bandits who had robbed him. He opened 18 doors in a row, and it was the same for all of them. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that no matter which path you chose, you would still die.¡± Nan Shan shook his head. Was this considered difficult to go against heaven¡¯s will? He didnot care so much and continued to walk deeper. There was no one in the meditation room that was opened. However, there was no dust on the futon. It seemed that someone had stayed there not long ago. The crying gradually came to an end of the passage, and Nan Shan stood in front of the door of the last meditation room. This was the 500th room. He didnot expect that the Heqing temple could imprison so many people by the evil cultivators. He didnot expect that only one person was left alive. Nan Shan sighed and pushed open the door. There was a weak little girl inside. Her clothes were rough and her body was covered in mud. The most eye-catching thing was the dazzling orange light above her head. It was actually another potential investor! It was still a three-star! The kind with a hundred times interest! Nan Shan was stunned. Since when were investors so easy to get? In the blink of an eye, the girl¡¯s character panel appeared before his eyes. [An Nuan] [Age: 12] [Favorability: 0] [Investment potential star: 3] [Current Status: Available for investment] [Return on investment: 100 times] [Character personality: Independent] [Character ability: early intelligence, understanding the ways of the world earlier than peers. If used in cultivation, it may have unexpected gains.] ¡­ When she saw someone appear, she was like a frightened deer. She quickly retreated two steps, hugged her legs, and curled up in a corner, looking at Nan Shan with panic and fear in her eyes. ¡°Little girl, don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here to save you. The bad guys have already been beaten away.¡± Nan Shan was afraid that she would misunderstand and hurriedly explained. The girl did not say a word and maintained her original posture. Even the look in her eyes did not change. ¡°I¡¯m not lying to you,¡± Nan Shan said patiently. ¡°I¡¯m a cultivator from the Reliance Sect¡­ Do you know about cultivators? It¡¯s the kind that can fly in the sky.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The girl sneaked a glance at Nan Shan and confirmed that he was not one of the bad guys who had come over often before. She could not help but believe him a little. Nan Shan¡¯s expression was serious as he said in all seriousness, ¡°I¡¯ll be a dog if I lie to you!¡± ¡°Did you kill them?¡± The girl¡¯s words were shocking. Nan Shan couldnot help but raise his eyebrows. This little girl was indeed intelligent. She could even guess this. However, when facing a child of this age, he still had to pay attention to his words. Otherwise, in the long run, it would easily affect his mind. After some thought, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve turned them into wooden clubs. They won¡¯t be able to harm anyone for the rest of their lives.¡± The girl was a little confused. Nan Shan placed the evil-swallowing beast on the grass and circulated his spiritual energy, letting it release a little cooling effect. In an instant, the air was cold. The grass under the blade of the sword had turned into popsicles. Nan Shan picked one up and pouted. ¡°Well, it¡¯s almost like this. After the brain is frozen, it can¡¯t move. Then, isn¡¯t it no better than a wooden club?¡± ¡°Amazing!¡± The girl¡¯s eyes widened, and there was a strange light in her eyes, as if her attention was completely attracted by the spell that Nan Shan had cast. Her favorability was rising. It didnot take long for him to break through the 30-point barrier. It reached the friendly line! Nan Shan¡¯s heart moved. ¡°Little girl, what¡¯s your name?¡± The girl answered seriously, ¡± I¡¯m An Nuan.¡± ¡°Are you interested in learning immortal spells from big brother?¡± Nan Shan patted her little head and smiled. ¡°If you¡¯re willing, I can bring you up the mountain to cultivate.¡± ¡®The immortal touched my head, tied my hair, and received longevity!¡¯ An Nuan felt a cool air flowing down from her head to her limbs. His hands and feet, which had been slightly injured, had miraculously recovered! She blinked her eyes curiously. Was this a celestial technique? It was so magical. Could she really learn it? Looking at Nan Shan¡¯s serious expression, An Nuan felt that this big brother in front of her was not lying. As long as she nodded. However¡­ ¡°Big brother.¡± An Nuan seemed to be struggling, and she asked in a low voice, ¡°If I go up the mountain with you, will I bring you any trouble?¡± ¡°Of course you won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Having more people is just an extra pair of chopsticks,¡± Nan Shan said with a smile. ¡°Nuan Nuan wants to hear the truth.¡± An Nuan pulled a long face. The smile on Nan Shan¡¯s face gradually faded and was replaced by a little embarrassment. In fact, he didnot know what kind of trouble it would be. The sect would not normally allow disciples to take in disciples privately, let alone an in-name disciple like him. However, there was no absolute. If he had not done it, how would he know what would happen? After hesitating for a while, he could only say one sentence. ¡°There is¡­ There might be a little, but it shouldn¡¯t be a big problem.¡± To his surprise, An Nuan shook her head immediately. ¡°Then I¡¯m not going.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to cultivate?¡± Nan Shan was a little surprised. ¡°You could fly.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± An Nuan¡¯s eyes were filled with determination. ¡°Nuan Nuan will definitely become a burden to big brother if she goes up the mountain. I don¡¯t want to be a burden, and I don¡¯t want big brother to be laughed at.¡± Nan Shan opened his mouth. He did not expect this little girl to actually say such a thing. After hesitating for a while, he couldnot say the words that were on the tip of his tongue. Forget it. An Nuan¡¯s personality was like that. Basically, she wouldnot change her mind once she had decided on something. There was no need for him to go against her wishes. Cultivation was also about following one¡¯s heart and not forcing it. Besides, who said that one could not cultivate at the foot of the mountain? Nan Shan smiled. He had plenty of ways to invest! He took out the Pisces Jade Pendant he had just obtained and handed it to An Nuan. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You can cultivate outside then.¡± ¡°This jade pendant has the effect of protecting its owner. It can ensure that you are not disturbed by ordinary people and can cultivate in peace. There is a cultivation technique in it. If you have the root of wisdom, you will naturally see it. ¡°Since you¡¯ve just started cultivating, you should learn the most basic things first. ¡°The master leads the way, but cultivation is up to the individual. ¡°Whether or not you can cross this first hurdle, it¡¯s up to you.¡± After Nan Shan finished speaking, he smiled warmly. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll send you home first.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going home¡­¡± An Nuan looked at the jade pendant in her hand. She couldnot help but cry. ¡°Big brother¡­ ¡°What?¡± ¡°Thank you¡­¡± [Ding! ] [The investment targeting An Nuan, Samsung¡¯s investor, has been completed! ] [Investment item: Pisces Jade Pendant. Now 100-fold return. Reward: Golden Bell Shield!] [Admiralty Cover (high gold quality): It was one of the seventy-two ultimate skills of Shaolin Temple, a top-tier defensive ultimate skill of Buddhism. If cultivated to the peak, the body would be impervious to swords, spears, water, and fire. One could use spiritual power to condense protective Qi and could not be broken without three times the strength!] Chapter 20 - Golden Bell Shield! Chapter 20 Golden Bell Shield! Golden Bell Shield! Nan Shan was slightly stunned. The return interest was here! It was actually another cultivation technique, and it was even gold quality. Unfortunately, the difference between him and Tun Sha wasnot big. After all, the evil-devouring beast had a certain growth potential, and it was not inferior to the average mid-grade or even high-grade gold. Also, that was only something with a 50-fold interest. The 100-fold return on the Golden Bell shield was only a high-grade, which was a bit of an exaggeration. ¡°It seems that the cultivation technique in the jade pendant is not that good.¡± Nan Shan shook his head and did not pay much attention to it. An upper gold-grade defensive cultivation technique was already very good. If it was placed outside, it would definitely cause people to fight over it. It was impervious to blades and spears, water and fire. How many cultivators could only dream of having this kind of physique? Now that he could easily obtain it through a cultivation technique, it was a huge profit! ¡°Receive!¡± Nan Shan already had experience and knew that the cultivation technique items rewarded by the system could be cultivated directly, so he did not have to worry about others being present. He led An Nuan forward slowly in the dark corridor. Countless insights flashed through his mind. Before he even walked out, he had already perfectly mastered the Golden Bell shield. This feeling of being enlightened made Nan Shan feel very good. It was just one word. Cool! One must know that it was extremely difficult for ordinary cultivators to comprehend a cultivation technique! Not only would it take years or even decades to polish it. One also needed to have an unusually tough mind to resist the sense of failure brought about by trial and error. For example, the fist technique that he had practiced during his body forging period. After four years of practice, he had only made some small progress and could only be said to be proficient in using it. It was impossible to achieve mastery through comprehensive study and to integrate it with other combat techniques. It was not that he could not do it, but he couldnot do it! It was just a set of body forging stage fist technique, and he had made no less than a hundred mistakes during the practice. Later on, he had specially found someone to guide him, and only then did he reach his current level. From this, it could be seen how difficult it was for ordinary cultivators to completely comprehend a cultivation technique. Now that he had the system¡¯s help, he could make up for his lack of talent. ¡°Golden Bell shield¡­¡± Nan Shan silently felt it. His body didnot seem to be any different from before. However, as long as he had the thought of defense, all the spiritual energy in his body would be mobilized in an instant to protect every inch of his skin. The surface of his body was even covered with a layer of faint orange-yellow Qi. It seemed that this was the protective Dipper energy mentioned in the introduction. He tried it and found that he could still use the protective Dipper energy. Whether he released it externally or internally, it was up to him as long as he had enough spiritual energy to consume. The only way to supply spiritual energy was through the meridians. In other words, as long as his meridians were tough enough, there was no upper limit to the amount of spiritual energy they could withstand at the same time. Then the range of the Golden Bell shield would also become infinitely large! It would have no problem accommodating an entire world! This discovery made Nan Shan extremely excited. This cultivation technique was really impressive! Interesting! Although my cultivation level didnot increase, my combat ability has improved a lot, especially my survival ability. Nan Shan¡¯s eyes lit up as he estimated himself. If he were to fight with him during the day, he would probably be able to easily win even if he took turns to fight twenty of them. This was the difference between having a defensive cultivation technique and not having one. There was no other way. There was only one way to break through the Golden Bell Shield¡¯s protective upstanding Qi, and that was to burst. Furthermore, it would require an explosive force that was three times the strength of the shield. Otherwise, there would be no solution. He didnot have the ability to do so at the moment. He believed that most cultivators of the same level didnot have such an ability. Unless they were suppressed by their realms! ¡°He¡¯s pretty much invincible in the same realm.¡± Nan Shan chuckled. To be able to achieve this in just a few days, he did have the shadow of a ¡®genius¡¯. He believed that when he returned, he would definitely shock Jiang Congshuang. At that time, he would take the opportunity to gain a wave of favorability. He might be able to develop further and make a small investment. However, he still had to do what he had to do at the moment. After walking out of the dark corridor with An Nuan. Nan Shan took her around the alchemy room and went to the guest room at the front mountain to rest for the night. The next morning, they set off again. The village An Nuan lived in wasnot far from the Reliance Sect. It was only a hundred miles away, just on the way back. Nan Shan sent her back to her hometown and gave her a few words of advice before they left the village. ¡°Remember to study the cultivation technique in the jade pendant. ¡°If you see it, practice it once a day. Don¡¯t waste it. ¡°If you can¡¯t see it for a while, don¡¯t be anxious. What¡¯s yours will still be yours. It can¡¯t run away. ¡°On the path of cultivation, one must guard against arrogance and rashness. Do you understand?¡± ¡°I know, big brother.¡± An Nuan lowered her head and rubbed the hem of her clothes. She looked nervous as she listened to the lecture. Nuan Nuan will be good¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡± Nan Shan smiled and got on the horse. ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone about the jade pendant. It can guard against people, but it can¡¯t guard against people¡¯s hearts. I¡¯ll come and visit you when I¡¯m free.¡± Hearing this, An Nuan looked up in surprise and could not help but take two steps forward. However, she quickly stood still and didnot say anything. She looked at Nan Shan in silence, a hint of reluctance in her eyes. Nan Shan waved his hand and left on his horse, leaving only his back view as he gradually walked away. ¡­ Half a day later. The Reliance Sect¡¯s outer sect main peak. After returning to the sect two days later, he didnot receive a very strict interrogation. The disciple who was guarding the gate only asked about the details of the mission. when he saw Jiang Congshuang¡¯s jade pendant on his waist, he did not ask any more questions and let him in. Nan Shan was happy and relaxed. He was planning to go back and share his experience with Liu Changsheng, and at the same time, see if the business of second-hand martial arts had started. Who would have thought that they would have to line up to use the teleportation array! Something¡¯s not right. Why are there so many people at the main peak today? Nan Shan took a look. There were many in-name disciples coming and going nearby, and they were talking and laughing along the way. ¡°I¡¯ve finally signed up. It wasn¡¯t easy.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, you¡¯ve been cultivating hard for more than half a year since you entered the sect. How is it? Ae you confident in the assessment this time?¡± ¡°That¡¯s for sure. I just broke through to the second Qi layer last night. I¡¯ve already far exceeded the standard, okay?¡± ¡°Sigh, it¡¯s been four months since I joined the sect, but I¡¯m only at the eighth level of the body refinement realm. It looks like I can only wait for the sect¡¯s internal investigation and assessment when the one-year deadline is up.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Just take it as an eye-opener this time. It¡¯s not a big deal. You¡¯re only two small realms away. || ¡°Hahaha, that¡¯s great, that¡¯s great. It¡¯s good to experience it. Maybe I can gain some insight and break through when I come back!¡± He heard their conversation. Nan Shan could not help but raise his eyebrows. The Outer Sect assessment is starting? Chapter 21 - Start Of The Assessment Chapter 21 Start Of The Assessment Start Of The Assessment! Nan Shan randomly found a passing disciple. Using the spirit stones to get close to him, he inquired about the matter in detail. He only found out after understanding it. It turned out that the Outer Sect examination was not a unified arrangement. Instead, it was a grand event that would last for a long time. The registration would begin today, and it would officially begin in six days. As long as you reach the Qi refining stage and feel that you can get good results in the trial, you can participate in it. At that time, the sect would distribute your monthly salary after entering the Outer Sect according to your results. The better the results, the higher the monthly salary. Of course, if you¡¯re not confident in passing the assessment, you can also wait for the internal investigation assessment after a year. However, by then, the monthly salary would be a unified standard. Only when you show great potential and make everyone exclaim in surprise would you adjust. Usually, this kind of situation would not happen. At least, it had not appeared in the past few decades. ¡°I see.¡± This time, Nan Shan was no longer in a hurry. He slowly walked to the queue for registration. This was not a troublesome matter, but it was time-consuming. After reporting his identity, he received an iron token. With this, one would be qualified to take part in the Outer Sect examination. Nan Shan did not waste the remaining few days. He returned to his courtyard and began to practice the Thousand-Sided sword technique and the Golden Bell shield. This was a very necessary thing. Although the system had helped him to perfectly comprehend these two cultivation techniques, he had to be careful. However, he had almost zero actual combat experience. The only thing that counted was the battle at Heqing temple. However, there was nothing much to say about that battle. The few evil cultivators had no way to deal with it, and some of them were very unfamiliar with Qi control. It was the result of a complete suppression of cultivation techniques and weapons. It did not have much to do with one¡¯s cultivation. This will not do. If he were to encounter a heaven¡¯s favorite like Senior Sister Jiang in the future, would he not be as vulnerable as those evil cultivators? Nan Shan didnot want to be stretched out when facing the enemy in the future. Hence, he began to train even harder. After a few days, it was time for the assessment to start. Nan Shan got up early. He used the teleportation array to go to the main peak. With a flash of light, the scenery of the main Peak¡¯s Square came into view. In the distance, on the grandstand beside the main Peak¡¯s Hall, a large group of registered disciples had gathered. They were all here to watch the show. Below them were rows of tables arranged in a square formation, and there seemed to be a black stone on the table. Nan Shan took a closer look and saw that it seemed to be something called a spiritual stone. Cultivators above the Qi refining stage. Put your hand on it and circulate your spiritual energy, and it will emit a corresponding light according to the attribute of your spiritual root. The stronger the cultivation, the brighter the light. Seeing this scene, Nan Shan had roughly guessed what the assessment content was. Just then, the teleportation array behind them lit up. It was accompanied by the sound of the wind from the collision of spirit Qi. A graceful figure appeared before his eyes. ¡°Senior Sister Jiang?¡± Nan Shan was a little surprised and casually greeted her. Jiang Congshuang looked over in surprise. When she saw that it was Nan Shan, a smile appeared on her cold face. ¡°Junior Brother Nan? What a coincidence, you¡¯re here to take part in the assessment?¡± ¡°Yeah, I just arrived and am preparing to enter the venue.¡± ¡°Just in time, the Outer Sect elder invited me over to observe the ceremony.¡± Jiang Congshuang smiled. ¡°Then let¡¯s go together.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± he said. The two of them walked side by side. The man was handsome and the woman was cold and beautiful. They immediately attracted the attention of all the disciples in the stands. When they saw that it was Jiang Congshuang and another male disciple they did not know, there was a huge commotion. No one had expected that Senior Sister Jiang, who had always been cold and elegant, would one day be traveling with the opposite sex. This was truly a rare sight that only happened once in a hundred years! Jiang Congshuang did not care about the gazes of others. He and Nan Shan walked all the way to the boundary outside the arena, and then he said goodbye to her and went to the center of the stands. The ones sitting there were all Outer Sect elders, existences with supreme power. To be able to stand on equal footing with them as an Outer Sect disciple, one could only imagine how highly the sect valued Jiang Congshuang. Nan Shanduo glanced at it and sighed in his heart. After submitting the identity verification token, he stepped into the assessment area and continued to line up silently. The disciples at the tables had already begun their test. They had to wait for them to finish before the next one could go on stage. Nan Shan had arrived early, and there were only a dozen people in front of them, so they should not have to wait long. In the arena, all kinds of lights lit up, some weak, some dim. Everyone was gritting their teeth and trying their best to transfer spiritual energy to the energy stones on the table within the range that their meridians could bear. It was a pity that not a single spirit stone¡¯s internal light could reach one-fifth of the area. It could be seen that the talents of the disciples in this round of assessment were very ordinary. Not only was his spiritual root of a single attribute, but the toughness and strength of his meridians were also very poor. The few elders and Jiang Congshuang in the stands were not surprised. She seemed to be used to such a scene. Not long after, the ten-second test time was up, and all the registered disciples stopped. In the elder¡¯s seats, the oldest one stood up at this time and spoke indifferently. ¡°No. 7, No. 45, and No. 96, if you don¡¯t meet the standard, please verify your time of entry. If you¡¯ve been in the sect for more than a year, you¡¯ll have to go to the ascending dust peak and await further orders.¡± There was only one sect building on the peak of Ascending Earth, and it was only responsible for sending disciples out to support the sect¡¯s businesses in the secular world. In this situation, although their lives would be a little happier than the common people, their cultivation path had already come to an end. They had already been marginalized to the extreme, and it was no different from being kicked out of the sect. The three people who were called had bitter expressions on their faces. It seemed that they had all entered the sect for more than a year. The aged elder swept his gaze around. the rest of the disciples, please enter the outer gate and wait in the main hall. ¡°Many thanks, First Elder!¡± The remaining disciples immediately bowed and thanked him, their joy overflowing in their words. Following their exit, the disciples lining up outside swarmed in, and in the blink of an eye, they filled up all the tables. ¡°Continue the assessment!¡± The First Elder¡¯s voice was like a great bell. He flicked his sleeves and sat down. His sharp gaze swept across the entire scene, his eyes filled with anticipation. Suddenly, his line of sight stopped. The spirit stone on the table over there actually burst out two rays of light mixed with green and blue! ¡°Water-wood double spiritual roots?¡± The First Elder¡¯s spirit was lifted, but when he saw the area occupied by the light in the energy stone, he sighed again. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that my meridians are ordinary. I can¡¯t unleash the full power of a profound cultivation technique.¡± The other elders also shook their heads in disappointment. Jiang Congshuang, who was sitting at the side, had a calm expression. After hearing this, she could not help but look at Nan Shan, who was still in line. The main show was yet to come! Chapter 22 - How Much Salary Do You Want? Chapter 22 How Much Salary Do You Want? How Much Salary Do You Want? This round, five out of 100 people were eliminated. Although the disciple with the water and wood double spiritual roots had mediocre performance in terms of meridians, he was still called out by the First Elder for a private talk because of his outstanding spiritual roots. Vaguely, he seemed to hear promises like doubling his monthly salary. This honor made many people envious, and they all looked forward to being like this person in the assessment later, being a little stunned. However¡­ The ideal was great, but the reality was cruel. In the next dozen or so rounds of assessment. Not to mention someone who could surpass that disciple, there wasnot even anyone who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him. Talent is the privilege of the minority. This saying is indeed true. Nan Shan¡¯s eyes were deep. Among mortals, the probability of finding someone who could cultivate was one in ten thousand and extremely rare. Who would have thought that talented people were even rarer! The vast majority of people only had one type of spirit root out of the five elements, metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. There were already more than a thousand people on the stage. There was only one person who possessed dual-element spirit roots. As for the rarer Tri-elemental spiritual roots, or even the four-elemental spiritual roots, or the extremely rare mutated elemental spiritual roots such as ice and lightning, there was not a single one! In other words, that disciple with double spiritual roots was already one in ten million people? It was a little terrifying. With such a low probability, who wouldnot be afraid? ¡°Next group!¡± The First Elder¡¯s deep voice rang out once again. Nan Shan took a deep breath and strode into the arena. It was finally his turn. After waiting for so long, it would be a lie to say that he was not nervous at all. At the last moment, he finally realized how much pressure it was to show off in front of so many people. This was especially so when there were sect elders present. Of course, the main reason was that he was not confident. Nan Shan himself did not know what his spirit root was. It had never been tested before. If he slipped up, would the ¡®genius¡¯ image in Jiang Congshuang¡¯s heart be destroyed? Would the investment fail? This was what he was most worried about. ¡°Begin!¡± The First Elder ordered. All the disciples present seized the opportunity and pressed their hands on the spirit stones at the same time. As the spiritual Qi circulated, the moment it touched the spirit stone¡­ A faint luster lit up. In an instant, a disciple in the corner attracted everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Another dual element spirit root!¡± ¡°So strong! The spirit stone is already half lit up!¡± ¡°Oh my God, we¡¯ve finally seen a miracle this round. I thought there wouldn¡¯t be a single outstanding disciple in the Reliance Sect¡¯s assessment this year.¡± ¡°Just now, that person with double spiritual roots was able to receive double the monthly salary, so this person should have triple, right?¡± ¡°At least five times! Don¡¯t underestimate the difference in meridians. The higher your cultivation level, the greater the difference!¡± There was a lot of discussion in the stands, and it became active all of a sudden. In the middle, several elders also laughed in unison. To be able to produce such a disciple with such potential in one batch, it could be considered that they had led the Outer Sect well. Jiang Congshuang¡¯s expression was still calm, and her eyes were fixed on Nan Shan. A few seconds passed, and half of the trial¡¯s time had passed. It was almost over. He hadnot made a move yet, but he seemed to be in a dilemma. ¡°This is¡­ Don¡¯t you want to be too flamboyant?¡± Jiang Congshuang guessed subconsciously. However, if that happened, the sect would treat it as a forfeit and would not give him another chance. Just as she was thinking about whether she should open her mouth to remind him¡­ Suddenly, she saw Nan Shan move. He seemed to have made up his mind. The veins on his palm, which was placed on the energy stone, popped out as he used all his strength. The next second. A five-colored light swept out and shot up to the nine Heavens! || 11 ¡­ Jiang Congshuang was shocked. ¡°F*ck!¡± The tens of thousands of disciples on the grandstand shouted in unison. They were all shocked and cussed at the same time. ¡°What!¡± The elders all stood up in shock. They stared at the scene with wide eyes, unable to speak for a long time. Immediately after, the energy stones that were covered in light trembled violently. BOOM! It exploded! The stone powder splattered and covered Nan Shan¡¯s face. He looked down at his empty palm, then looked up at the stands, somewhat at a loss. The energy stone exploded¡­ How did this count? The stands were dead silent, as if they had seen a ghost. ¡°It¡¯s actually a five-element spirit Meridian!¡± The First Elder was the first to recover from his shock and could not help but exclaim. ¡°Five elemental spiritual meridians?¡± Jiang Congshuang murmured. She was so shocked that her heart skipped a beat. She had heard of this saying before. No, she had read about it in ancient books. Ordinary cultivators only had one type of spiritual root and only one attribute. When they cultivated, they paid attention to the mutual promotion and restraint. For example, cultivators with wood-elemental spiritual roots would usually only practice water-elemental and wood-elemental cultivation techniques. Because their attributes were compatible, it was twice as easy to cultivate. On the other hand, if one cultivated a fire-elemental cultivation technique that restrained one¡¯s attribute, one¡¯s progress would be slow, and one¡¯s cultivation might even regress! However, the five-element spirit meridians didnot have such a problem. He could cultivate any cultivation technique. The nature of his spiritual energy could be changed at any time. When facing any enemy, it could achieve absolute flexibility. Jiang Congshuang¡¯s eyes sparkled. She had already held a very high esteem of Nan Shan¡¯s talent and felt that no one would be better than him among this batch of in-name disciples. It was true that no one could compare to him, but his talent was far higher than she had imagined! The First Elder did not expect that this round of assessment would actually produce such a monstrous talent. After thinking for a while, he decided to maintain order in the field area and let the assessment continue. No. 9 and No. 16 are not up to the standard. Please leave. The rest of the disciples can enter the Outer Sect. As for No. 2¡­ A warm smile appeared on the First Elder¡¯s face, ¡°What¡¯s your name? ¡° Nan Shan cupped his hands and bowed. ¡°Disciple Nan Shan!¡± ¡°Good, good, good.¡± The First Elder laughed heartily. ¡°Come forward and talk to me.¡± Nan Shan took two steps and came near the stands, where he continued to cup his hands and bow. ¡°Come up closer.¡± The First Elder patted the empty seat beside him, as if he wanted him to sit next to him. Nan Shan felt a little scared. He did not know what this elder wanted to do. However, when he saw Jiang Congshuang beside him, he felt a little comforted. He didnot think too much and went up to sit. The First Elder turned to look at the scene. The smile on his face disappeared and his expression became solemn. ¡°You can continue. Fourth Elder, please invigilate.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± A middle-aged man at the side stood up immediately and jumped into the arena to monitor the crowd. Soon after. The First Elder smiled again and looked at Nan Shan. ¡°Nan Shan, now that you¡¯re an Outer Sect disciple, how much monthly salary do you want?¡± Eh? What was going on? Nan Shan was a little puzzled. How could he decide the monthly salary? Chapter 23 - Lets Try It Then Chapter 23 Let¡¯s Try It Then Let¡¯s Try It Then ¡°Hehe, Nan Shan, you don¡¯t have to be nervous. With your aptitude, you will definitely become a great person in the future. Your monthly salary will be appropriate. You just have to focus on your cultivation and don¡¯t have to worry about trivial matters.¡± The First Elder was very smart. He could see at a glance that Nan Shan was uneasy, and he comforted him with a smile. The test was still going on, but with Nan Shan¡¯s outstanding performance, the people¡¯s hearts were somewhat wavering. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t mind it. You can tell me how much monthly salary you want.¡± After the First Elder used his eyes to examine the scene, his gaze towards Nan Shan became extremely kind. ¡°Hmm, nine, how about nine times the monthly salary?¡± Nan Shan hesitantly raised a finger. The disciple with double spiritual roots received double the monthly salary, but he had five spiritual roots, so it shouldnot be too much to ask for nine times, right? After many years of being an investor, Nan Dhan knew how to ask for a sky-high price and pay back the money on the ground. In any case, he was willing to accept five times the original price, so he could haggle over it. ¡°Alright!¡± The First Elder slapped his thigh and agreed. ¡°Ah? Then I¡¯ll thank you first, First Elder.¡± Nan Shan was stunned and quickly cupped his fists. In fact, seeing how the First Elder agreed so readily, he felt that he should have asked for more. If he had known that the five-element spirit meridians were so valued, he would have asked for ten or twenty times the price! The other disciples who heard the conversation were also stunned. The first thing he said was nine times his monthly salary. Anyone who saw it would be envious. ¡°Nine times it is then. From now on, you just need to cultivate properly. You can ask me all the information you need. Don¡¯t hold back.¡± The First Elder laughed so hard that his face was full of wrinkles. He raised his hand and patted Nan Shan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Ten times the nine luminaries heaven?¡± This time, it was Nan Shan¡¯s turn to be shocked, but it was only for a moment, and his experience came into effect. Even though his heart was beating wildly, he still put on a calm expression. Very quickly, the test for in-name disciples ended. About one-fifth of the people had stopped at the test to enter the Outer Sect. The second round of the test was about to begin. This time, it was actual combat! Those who passed the assessment would be promoted to the Inner Sect! Nan Shan watched as the elders went to set up the challenge checkpoints and immediately stood up. At this time, his sleeve was pulled lightly. ¡°This is your first time taking part in the assessment, right? Next is the Inner Sect challenge, which is divided into three levels: normal, difficult, and hell. ¡°The difficulty of each of these three levels is very different. Actually, with your talent, you can directly enter the Inner Sect after passing the normal level.¡± Jiang Congshang explained to Nan Shan in a low voice, but in the eyes of the other disciples, it was as if the cold and aloof Senior Sister Jiang was whispering to Junior Brother Nan. ¡°Is that so, Senior Sister?¡± Nan Shan hesitated for a moment and made a decision in his heart. ¡°I¡¯ll start with the difficult level.¡± Not long after, several elders had set up an array. Countless intertwining thorny vines suddenly appeared on the open space in front of them. Each vine was thick and strong, and the thorns on them were horizontal, even faintly glowing with a metallic luster. In addition to Nan Shan, there were more than ten people who had difficulty signing up for the challenge, including the rare double spiritual roots. Nan Shan was not in a hurry, so he let the elders arrange for him to be the third to go on stage. The challenge began. If you can cut off any thorn vine within half an hour, you will be considered to have beat the challenge. The elder who was in charge of maintaining the assessment gave the order, and someone impatiently jumped onto the stage. The man¡¯s muscles and bones were strong, and he was more than two meters tall. In the blink of an eye, his body was covered in a layer of faint golden light. ¡°Earth-type spiritual roots. The cultivation method is still the firm and fierce path. Not bad, but not enough.¡± The First Elder commented leisurely. As soon as he finished speaking, the challenger had already reached out and grabbed a thorn vine! The next second. ¡°Clang!¡± The muffled sound of the collision was deafening. The earth element challenger was sent flying more than ten meters away at a faster speed than he was on the stage. From his arms to his chest, he was covered in bloody wounds! Bramble vines were known for their durability, and the sharp thorns all over its body were defensive weapons. Coupled with the fact that the earth element was a counter to each other, the only reason the earth element challenger could keep his life was because the elder next to him restrained the flying thorns at the right time. ¡°Challenge failed. Next.¡± The elder shouted expressionlessly. ¡°Swish!¡± A gust of wind was heard as a bright flame streaked across the air. It swept towards the thorny vines with high temperature! ¡°High-grade bronze weapon, red flame saber!¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk, isn¡¯t that the kid from the Sun family? No wonder you can get a weapon that can counter the thorn vines.¡± As the disciples discussed among themselves, the challenger finally stepped onto the stage. The half-meter long thick saber in his hand danced with vigor. The bramble vines suddenly expanded, and one by one, they suddenly danced upward! ¡°Clang!¡± Sun Miao blocked horizontally with his saber, and the flames instantly swept up, burning the waving vines! As their attributes countered each other, the bramble vine trembled in pain, and the burning vines instantly wilted. However, before Sun Miao could be proud, another vine had quietly circled behind him. ¡°Waa!¡± The spectating disciples couldnot help but exclaim. Before the sound could even settle, Sun Miao had been ambushed by the vines. The vines whipped him in an upside-down ¡°U¡± shape at his waist and sent him flying! was so quiet that one could The entire place hear a pin drop. Two in-name disciples who were not weak had been eliminated in a second! ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± Nan Shan, who had been carefully observing the weakness of the thorn vine, was relieved. He got up and walked into the ring step by step. At the same time, he stretched his hand back and clenched the hilt of his sword. Devouring Fiend, out! The ancient and gorgeous long sword in Nan Shan¡¯s hand had a unique style. ¡°I can¡¯t tell the level of his sword from its appearance!¡± ¡°To be chosen as a weapon by the five elemental spiritual veins, I¡¯m afraid there must be something different about it. It¡¯s only natural that ordinary people like us can¡¯t see it.¡± ¡°But the thorn vine is called the¡± difficult ¡°level challenge because this plant is born by absorbing the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth. It is extremely tough and can not be cut easily. Even the spiritual veins of the five elements can not change this fact.¡± Countless honorary disciples were discussing. Not only them, but even the elders who were watching the challenge sat up straight and carefully watched every move of Nan Shan. ¡°What a strange sword. I really can¡¯t tell its level, but the sword momentum that can¡¯t be ignored is soul-stealing.¡± No matter what the others thought, Nan Shan only had one thought in his mind. Senior Sister Jiang was watching behind him. The Devouring sword that he had obtained with great difficulty must not be messed up! The thorny vines in front of him seemed to have sensed some kind of threat. Their thick branches gathered together, and their sharp thorns shone with a cold light. Before Nan Shan could do anything, a thorn vine that was thicker than him whipped at his waist. Even the sharp thorns shot out in an instant, completely sealing off the entire area! One must know that the thorns of the bramble vines were poisonous, and the one in front of him was a treasure that the sect had cultivated for countless years! It was even more poisonous! Chapter 24 - Hell Difficulty Chapter 24 Hell Difficulty Nan Shan narrowed his eyes and retreated at a very fast speed to the edge of the ring. He had never seen such a thing before! The thorny vines kept waving around, almost sealing off all the room for him to dodge. Since there was no way to retreat, then let¡¯s fight. The Devouring sword couldnot be unsheathed. If he wanted to pull out the blade, he would need to feed it with a lot of blood. Nan Shan waved his arm, and the Devouring sword in the scabbard was swung out like a fire stick! The two came into contact, and a piercing buzzing sound instantly reverberated in the air. This sound was extremely penetrating, and it had the power of a dragon¡¯s roar. When it fell into the ears of the others, some of the disciples with low cultivation levels covered their ears in pain. ¡°This can¡¯t be. Although the five elemental spiritual veins are rare, it¡¯s impossible to cut the thorn vine without even pulling out the sword!¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, once this plant evolves into a mother tree, it will gain some intelligence. This kid is in trouble.¡± In the midst of the continuous discussion, an unexpected scene appeared! Nan Shan waved his sword, and the vine that came into contact with it instantly straightened. The hole left by the sharp tip wriggled wildly. Such a scene made one¡¯s scalp tingle. However, the next second, the vine broke in the middle without any warning! A large amount of dark red mucus flowed out, carrying a strong smell similar to blood. ¡°F*ck!¡± Nan Shan cursed in his heart and kept moving. He really didnot want to step on the tree sap that was as red as blood! Just as countless disciples were exclaiming in shock, a change suddenly occurred! The bramble vine had never suffered such a huge loss before. After a brief moment of shock, all of its vines began to wriggle like crazy. Then, they gathered into an airtight ball, tightly wrapping Nan Shan in it. ¡°This is bad! Hurry up and save him!¡± ¡°The bramble vine has gone crazy! He¡¯s wrapped inside, and will turn into a pool of pus in less than an hour!¡± ¡°Hurry! Save my disciple with the five-element spiritual heritage!¡± Everyone was suddenly in a mess. Even those elders who pretended to be cool and calm could not hold it in any longer. One by one, they jumped and wanted to rush down! However, they had obviously overlooked the most important point. The bramble vines were tough, and at this moment, they were even more determined to trap the culprit who had dared to cut off its branches. It was impossible to open it in a short time! All kinds of lights exploded on the stage, but they were all useless. Nan Shan was still firmly wrapped in it. Gradually, in the cracks of the branches, drops of viscous dark red liquid seeped out and spread along the ring. It was a shocking sight! ¡°Junior Brother Nan!¡± Jiang Congshuang, who was in the stands, showed a rare look of anxiety. She leaped lightly and stepped in the air, ready to attack the thorn vine without hesitation. The elder behind her caught her in the nick of time and casually placed a seal on her. ¡°All of you step back, the crazy bramble vines are not something you can deal with. Listen to my order, all disciples step back a hundred miles to avoid being affected. The rest of the elders, please advise.¡± Before the First Elder could finish his sentence, the thorny vines that were wrapped in a ball suddenly exploded from the center! The dark red sticky liquid splattered and covered the heads and faces of the people who were closer to the ring. Even the elder who had moved a few dozen meters forward was not spared, and even his white beard was dyed red. As expected of a difficult level challenge. It¡¯s so difficult to deal with. Nan Shan¡¯s figure stood among the wreckage on the ground. The Devouring sword was on his shoulder, and his other hand was holding a small sapling about half a meter long. The sapling looked thin, like a withered branch, with only two leaves left at the top. Only the pure gold color of its body showed its extraordinary quality. ¡°Uh, Nan Shan, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Seeing the scene in front of him, Nan Shan, who had just experienced a great battle, could not help but be stunned. He had just been wrapped in the wizardry barrier created by the brambles, which had almost cut off his perception of the outside world. Moreover, this tree was really worthy of being said to be incomparably tough. At first, it was very smooth to cut down the vines, but the more it cut, the more difficult it became. In the end, when he waved the Devouring sword, it was as if he had fallen into a swamp. It took a lot of strength to cut each vine. Fortunately, his eyes were sharp and he saw a faint sapling in the middle of the waving vines. He risked being scraped and cut the sapling, so he could escape. Originally, he didnot want to take out the sapling, but after he pulled it out, he saw it turn into a rich golden color. This should be quite valuable, right? Moreover, the greatest harvest this time was far from just this! Perhaps it was because the bramble vines were different from ordinary plants, but the blood-like sap seemed to have the same effect as fresh blood. While the Devouring sword cut the vines, it was also watered by the tree sap. Perhaps it was an illusion? Nan Shan felt that the sheath of the Devouring sword was a little loose. ¡°F*ck, what kind of ruthless person is this?¡± ¡°I want to go home and tell my mother that I¡¯ve actually seen someone dig out the mother tree of the bramble vine tree in my lifetime.¡± ¡°Is this the power of the five elemental spiritual veins?¡± Different from the discussion just now, when they saw the small sapling in Nan Shan¡¯s hand, both the disciples and the elders were stunned. ¡°Ahem.¡± The First Elder was the first to recover from his shock. He coughed twice in an attempt to cover up. With a leap, he came to Nan Shan¡¯s side. ¡°Can you give me the mother tree of the bramble vines first? It¡¯s not easy to cultivate a bramble vine with intelligence, and there¡¯s only one in the entire sect. ¡°Oh, sure.¡± Nan Shan quickly realized that the golden-red sapling in his hand was the mother tree. Before handing it over, he stared at the First Elder for a long time, but unfortunately, the system did not pop up. It was a loss. If the First Elder in front of him could become an investment, he estimated that this mother tree could be exchanged for many good things. The First Elder¡¯s expression was twisted with heartache, but he had to pretend that nothing had happened. He carefully put away the mother tree, turned around, and put on a serious and sternlook. ¡°The first person to pass the difficult level assessment has appeared. The thorny vines have been damaged, so the difficult level assessment will be postponed for three days. Those who have registered for the normal assessment can follow the substitute elder to the assessment venue.¡± After he finished speaking, he personally brought Nan Shan back to the stands. ¡°First Elder, I have a question.¡± Nan Shan hesitated for a moment and whispered. ¡°You can ask me anything.¡± The First Elder looked at Nan Shan with a kind expression. ¡°Is there a possibility that I could try the hell challenge?¡± Nan Shan¡¯s voice was not loud, but everyone¡¯s attention was focused on the stands, so they could hear him clearly. Chapter 25 - The Eighteen Bronze Men In Golden Armor Chapter 25 The Eighteen Bronze Men In Golden Armor ¡°Are you crazy? Why are you pinching my thigh?¡± ¡°Hmm, it looks like it¡¯s real. It¡¯s not a dream. How can this be real? An in-name disciple who is taking part in the test for the first time not only has five elemental spiritual meridians, but also has to challenge two levels from difficult to hell on the same day!¡± ¡°Either I¡¯ve gone crazy or the world has gone crazy.¡± ¡°I still remember, the first and only time someone passed the difficult challenge, the whole sect was given a three-day holiday, as a celebration for finding a top genius girl.¡¯ || ¡°You¡¯re talking about Senior Sister Chen Motong, right? She was one of the rarest three-spirit root holders back then, and she immediately became an Inner Sect disciple. In less than two months, she became the First Elder¡¯s direct disciple.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. She¡¯s very ambitious. If she comes back after a period of training and sees this Little Junior Brother, there¡¯s probably going to be a good show to watch.¡± ¡°I think this Little Junior Brother is stronger. Regardless of whether he has the five elements spirit meridians, Senior Sister Jiang¡¯s attitude towards him can be seen. This Senior Sister is also a first-class ice beauty, but isn¡¯t she gentle and soft towards Junior Brother Nan?¡± When a person surpassed them by a level, they might be jealous or unconvinced. However, when a person surpassed several major realms and left others in the dust, all the complicated emotions would turn into respect and yearning. The in-name disciples who participated in the exchange meeting even felt honored to be able to compete with such a genius. It was enough for them to brag about it for half a lifetime. No matter what the others said, Nan Shan only stared at the First Elder with burning eyes. Or rather, he was the great elder. This elder¡¯s status was quite high, and he usually wouldnot participate in this kind of low-level exchange meeting. He was more often in seclusion. However, he didn¡¯t expect that he would participate in it on a whim and directly see the natural five elements spiritual meridians. ¡°You should reconsider it. Hell difficulty is different from the other two levels. even if an accident happens in normal and difficult difficulty, with us old guys watching over you, your safety will be guaranteed. ¡°But hell difficulty is different. It¡¯s a real battle. Fists and legs have no eyes. If there¡¯s an accident, no one will be able to save you in time.¡± The First Elder tried to dissuade him. At this moment, there was already an older Outer Sect disciple who came to Nan Shan¡¯s side with an exquisite red wooden tray. On it was a set of clothing exclusive to the Outer Sect disciples, and a finely carved Outer Sect jade tablet. As long as Nan Shan accepted the tray, he would be an Outer Sect disciple. Moreover, everyone knew that the Outer Sect was just Nan Shan¡¯s stepping stone. It could not be the endgame. With natural five-element spirit meridians, not to mention being a personal disciple, it was not impossible for him to establish a sect directly after becoming an immortal one day. Nan Shan looked at the things on the tray and then at the First Elder. He looked a little troubled. ¡°Your future is limitless. If you really want to challenge the hell difficulty, you can try again after cultivating for a while.¡± The First Elder consoled him patiently. However, he quickly realized that not only did Nan Shan not show any signs of changing his mind, but even his demureness had completely disappeared. The young man¡¯s handsome face was filled with a restless fighting spirit. ¡°You¡¯re such a coward!¡± The First Elder was speechless. ¡°First Elder, please wait for a moment. Allow me to speak with Junior Brother for a moment.¡± Jiang Congshuang, who had been silent all this time, bowed slightly and pulled Nan Shan to the side after getting permission. ¡°Senior Sister, what¡¯s the rush?¡± Nan Shan asked in confusion. ¡°Do you know that the hell difficulty is not meant for us to pass? Even if you have five elemental spiritual meridians, you won¡¯t be able to last more than three moves against me. || Jiang Congshuang¡¯s thick eyelashes drooped to hide the worry in her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s really a real battle?¡± Nan Shan was even more excited. ¡°What else did you think? Being able to cut off the thorn vines and the mother tree is the convenience of your weapon. Real combat is far from what you and I, who are cultivating in the sect and have never experienced the trial, can imagine. If we accidentally damage our foundation, then the loss will outweigh the gain.¡± Jiang Congshuang tried to persuade him. She rarely cared so much about a person, but she was willing to say a few more words because Nan Shan was different from others. If it was someone else, even if they were courting death under her eyes, she wouldn¡¯t even look at them. ¡°You¡¯ll be able to see my true strength in a while. To be honest, even I don¡¯t know how far I can go.¡± Nan Shan rubbed his hands, his eagerness to try was already obvious. Jiang Congshuang was at a loss for words. how arrogant! she said and ran to the First Elder¡¯s side. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Doesn¡¯t it make sense?¡± The First Elder had already recovered his stern attitude and asked indifferently. Jiang Congshuang snorted coyly and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Young people always have a heart. It¡¯s always a good thing for him to suffer a little. Geniuses are not rare, but they can¡¯t last long. It¡¯s because they are too ambitious and their strength is not worthy of them.¡± The First Elder turned around and glanced at the excited Nan Shan. He could not help but sigh. ¡°Then you¡¯re allowing it?¡± ¡°Why not? Just pay close attention and don¡¯t let him suffer any fatal injuries.¡± After saying this, the First Elder walked the stage that had just been cleared. Under his solemn gaze, the noisy venue up to quieted down little by little until everyone¡¯s eyes gathered on him. ¡°At the request of disciple Nan Shan, we have started the hell difficulty challenge. We invite the eighteen bronze men in golden armor.¡± As soon as the First Elder finished speaking, a magnificent golden light suddenly emitted from the distant mountain peak. ¡°The eighteen bronze men have received their orders!¡± The reply was vigorous and distant. When it fell into everyone¡¯s ears, they could not help but tremble. Nan Shan couldn¡¯t help but look up. On the rugged mountain road, eighteen figures walked down the mountain. They had been at the top of the mountain a second ago, but in the next second, they were at the foot of the mountain. In the blink of an eye, the eighteen bronze men in golden armor had arrived at the arena. All of them had their hands clasped together and their eyes closed. Their upper bodies were covered with mysterious golden patterns, giving off a sense of inviolability. Just as everyone was shocked by the aura, the eighteen people opened their eyes at the same time. ¡°Oh.¡± A series of rumbles sounded in everyone¡¯s ears, but they weren¡¯t annoying. On the contrary, they felt a sense of calmness when they heard this sound. ¡°These are the eighteen golden armored bronze men from my sect. If you can withstand their attacks for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, you will pass the hell difficulty challenge.¡± The First Elder took a step back. Immediately, the eighteen golden armored bronze men¡¯s eyes all gathered on Nan Shan. Imperceptibly, a strong sense of oppression spread. Chapter 26 - Come At Me Together Chapter 26 Come At Me Together Come At Me Together ¡°He¡¯s not human either.¡± Nan Shan muttered to himself. Perhaps other people could not see it under the pressure of this power, but Nan Shan could see it clearly. The so-called golden armored eighteen bronze men all looked like humans. They were similar to the Shaolin eighteen bronze men in the novel he had read on the Blue Planet in his previous life. However, in reality, if one were to sense them carefully, they would be able to tell that these bronze men were really ¡°bronze men.¡± Could they be considered high-grade human-shaped weapons? No matter how many questions Nan Shan had in his heart, when the First Elder announced the start of the challenge, the eighteen golden armored bronze men all shouted in unison. In the blink of an eye, the eighteen bronze men moved their feet and occupied the space of the arena in a regular pattern, surrounding Nan Shan. Nan Shan immediately raised his guard, his body constantly following the movement of the bronze man in front of him. This kind of encirclement seemed rather loose and even full of holes, but one could clearly feel that all paths of retreat had been sealed off, and these bronze men were all connected. If they wanted to, they could attack Nan Shan at the same time. ¡°A formation?¡± These two words flashed through his mind, and Nanshan¡¯s interest was finally aroused. This was the first time he had seen such a scene. If he could comprehend the key to the array, it would definitely be helpful to the improvement of his strength! Under everyone¡¯s gazes, the bronze man in the upper left corner slowly advanced in front of Nan Shan. What was surprising was that he actually made an ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± gesture. ¡°You¡¯re so polite, why do you come one by one?¡± Nan Shan accidentally mumbled, and the crowd burst into laughter. Before the laughter could die down, the 1.8-meter tall bronze man disappeared in front of Nan Shan at a speed that did not match his strong body! The wind behind his ears was not friendly, and the sharp sound of the wind was like a knife that stung his eardrums. Nan Shan didnot even think and bent over reflexively, barely avoiding the attack. Seeing that its attack had missed, the bronze man quickly retreated. Astral winds rose from the flat stage, gradually forming a small whirlwind that wrapped the bronze man within. With the wind¡¯s power, the bronze man¡¯s speed became even faster. It would always attack Nan Shan from all kinds of unexpected angles. After suffering a few hits, Nan Shan¡¯s anger rose. He raised his eyebrows slightly, touched his back, and took out the blood-soaked Devouring sword. The sword was still in its scabbard, but anyone with a discerning eye could see that the appearance of the Devouring sword had an indescribable difference from before. ¡°The wind lord is fast, but his attack power and instantaneous power are both lacking. It¡¯s fine if I take a few of your attacks, but you can¡¯t take one of my sword strikes.¡± Nan Shan held the sword with both hands and muttered to himself. The bronze man seemed to be able to understand what others were saying, and its body that was hidden in the wind paused for a moment. In such a battle, a moment of carelessness could determine the outcome. Furthermore, the bronze man seemed to look down on Nan Shan, an in-name disciple. ¡°There¡¯s a flaw.¡± Nan Shan¡¯s lips curved into a low smile. Taking advantage of this gap, he stabbed out with the Devouring sword in his hand! ¡°Clang!¡± A deafening sound of metal clashing reverberated in the air. Nan Shan gritted his teeth and took half a step back. The weight of the bronze statue and the inertia of the wind were much heavier than he had expected. The impact made his arm ache. However, at the same time, the bronze man was stabbed by Nan Shan¡¯s skillful attack. It moved with the force and flew out, only stopping when it hit the side of the ring. Just a little bit more and Nan Shan would have been eliminated in the first round. The in-name disciples who were watching didnot see the ingenuity and risk. From their perspective, it was Nan Shan who sent the bronze man that the sect was so proud of flying with a clean sword strike! Instantly, the crowd cheered. The bronze statue that had been sent flying lay on the ground for a long time before it stood up with difficulty. Then, Nan Shan noticed that they seemed to have communicated with each other, He didnot care about honor or how they came one by one! The first bronze man returned to his original position, and the formation of the eighteen golden armored bronze men was activated! As their footsteps began to move, their speed became faster and faster. Nan Shan couldnot help but feel a little dazzled. Metal, wood, water, fire, earth, the auras of the five elements, plus the mutated wind, thunder, ice, and so on. The eighteen auras complemented each other and formed a stream of circulation. The sense of oppression that it brought increased by several times! At this moment, the terrifying power of the eighteen golden armored bronze men was finally revealed! Even if Nan Shan had a unique skill, with such a big difference in strength, he was still hit several times by the punches and kicks from unknown directions. ¡°No way? Can he last this long?¡± Such exclamations were no longer from the disciples below the stage, but from the elders who were watching the battle. ¡°The eighteen bronze men are weapons that the Outer Sect elders have refined using their own techniques. There¡¯s also a wisp of divine sense that the elders have left in them. Even if they can¡¯t use seventy to eighty percent of their strength, they can at least use fifty percent. This Outer Sect disciple, Lao Ai, is not simple.¡± ¡°If I had known earlier, I wouldn¡¯t have invited the First Elder. If he didn¡¯t come, we might have been able to compete fairly for such a good seedling. Now that he¡¯s here, let alone poaching him, he¡¯ll even deduct next month¡¯s expenses if we take another look at him.¡± A few elders gathered together and whispered to each other, not forgetting to pay attention to the position of the First Elder. Since the elders were already in such a state, the spectating disciples were all dumbfounded. They didnot have the honor to experience it personally, but they could tell how intense the battle was just by feeling the aura that was released during the fight. At this moment, Nan Shan only felt that he was attacked from all directions, not even giving him a chance to breathe. The auras of the eighteen golden armored bronze men were connected. If he wanted to completely break the formation, he needed to defeat them all at once. Nan Shan did not think he could do that. ? Wait a minute? An instant burst? Knocked down at the same time? He also knew this kind of cultivation technique! When Nan Shan thought of this, he had a thought. ¡°Oh,¡± An unremarkable buzzing sound was heard. A faint golden light instantly enveloped Nan Shan¡¯s body! Under the aura of theeighteen bronze men, the golden light on his body was not obvious at all. Golden Bell shield! When the Golden Bell shield was released, Nan Shan would not be hurt unless he was suppressed by a higher cultivation level or was broken by a force three times stronger. After all, the hell difficulty was just a challenge. The sect was only trying to select talented disciples, not to wipe them out. The eighteen bronze men in golden armor were all physical attacks, and they didnot use any internal attacks such as destroying meridians. Under the cover of the faint golden light, even the noise of the oppression was reduced by a lot. Nan Shan recalled a movie he had watched and made a very standard horse stance on the spot, pretending that he had sunk his Qi into his dantian and was resisting the attack with his head. Chapter 27 - Understanding The Iron Skin Technique Chapter 27 Understanding The Iron Skin Technique Understanding The Iron Skin Technique ¡°Dong Dong Dong.¡± Muffled sounds reverberated continuously as the attacks of the eighteen bronze men in golden armor became more and more ferocious. Even at such a close distance, Nan Shan could clearly see that two of the more irritable bronze men had already revealed flustered and exasperated expressions. At this point, he could already see that these bronze men were just weapons that had been tempered. At most, they relied on a trace of their master¡¯s divine sense, which was why they looked more agile. It could be said that there was almost no logical thinking ability, and it only knew how to attack. With the Golden Bell shield activated, Nan Shan was in a horse stance. Sometimes, he would wave his fists. To the outside world, he still looked like he was putting up a last-ditch struggle. By the side of the stage, the incense used to keep time had already burned more than halfway. Under everyone¡¯s gazes, Nan Shan not only did not seem to be exhausted from dealing with the eighteen golden armored bronze men¡¯s attacks, but he also seemed to be at ease. The First Elder had been paying attention to the situation in the ring, and now his eyes were a little dazed. Jiang Congshuang covered her cherry lips with one hand and stared at Nan Shan. At this moment, Nan Shan was very leisurely maintaining the Golden Bell shield. When the attacks of the eighteen bronze men landed on the faint Golden Shield, not a single vibration could be transmitted in. He even had the mood to control the Golden Bell shield and try to see if he could repel those attacks. The effect of force was reciprocal. The Golden Bell shield was invulnerable, and when the eighteen bronze men¡¯s attacks landed on him, he would also have to bear a lot of pressure. All of a sudden, the eighteen bronze men retreated. Seeing that the incense stick was about to burn to the end and that they had not been able to take down the enemy after a long time, they immediately prepared to launch a fatal attack! The eighteen bronze men returned to their original positions and set up a killing formation! They put their hands together and chanted the name of Buddha. Their deep voices interweaved together and formed a strange resonance. Rays of light of various colors shot up into the sky, intertwining to form a large net that enveloped the entire stage! The sharp ice crystals condensed together and fell like a hail. Lightning flickered and caused the dark clouds in the sky to gather! As the flames burned, countless spikes that were several meters long protruded from the ground! Such a scene was like purgatory on earth! ¡°Not good!¡± The First Elder roared and rose into the air! The other elders also knew how powerful this was. Even they didnot have the confidence to completely take on the combined attack of the eighteen bronze men. They would have to dodge and divert the force themselves. Nan Shan was at the center of the attack! If they were far from it, then in the end, their genius disciples, who only had one in ten thousand years, would only have a handful of black ash left! The light of the attack that enveloped the entire arena completely covered the increasingly strong golden light on Nan Shan¡¯s body. He raised his head and looked at the rare sight in amazement. The auras of the five elements-metal, wood, water, fire, and earth-had fused so perfectly that they could even temporarily avoid mutual promotion and restraint and co-exist. This was indeed a method that he had not expected. However, the Golden Bell shield firmly protected every inch of his body. When the sharp ice crystals that could destroy gold and break jade came into contact with it, they melted into sparkling snowflakes and drifted down. The burning fire turned into a gentle heat, the snowflakes turned into fine rain and fell down. The terrible spikes hit the golden light shield, but they couldnot even leave a trace. They were separated by the light shield and forcibly changed their direction. Being in it, he could feel the vibration from the Golden Bell shield and the wonderful and harmonious coexistence of the five elements. Under the thunderstorm and drizzle, Nan Shan actually stood still. Just as the ball of lightning struck, Nan Shan¡¯s body suddenly trembled and his eyes revealed a look of enlightenment! ¡®The Golden Bell shield can only be used for internal and external defense. Even if its defensive power is amazing, it can only passively take a beating. However, if I store the enemy¡¯s attack in it and use my spiritual Qi as a guide to return it to them, it can be considered perfect.¡¯ ¡°Then it¡¯s not appropriate to call the kasaya golden bell shield. why don¡¯t we call it Iron Skin?¡± With a thought, Nan Shan used this opportunity to try to control the light barrier. He did not just simply reflect the attack, but tried to absorb as much power as possible. Gradually, his temples began to throb in pain, and he could faintly feel that he had reached his limit. ¡°Did you have fun beating me up? Come, I¡¯ll tell you what it means to return things to their original owners!¡± With great difficulty, Nan Shan moved the light barrier that was already close to saturation. In the next second, a light even brighter than the light emitted by the eighteen bronze men was pushed back the way they came! ¡°Bang Bang Bang!¡± Continuous explosions rang out, and the light that burst out in an instant caught the elders who had come to rescue by surprise. They were hit directly, and could only join forces to cast a defensive spell to prevent the disciples behind them from being affected. ¡°Hualala.¡± The dark clouds had completely dispersed, but it started to drizzle. The blinding light finally dissipated, revealing Nan Shan, who was grinning foolishly with a face full of dust. There were also the eighteen bronze men who looked extremely miserable. Nan Shan looked at his hand and smiled more and more happily. He was overjoyed! Admiralty Cover was an investment reward given by the system. This kind of absolute defense was already considered very strong. It allowed him to withstand the attacks of the eighteen bronze men for so long without being injured. Now, he had upgraded the Golden Bell shield by one level with his own comprehension! Not only could it be used for defense, but it could also absorb the attacks that the light shield received in proportion and then release them all at once! The improvement was huge. However, the reason why he was so happy was because he had confirmed a crucial problem. That was the reward given by the system. He could rely on his own hard work and comprehension to improve again! Originally, the items given by the system would be given back in multiples according to the degree of investment. Any one of them could be considered a treasure. ¡®It¡¯s a big deal to upgrade the kasaya on this basis!¡¯ By then, the Iron Skin would be used for internal absorption, the Golden Bell shield for external defense, and he would be the middleman who earned the price difference. Just as Nan Shan was overjoyed, Jiang Congshuang was the first to land on the ring. She didnot care about the eighteen bronze men lying on the ground, but directly supported Nan Shan and looked him up and down nervously. ¡°Senior Sister, how is it? I¡¯m still quite powerful, right? Has the incense stick burned down yet?¡± Nan Shan asked with a smile. It was rare for Jiang congshuang to see Nan Shan in such a manner. It was as if the young man¡¯s heroic spirit was all released at this moment. She could not help but be stunned for a moment, then pursed her lips and smiled, nodding slightly. ¡°Nan Shan, what are you doing?¡± The First Elder also arrived in front of them, and seeing that the eighteen bronze men on the ground had yet to rise up, he could not help but be somewhat speechless. ¡°First Elder, I wonder if this counts as a pass?¡± Only now did Nan Shan have the mood to pay attention to the situation around him. When he saw the tragic sight of the arena and the eighteen bronze men, he was afraid that he would accidentally get into trouble. ¡°Are you interested in becoming my personal disciple?¡± The First Elder was silent for a long time before he finally asked, word for word. Chapter 28 - An Unexpected Surprise Chapter 28 An Unexpected Surprise An Unexpected Aurprise Nan Shan stood there with a troubled expression. He did not know if being the First Elder¡¯s direct disciple would affect his investment. If it was like in the fantasy novels where he went into seclusion for decades or even centuries, it would be troublesome. ¡°Do you have other concerns?¡± The First Elder asked after a while. ¡°Not really, but I¡¯ve just entered the sect and I¡¯m afraid that I¡¯ll damage First Elder¡¯s reputation if I become your disciple.¡± Nan Shan weighed his tone, appearing to be fearful and a little excited. After all, every sect had its own rules. If an ordinary in-name disciple wanted to reach the position of a pro-disciple, it would take decades of effort, and it also depended on whether the master was willing to accept them. Nan Shan¡¯s innate Five Element spiritual pulse was already eye-catching enough. If he still jumped levels to become a pro-disciple, the other disciples would probably have a grudge. The First Elder looked at Nan Shan with even more satisfaction and admiration. As expected of a disciple with five elemental spiritual meridians! He thought things through more clearly than others. Fortunately, he did not know what Nan Shan was thinking at the moment. Otherwise, he would have vomited blood. ¡°Fine, since this is your choice, I won¡¯t say anything more. I¡¯ll just wait for you to win a place in the disciple competition and then become my disciple.¡± The First Elder waved his sleeve and was about to return to the stands to continue monitoring the exchange. Soon however, he smacked his forehead as if he suddenly remembered something. ¡°Nan Shan, are you interested in going to the hall of cultivation to choose your own internal force cultivation method?¡± The other disciples were in an uproar! One had to know that the reason why the Outer Sect elders had such a high status was not only because of their own abilities, but more importantly, because they had real power in their hands. For example, the First Elder was the hall master of the resource hall. Whether it was the sect¡¯s food, clothing, or the monthly salary of the elders and disciples, everything was in his hands. He could not be easily offended. There were also the mission hall, punishment hall, and so on, a total of nine halls. The First Elder¡¯s resource hall had many inner force cultivation techniques that he had found himself or obtained from the sect¡¯s resources. Compared to the ones in the cultivation hall, they were of a higher grade! ¡°Internal strength? Can I choose anything I want?¡± Nan Shan was surprised. Although the investment would also be returned to him, the more cultivation techniques and weapons he had, the better. Even if he couldnot use them, he could use them as the cost of his future investment. You can even pick randomly! ¡®I¡¯m overjoyed!¡¯ ¡°Of course. Now that you¡¯ve passed the hell challenge, you have free pick of the cultivation techniques inside.¡± The First Elder said and brought Nan Shan to the resource hall, not caring that the examination was still going on. It was conceivable that the selection of internal cultivation techniques for the five element spirit meridians was much more lively than the exchange meeting. Moreover, today¡¯s process was more than half completed, and many disciples were eager to follow and see. ¡°The opening of the resource hall is a big event. Those who are interested in observing can follow me.¡± Seeing that the main character was leaving, the substitute elder was also itching for a show. He simply tidied up the arena sloppily and ran away. Gradually, more than a hundred people gathered in front of the resource hall, which was usually not open. The center of everyone¡¯s attention was Nan Shan, who had been calm and collected. ¡°This is the resource hall that I¡¯m in charge of. Whether it¡¯s inner force cultivation methods or all sorts of heavenly treasures, there¡¯s everything here. Not bad, right?¡± The First Elder stood with his hands behind his back and his chin slightly raised. His intention was obvious, like a peacock spreading its tail. He also had his own thoughts. If the innate five elements spirit meridians were intimidated by the resources hall¡¯s wealth, he would definitely be asked to teach him! Nan Shan looked at the resource hall in front of him and was shocked! The Linglong Pagoda, which was so tall that it reached the clouds, looked like it was floating in the air. There was a faint cloud of mist lingering around it, and it was also faintly emitting a faint glow. He didnot even need to go in. Just by looking at the exterior of the tower, he could tell how deep the foundation of the resource hall was. ¡°The resource hall is divided into six floors. The first two floors are for the outer disciples, while the middle two floors are for the inner disciples. Only core disciples or legacy disciples can enter the last two floors to choose their own internal arts.¡± The First Elder spoke leisurely, his voice containing a wonderful rhythm. It fluttered and accurately entered everyone¡¯s ears. ¡°Wow, this is my first time coming to the resource Hall. In the past, the restrictions here were never activated, and I didn¡¯t even have the chance to take a look.¡± ¡°Why do I feel like the resource hall is a little different from the last time I was here? It seems to be brighter and more exquisite.¡± ¡°Tsk, what¡¯s your status? What¡¯s the status of someone with innate five elemental spiritual meridians? The First Elder is determined to take him in as a disciple, so it¡¯s understandable that he would dress up the resource hall.¡± Some of the other disciples were discussing among themselves. Perhaps they thought that their voices were soft, but Nan Shan still heard them clearly. This First Elder was quite interesting. However, the inner force mantras provided by the resource hall were also divided into different levels, which Nan Shan had not expected. He had thought that he could casually browse through the books and choose what was more suitable for him, but now it seemed that he was limited to different floors according to his status. The first two floors probably didnot have anything good. Nan Shan¡¯s initial excitement had mostly calmed down. He then sized up the resource hall with interest. ¡®According to the usual rules, the Outer Sect disciples can only choose from the first two levels. The inner force mantras there are not that powerful.¡± As the First Elder spoke, he looked deeply at Nan Shan, as if he was thinking about something important. ¡°However, on account of your extraordinary talent, I will allow you to choose from the third floor of the resource hall.¡± After careful consideration, the First Elder spoke. After all, these were the five elemental spiritual veins, which were extremely precious and rare. It was nothing to give himsome special privileges. ¡°If I remember correctly, that Junior Brother Nan Shan hasn¡¯t taken an outer disciple¡¯s uniform or jade card. He¡¯s only an in-name disciple, how can he be so popular?¡± ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s even scarier now that you¡¯ve said it? Even registered disciples can go to the third floor of the resource hall to choose their cultivation techniques. I don¡¯t think we can even enter the gate of the resource Hall.¡± ¡°Everyone has their own fate and can not be forced. The cultivation techniques in the resource hall are not for anyone to take. Not only do people have to choose their cultivation techniques, but the cultivation techniques also have to choose the people.¡± The discussion did not stop. Everyone¡¯s attention was on Nan Shan. ¡°The third floor?¡± Nan Shan muttered to himself. He did not show any surprise. Instead, he seemed hesitant. Chapter 29 - An Opportunity To Complete The Investment Chapter 29 An Opportunity To Complete The Investment An Opportunity To Complete The Investment At that moment, Nan Shan had inadvertently seen Jiang Congshuang¡¯s envious gaze. The third level of the resource hall was an unattainable dream for all outer disciples. Even Senior Sister Jiang, who was usually cold and aloof, was the same. Nan Shan had already received Jiang Congshuang¡¯s investment mission, but he had never had the chance to complete it. After all, his Senior Sister Jiang had always been so selfless that he could not find an opportunity to exchange resources with her. The third level of the resource hall might be the perfect opportunity. ¡°First Elder, this disciple would like to ask a question, is it possible?¡± Nan Shan made up his mind and cupped his fists to the First Elder. ¡°Oh? What was it? Just say it. ¡° The First Elder looked at Nan Shan with more admiration. After all, the third floor of the resource hall was a great temptation for the Outer Sect disciples. Nan Shan was only an in-name disciple, but he could resist it. One had to admit that such determination was rare among young people. ¡°I know that my cultivation is still shallow and there are thousands of inner Qi cultivation techniques in the resource hall. I am not ready to pick one yet, so could First Elder give me a few more days to think about how I should choose a suitable cultivation technique?¡± Nan Shan lowered his posture. The First Elder laughed and agreed without hesitation. However, the disciples who were waiting to watch the show came up empty-handed, and each and every one of them revealed a disappointed expression. ¡°Thank you for your permission, First Elder. However, I have only cultivated for a short period of time and do not know how to choose a more suitable cultivation method.¡± ¡°If First Elder can do me the honor, why don¡¯t you take this opportunity to come to this disciple¡¯s humble house and have a drink? I¡¯ve been reluctant to drink the two pots of good wine I¡¯ve received before, and it seems that I¡¯ve been waiting for someone like First Elder to taste them.¡± Nan Shan maintained his posture of cupping his fists, and his words were smooth enough. Thanks to his experience from his previous life, he knew what kind of attitude one should have when asking others to do things. ¡°Oh? This disciple of yours is quite interesting. It just so happens that this old man doesn¡¯t have to deal with too many trivial matters after coming out of seclusion, so I¡¯ll go with you for a drink.¡± The First Elder was overjoyed by Nan Shan¡¯s reasonable words. Adding on the fact that he liked wine, he naturally agreed. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come and join, Senior Sister? This is the first time Junior Brother is meeting the First Elder, so I¡¯m afraid there will be some restraint during the meal. Senior Sister and First Elder are familiar with each other, so please try your Junior brother¡¯s cooking skills.¡± Nan Shan turned his head naturally and said to Jiang Congshuang. Jiang Congshuang had no reason to refuse his flawless reasoning, so she nodded slightly. From an angle that no one could see, Nan Shan¡¯s lips curved up slightly, revealing a proud smile. Before, he was not very familiar with Senior Sister Jiang. Coupled with her cold and beautiful personality, he couldnot easily pry open her heart, let alone meet the investment conditions. This time, everything was ready, only Senior Sister needed to speak. Nan Shan did not believe that he couldnot get her to open up. The protagonist decided to leave early. Seeing that it was still early, the elders took the rest of the disciples back to the main venue of the exchange meeting as if they were chasing away little chicks and prepared to continue the assessment. With Nan Shan¡¯s ability to clear two challenges in one day, the other matches and challenges were a little dull. When the sky was getting dark, Nan Shan took his leave and returned to his residence to make some simple arrangements. Cultivators did not need to eat, so they didnot need food to maintain their daily consumption. However, not needing it did not mean that he wasnot hungry. Nan Shan used all his skills to make a table full of food and even brought out the two pots of good wine. When night fell, the First Elder arrived on time with Jiang Congshuang. The meal was a happy one. After drinking, the First Elder was completely free from the restraints of the day, and his hearty laughter spread far in the night sky. Nan Shan drank with him while secretly watching Jiang Congshuang. After two glasses of wine, she refused to drink any more. Her soft and delicate hand held her delicate chin and she sighed faintly. ¡°Senior Sister Jiang, is there something that you¡¯re unhappy about? You can tell me about it, and maybe I¡¯ll think of a solution.¡± Nan Shan said as he filled her cup again. Jiang Congshuang looked up at Nan Shan quietly, her beautiful eyes filled with a natural charm. After a long time, she shook her head gently and smiled, seemingly self-deprecating and sad. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I just encountered a bottleneck in my cultivation. I can¡¯t help but feel vexed.¡± Jiang Congshuang¡¯s clear eyes were covered with a thin layer of mist. She would not reveal her true feelings so easily under normal circumstances. After all, to her, admitting that she was lacking in cultivation was equivalent to showing weakness. However, with her personality, how could she bow down to others? It was only because she had drunk some wine today, and the two people beside her were considered close to her, that she was willing to spit it out. ¡°Oh? I wonder what kind of bottleneck it is?¡± The First Elder was now drunk. Seeing that his proud disciple was on the verge of tears, he quickly asked. ¡°Elder, you should know that I¡¯m cultivating the five elements cultivation method, but I¡¯m only missing the water element cultivation method. I¡¯ve been looking for it all this time.¡± Jiang Congshuang was silent for a long time before she spoke. Through their conversation, Nan Shan had already understood the general situation. Jiang Congshuang was so highly valued by the First Elder because although she did not have the five elements spiritual pulse, she had achieved the ultimate Yin body as a woman. This relatively rare physique allowed her to accommodate the power of the five elements without any obstacles, and at the same time, she could integrate them. When the cultivation was complete, the five-element Qi in the body could be said to be similar to the real five-element spiritual meridians. However, if one wanted to cultivate it to a greater degree, the conditions were much more demanding. Unlike other cultivators, Jiang Congshuang¡¯s five elements cultivation method required five cultivation methods to be cultivated to the major success stage before she had the hope of breaking through the bottleneck. Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth-the cultivation techniques of the five elements were all treasures sought after by countless people. They could only be obtained with the right time, place, and people. The four cultivation techniques that Jiang Congshuang was currently cultivating had taken a lot of effort to obtain the opportunity to enter the resource hall. Now that she was about to succeed in cultivating the metal, wood, fire, and earth element, if she lost the water element cultivation method and did not have the chance to cultivate it, Jiang Congshuang would not be far from the bottleneck. Once she reached a bottleneck, it would be difficult to break through. The longer the time, the slimmer the chance of breaking through. In the end, even if she managed to break through, her talent would be greatly reduced, and she might not be able to make any progress for the rest of her life. Jiang Congshuang could not help but purse her the mention of the sad part, and she was lips at about to cry. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about this anymore. It¡¯s a rare opportunity for you to enter the resource hall for the first time. You¡¯ll have to choose a cultivation technique well then. Jiang Congshuang quickly adjusted her state of mind and forced a smile at Nan Shan. ¡°Senior Sister Jiang, the cultivation method you need is called water element cultivation method?¡± Nan Shan suddenly asked. Chapter 30 - Tell Me Your Dream Chapter 30 Tell Me Your Dream Tell Me Your Dream ¡°That¡¯s right. The water element cultivation method is the last part of my five elements cultivation. However, I¡¯m not in a hurry. There¡¯s always a destiny. If I really reach a bottleneck, that¡¯s my fate.¡± Jiang Congshuang did not want to dwell on this topic any longer. She reminded Nan Shan again to choose the cultivation method carefully. Only the one that was most suitable for him could make his future cultivation progress twice as fast with half the effort. The First Elder was already drunk. After all, he had come to Nan Shan¡¯s banquet. He did not want to use his spiritual energy to force out his drunkenness. He even enjoyed the feeling of being drunk. Even so, he did not forget to agree with Jiang Congshuang. He had to tell Nan Shan that he had to be very careful when choosing a cultivation method for the first time. After roughly understanding the key point, Nan Shan listened to their advice. He remembered them all in his heart. It was a quiet night. The next morning, the entire sect was in an uproar. In order to celebrate the emergence of a five-element spiritual pulse and the passing of the difficult and hell challenges, the entire sect had a seven-day holiday as a celebration. After a night of brewing, everyone in the sect knew that Nan Shan was an in-name disciple and had asked the First Elder to make an exception and open the third floor of the resource hall for him. With such a lively scene to watch, everyone gathered around the resource hall early in the morning, except for those disciples who were in secluded cultivation. As far as the eye could see, it was even more lively than yesterday. This was the scene Nan Shan saw when he arrived at the resource hall. He could not help but laugh. ¡°Quickly look! There¡¯s the disciple with five-element spirit meridians! As expected, he has a dignified appearance and an impressive bearing!¡± ¡°He¡¯s the first person to enter the third level of the resource hall as an in-name disciple. I¡¯m really looking forward to what kind of cultivation technique he¡¯ll get.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the five elemental spiritual veins. Even if he uses the lowest grade cultivation method to cultivate, he¡¯s still much more powerful than us.¡± Countless disciples discussed among themselves. at the same time, they made way for Nan Shan to go to the resource hall. The First Elder was already waiting at the entrance of the hall. Jiang Congshuang had drunk a lot yesterday and still looked a little tired. She looked gentler than usual, which made people love her even more. As Nan Shan¡¯s thoughts ran wild, he bit the tip of his tongue and used the pain to stabilize his mind. ¡°You¡¯re here. The resource hall is only open for two hours each time. Once the time is up, the doors will close. Choosing a cultivation technique not only depends on one¡¯s attribute, but also on the level of tacit understanding between you and the cultivation technique.¡± The First Elder was always serious and calm in front of others. He explained the situation in the resource hall to Nan Shan expressionlessly. ¡°This disciple will follow your instructions.¡± Nan Shan respectfully saluted. ¡°Also, hold the technique in your hand, hold your breath, and concentrate on feeling the vibration of your soul. The weaker it is, the more powerful it is. The more your soul trembles, the more compatible the technique is with you.¡± As the First Elder spoke, he waved his sleeves, and the majestic gate of the Linglong Pagoda slowly opened. ¡°Don¡¯t choose any cultivation technique that can make your soul tremble less than five times,¡± the First Elder muttered in a low voice as he turned around. Nan Shan was stunned. He turned his head and saw that the First Elder was still impassive. He could not help but smile. The door of the resource hall opened with a loud bang. Nan Shan stood at the entrance of the hall and suddenly felt a calm and constant pressure enveloping him. Looking at it, the bottom level of the resource hall was probably a stage. It was made of green bricks and stones, and there were eternal lamps embedded in the walls. A flight of stairs stood in the middle. A certain kind of ancient and vicissitude feeling spontaneously emerged, making people feel intimidated. ¡°The two-hour time limit has begun. You can go now.¡± The First Elder pushed Nan Shan¡¯s shoulder lightly and he stepped into the resource Hall. The two stone doors closed silently behind him, and the last trace of natural light was swallowed up, leaving only the eternal light on. The dim yellow light guided Nan Shan forward. The moment he stepped on the stairs, the sound of his footsteps echoed in the extremely quiet sealed space. The higher he went, the heavier the pressure became. At this moment, Nan Shan finally understood why the resource hall was divided into different floors for different disciples to open. This was because the higher one went, the greater the pressure. Those who did not have the strength, even if there were no obstacles in the resource hall, would not be able to reach the top with their own strength. Perhaps his soul would collapse as he walked up the steps. Bearing with the increasing pressure, he finally arrived at the first level. Even though he was mentally prepared, seeing such a shocking scene for the first time, Nan Shan was still stunned. As far as the eye could see, the area of the first floor was extremely large. The entire ceiling emitted a gentle light, making it as bright as day even without windows. There were bookshelves made of unknown trees arranged in a circle along the wall. All kinds of cultivation techniques were stuffed on the bookshelves, arranged according to the different five elements. Each technique was enshrouded in a faint aura of the five elements. Although it was weak, there were enough of them. When gathered together, it was enough to have an impact. The ground was made of some unknown material, and with every step, a faint fluorescent light would light up beside the footprints. It was extremely beautiful. ¡°The first level is already so powerful. What will it be like when we go further up?¡± Nan Shan couldnot help but mutter to himself. He picked up a cultivation method from the nearest shelf. ¡°Red flame? It should be a fire element.¡± Nan Shan saw the title written in small seal on the cover and suddenly felt his heart tremble. Then, two more times! After his soul quaked, he suddenly felt a sense of familiarity from the cultivation technique in his hand. ¡°Only three times? Forget it.¡± As he thought of this, he casually put the cultivation technique back. The first layer was mostly basic cultivation techniques and nothing special. Nan Shan was curious about the so-called soul trembling, so he picked it up and tried it. Moreover, he had the five-element spirit meridians, so he could cultivate any cultivation technique without any difference. As for what attribute it was, it was not important to him. After walking around the first level, even though none of the cultivation techniques here caught his eye, he was still secretly shocked. To be able to collect so many basic cultivation methods for his disciples to choose, it seemed that the sect he was in could be considered second to none. He tried a few cultivation techniques, but the most powerful one was the Scarlet Flame technique he had just taken when he entered. The rest of the cultivation techniques only made his soul tremble once or twice, so there was no need to read them. Nan Shan put away the cultivation method he had seen and turned to look at the stairs leading to the second floor. He composed himself and walked up step by step. With a ¡°boom¡± sound, a ball of fireworks seemed to have exploded in his mind! The pressure that was several times stronger than before came down without warning. Even Nan Shan had a drop of cold sweat on his forehead. Chapter 31 - A Complete Mental Breakdown Chapter 31 A Complete Mental Breakdown A Complete Mental Breakdown Countless disciples outside the resource hall were looking forward to the results. When they saw the first level of the Linglong Pagoda gradually lit up, they could not help but cheer. Every time the resource hall opened, the time limit for obtaining cultivation techniques was two hours. It was not that the sect was stingy and didnot allow the disciples to explore for a while longer. It was just that as time passed, the omnipresent pressure would become stronger. If they couldnot hold on, then what awaited them was the damage to their soul and the destruction of their foundation. The faster one moved forward, the stronger one¡¯s ability to withstand pressure would be. In other words, it was a display of one¡¯s strength. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Nan Shan had passed the first level so quickly. There was less than a quarter of an hour that passed! ¡°First Elder, do you think that he left after casually skimming for a while?¡± Jiang Congshuang was guarding the door of the hall. Even though she tried her best to hide it, she could not help but show her worry. ¡°I¡¯ve made so many plans that I forgot to tell him this. Most ordinary disciples would be shocked when they enter the resource hall for the first time. There are countless cultivation techniques in front of them for them to choose from. They would try it out no matter what. ¡°The level of a cultivation technique is actually far less important than its compatibility with one¡¯s body. Sigh, I wonder if he can find the most suitable cultivation technique for him.¡± The First Elder lowered his voice and whispered to Jiang Congshuang. The two of them had a good impression of Nan Shan. In addition, they had a drink together last night and their relationship had become closer. No matter what happened in the outside world, Nan Shan, who was in the resource hall, finally stepped onto the second floor while enduring the pressure that was so strong that it was almost tangible. The Linglong Pagoda was the widest on the first floor, and the higher one went, the smaller it became. The second floor was about one-third smaller than the first floor, and there were not as many cultivation techniques in it. The two floors extended along the wall. On the stone bookshelves, there were cultivation methods laid out. Beside each cultivation method, there was a simple description. Not only did it contain the analysis of the technique, but it also contained information about the person who compiled the technique. They were all placed together. Nan Shan looked over and saw that there were at most a thousand cultivation methods on the second floor. Compared to the library on the first floor, it was very different. He calculated the time limit in his mind and quickly browsed through it. It had to be said that the second level of the cultivation method was indeed much better than the first level. The highest number of soul tremors in his hand actually reached five times, but there was still a big gap compared to nine times. ¡°There¡¯s no cultivation method here that I want. Could it really be on the third floor? Senior Sister Jiang said that her opportunities are hard to come by, and that¡¯s probably why.¡± Nan Shan had already made up his mind. He didnot waste any more time on the second floor and turned to the stairs leading to the third floor. The stairs on this level were also very different from the previous two levels. They were black and gray in color, and although they were made of stone, they had a faint metallic luster. The surface of the steps was extremely delicate, like a mirror reflecting Nan Shan¡¯s face. With one step, his muscles instantly tensed up, and even a layer of faint golden light appeared on the surface of his body. That kind of pressure had already reached the point of no return. If it was an in-name disciple who came over, he would probably have been directly crushed into a meat paste. The moment he stepped on the steps, his instinct was faster than his thoughts. Nan Shan directly summoned the Golden Bell shield. In the face of pure physical attacks, Admiralty Cover was still very practical. It consumed little energy and had great defense. The area it covered was also divided into multiple areas, even the eyeballs could be protected. With the protection of the Golden Bell shield, Nan Shan walked up to the third floor. Immediately, his vision was filled with gold and jade. The layout of this third floor was like a luxurious palace. The floor was made of glass, and the ceiling was hung with gorgeous and exquisite crystal lamps. Each cultivation method had its own mahogany box, which was padded with soft silk. There was even a faint fragrance in the air that lingered around the tip of one¡¯s nose, making one instinctively relax. After stepping on it, the glazed floor under his feet lit up with a soft glimmer, and walking in it was like being in a paradise among the clouds. Coupled with the five elements aura emitted by the cultivation technique itself, even the spiritual Qi was much stronger than the outside world. ¡°No wonder the First Elder of the resource hall is respected by so many people. It¡¯s because he has the most wealth.¡± Nan Shan mumbled to himself. This time, he slowed down and picked up the cultivation methods in the mahogany box to read carefully. After looking at half of the circle, Nan Shan paused for a moment and couldnot help but feel a little disappointed. Each of these three levels of cultivation methods could be considered the world¡¯s most precious treasures, but the degree of compatibility with him was not high. At most, his soul trembled six times, still far from the number of extreme nine. Suddenly, he noticed that in the middle of the room, a ball of misty and moist air was lingering around one of the cultivation methods. It was as if a naughty little fish was blowing bubbles on it. Compared to the images that appeared on other cultivation techniques, it was much more agile. Nan Shan had a rough guess in his heart. He walked up to take a look and a trace of joy finally appeared in his eyes. ¡°Isn¡¯t this what it means to find something without any effort?¡± As he spoke, he picked up the cultivation technique. His mind trembled violently, and then it trembled six more times. ¡°The water element cultivation method can actually make my soul tremble seven times. It seems that my compatibility with this cultivation method can be considered quite high.¡± Holding the water element cultivation method in his hand, Nan Shan still didnot give up. He tried all the cultivation methods on the third floor. In the end, other than the water element mantra and another Sky Thunder incantation that caused his mind to tremble seven times, the other cultivation techniques did not exceed this number at all. ¡°It can only make my soul tremble seven times. It can¡¯t be compared with the system. I might as well take this opportunity to complete the investment mission on Senior Sister Jiang. The return on investing in a cultivation method is usually a cultivation method. Senior Sister Jiang¡¯s return is a hundred times. Maybe I can exchange it for something more suitable for me.¡¯ Nan Shan had made up his mind. Seeing that the two hour time limit was almost up, he did not delay any longer. He took a Book of Water element cultivation method and leisurely walked downstairs. When he arrived at the bottom level, the door of the resource hall seemed to sense him and opened automatically. The strong sunlight shone in and Nan Shan could not help but squint. In just a short while, countless cries of alarm came in wave after wave, and there were even cries and curses as if they were about to collapse. This gave Nan Shan a solid fright. ¡°Why did he pick out the water element cultivation technique from the third level!¡± ¡°Maybe the five elemental spiritual veins are different from what we think?¡± ¡°For something like the water element cultivation method, so what if it¡¯s the five elements spiritual pulse! Can you still cultivate flowers?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, the water spirit heart technique is cultivated alone, and the upper limit is so that it¡¯s unsightly!¡± low ¡°If I remember correctly, only female cultivators can cultivate this kind of pure Water-type cultivation technique, right?¡± Chapter 32 - A Successful Investment Chapter 32 A Successful Investment A Successful Investment Under everyone¡¯s surprised and puzzled eyes, Nan Shan held the water element heart technique and walked to the front of the First Elder. ¡°Look at you. There are so many cultivation techniques in the resource hall. There must be one that is more suitable for you, right? Why did you choose the water element cultivation technique?¡± The First Elder turned his back, blocking the other disciples¡¯ gazes, and whispered to Nan Shan. There was still a trace of dissatisfaction in his eyes. In the First Elder¡¯s view, it was possible that they had talked about the water element mental cultivation method at the dinner table last night, which made Nan Shan mistakenly think that this cultivation method was very powerful. However, other than the fact that it was more compatible with Jiang Congshuang¡¯s physique, the water element cultivation method alone would not be very powerful even if it was cultivated to full mastery. More importantly, men could not enter the sect, only women could barely cultivate it. ¡°I wonder if I can gift the cultivation techniques I obtained from the resource hall to others?¡± Nan Shan met the First Elder¡¯s complicated gaze and spoke calmly. ¡°You want to transfer it?¡± The turn of events was simply too big. The First Elder was unable to react for a moment, and blurted out that sentence in surprise. ¡°Yesterday, I heard Senior Sister Jiang say that she only lacked a water element cultivation method. I was lucky enough to obtain it. If possible, I would like to give it to Senior Sister Jiang. This is also a blessing in disguise.¡± Nan Shan smiled and nodded at Jiang Congshuang. Jiang Congshuang, who was usually calm and collected, finally could not hold it in any longer. Her cherry lips opened slightly, and her eyes stared straight ahead. She did not know if he was looking at the water element cultivation method that she couldnot find, or just looking at Nan Shan¡¯s confident expression. ¡°It¡¯s not impossible for you to give this cultivation method to me, but it¡¯s a rare opportunity.¡± The First elder was incoherent for a moment. On one side was the five elemental spiritual veins that he admired the most, and on the other side was the disciple he had carefully cultivated for many years. No matter what choice he made, it seemed that he would always have regrets. ¡°First Elder, if it¡¯s possible, I¡¯ll give this water element cultivation method to Senior Sister Jiang. A good cultivation method needs to be cultivated by someone suitable for it to get twice the result with half the effort.¡± As Nan Shan spoke, he held up the water element cultivation technique with both hands and handed it to Jiang Congshuang. Everything happened so suddenly that Jiang Congshuang stood there in a daze and forgot to take it. ¡°Senior Sister Jiang?¡± Nan Shan whispered. Jiang Congshuang shuddered, and a smile that was like melting ice gradually spread from the bottom of her eyes. At the same time, there was also a trace of inexplicable affection. ¡°In that case, many thanks, Junior Brother Nan. In the future, if you need any help from Senior Sister, feel free to ask. I will remember this favor.¡± Jiang Congshuang bowed to Nan Shan. When she took the water element cultivation method, she could not control her surging emotions. She bit her lip hard to hold back her tears. Although the water element cultivation method was extremely precious, since Nan Shan had already handed it to her, if she pretended to reject it, she would be at a disadvantage. Moreover, the water element heart technique was indeed of little value in the hands of others. It was tasteless and a pity to throw it away. It was better for her to accept it and repay Nan Shan when she had the opportunity. ¡°Senior Sister, you don¡¯t have to be so polite. Without Senior Sister¡¯s protection, if you come and go often, your Junior Brother will be lonely in the sect.¡± Nan Shan laughed and waved his hand. At this moment, the sun was just right. The warm and bright light gently wrapped around Nan Shan. Jiang Congshuang looked at him against the light and saw a tall, handsome young man in front of her. He was like a god who had walked out of the light, dazzling enough to make people dizzy. Unconsciously, her white and smooth cheeks were dyed with a touch of red, which made her look even more charming. The two of them stood in front of the majestic and glorious resource hall. They looked like a perfect couple, and the scene was simply picturesque. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s all go. What¡¯s the point? I watched as his in-name disciple took the cultivation technique from the third level of the resource hall to show off his love.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just like that dog, lying on the side of the road, and then someone came and kicked me.¡± ¡°What the h*ll is this? A double magic and physical attack?¡± ¡°If I have this much time, I might as well lie in bed and sleep. Why do I have to suffer?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the water element cultivation technique! If it were all the women in the world, wouldn¡¯t they all flock to it?¡± ¡°What are you thinking? She¡¯s Senior Sister Jiang, if I could use a cultivation technique to win her heart, I would do the same.¡± The surrounding disciples all had twisted expressions on their faces, but no one was willing to speak loudly and interrupt this warm scene. Finally, the First Elder laughed heartily, and all of his previous apprehensions were swept away. He walked up and patted Nan Shan¡¯s shoulder in admiration. However, Nan Shan was still standing in the same place with a solemn expression. His thin lips were pursed into a line, and his eyes were solemn. [Ding!] [The first round of investment for Jiang Congshuang, the target of Samsung¡¯s investment, has been completed. The investment item is water element cultivation method. Now, it is being returned 100 times. The reward is a nine tribulations cultivation method.] [Nine tribulations mental cultivation method: Tribulations are also gifts. If you survive the nine tribulations in life, you will become an immortal. If you survive the nine tribulations, you will be an immortal.] The system¡¯s notification had been ringing in his head the moment Nan Shan handed over the water element cultivation method. However, the contents of it made Nan Shan¡¯s heart flutter. As expected, after investing in the water element mental cultivation method, he also obtained a mental cultivation method. Now that there were so many people around, it was not convenient for him to study the mental cultivation method in detail, but just by hearing the name, he could tell that this mental cultivation method was definitely unusual. Most of the other cultivation techniques would clearly inform the cultivator of the effects after they were cultivated to large success. However, this nine tribulations mental cultivation method was extremely arrogant. According to the description, as long as one successfully cultivated it and passed through the nine tribulations, one would be able to become immortal! This was immortality! It was an existence that only existed in legends! However, in those few words of description, Nan Shan could still see the danger! Surviving nine tribulations meant that one might encounter more than one fatal crisis while cultivating. Only by seeking a chance of survival from certain death could he once again improve his strength. Thinking of this, Nan Shan not only did not feel any sense of danger, but it also triggered the hidden gambling desire in his heart. The greater the risk, the greater the reward. When he was an investor in his previous life, he had also danced on the edge of a knife several times. One wrong move and he would lose the whole game. However, it was also this kind of investment that could be exchanged for a surprising return. He was betting that a bicycle would become a motorcycle, and an Alto would become a Land Rover! Nan Shan secretly thought about it. As long as this matter was over, he had to go back and study the nine tribulations heart technique! ¡°Disciple, you¡¯ve seen it for yourself. As long as you work hard in my sect, your hard work will be noticed and you¡¯ll definitely get the rewards you deserve.¡± Just as Nan Shan came back to his senses, the First Elder had just finished his inspiring words. When he heard the second half, his mouth twitched. This big picture was simply round and big! ¡°Nan Shan, let me ask you something,¡± the First Elder noticed Nan Shan¡¯s strange movement, so he turned around and stared at him with burning eyes. Chapter 33 - Outer Sect Exchange Meet Chapter 33 Outer Sect Exchange Meet Outer Sect Exchange Meet ¡°I¡¯ll listen to First Elder¡¯s orders.¡± Nan Shan lowered his head and hid his emotions. He heard the First Elder slowly ask him if he was willing to participate in the Outer Sect exchange. ¡°Heavens! Why can¡¯t this good thing fall into my lap?¡± ¡°Put your pillow higher when you sleep at night. This opportunity might be yours in your dreams.¡± ¡°He passed the difficult and hell challenges to qualify for this exchange. Why don¡¯t you give it a try if you¡¯re unhappy?¡± ¡°I heard that every time the disciples who are qualified to participate in the Outer Sect exchange meet come back, they have a greater understanding of the path of cultivation. Those with high comprehension ability can even directly increase their strength by a small realm.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that so? He has five elemental spiritual meridians and is qualified for the exchange. I¡¯m afraid that we won¡¯t be able to catch up with him even if we try to flatter him.¡± Nan Shan had good ears and eyes. Although he did not know what the Outer Dect exchange was about, he had a general idea after hearing the discussions of the other disciples. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, First Elder. I will not let you down.¡± Without thinking, Nan Shan agreed. The First Elder laughed. Seeing Nan Shan being so decisive, his impression of him improved. A genius who was talented, hardworking, and even knew how to repay kindness would definitely have limitless achievements in the future. The resources he had invested in Nan Shan were for two reasons. One was to reduce the obstacles in the cultivation of the rare Five Element spirit veins, and the other was for his own selfish reasons. If Nan Shan really makes some achievements in the future, it could be considered a good relationship. After getting Nan Shan¡¯s affirmative answer, the First Elder turned around and said some meaningless words before letting everyone go. A full seven days holiday, coupled with the Outer Sect exchange meet, the disciples who had heavy homework in the past years were free, so it could be imagined that the Outer Sect exchange meet this time would definitely be the focus of everyone¡¯s attention. Even if they couldnot participate, it was good to have some fun while watching. None of the troubles had anything to do with Nan Shan. He politely rejected a few disciples who wanted to get close to him and hurried back to his residence. After closing the door, he immediately sat cross-legged on the bed and began to comprehend the nine tribulations mental cultivation method. One had to know that this was a cultivation technique that was a hundred times more valuable than the water element cultivation technique. Not only did it mean that it was of a higher grade, but it also meant that one would need to spend ten to a hundred times more energy to master it. If it was someone else, even if this mental cultivation method was placed in front of them, they might not be able to get started in their entire life. However, for Nan Shan, it was not a problem at all. With the system¡¯s analysis, he could understand those profound and obscure words without any obstacles. At the same time, his cultivation speed was also incomparable to ordinary people. For the entire night, Nan Shan sat cross-legged on the bed, not moving at all. It was not until the sky gradually brightened that he opened his eyes, feeling unusually tired. ¡®As expected of a cultivation technique that is a hundred times more powerful than the water element cultivation technique. If you want to cultivate it to its maximum level, it can be said that you will have to go through nine different trials and tribulations. ¡®After each tribulation, one¡¯s strength will increase by several times. It might even be possible to say that there will be a qualitative change. ¡®It seems that the saying that one can become an immortal after experiencing the nine tribulations is not empty talk. However, cultivation has to be done slowly and steadily. I can¡¯t be greedy and advance rashly. Otherwise, it will not be beneficial to me.¡¯ Nan Shan made up his mind and activated the nine tribulations mental cultivation method. The first tribulation was known as the tribulation of knowledge. As the name implied, the first level¡¯s tribulation was to change a cultivator¡¯s perception. All cultivators were born from the bitter cultivation of mortals. Emotions, greed, obsession, and hatred were things that spanned across a person¡¯s life. Life was inevitably affected by all kinds of emotions, be it greed or paranoia, and there would always be imperfections. These also became ties, the troubles of the secular world rooted in the bottom of the heart, greatly hindering the road of cultivation. What the tribulation of knowledge required was for a cultivator to get rid of the thoughts of being a mortal. The difference between it and cutting off the seven emotions and six desires was that the standard of successfully cultivating the first level of the nine tribulations mental cultivation method was to integrate and master it. Knowing the ways of the world but not knowing the ways of the world, confirming one¡¯s identity as a mortal, but also understanding the cognitive system of cultivators, this was the meaning of the Tribulation of knowledge. ¡®I¡¯m done for, I ran. When I was in school, I was pretty bad at philosophy. I wonder if that Outer Sect exchange will give me any inspiration.¡¯ Nan Shan sat on his bed and thought hard for a long time, but he still couldnot figure out how to pass the knowledge ordeal perfectly. He could only pack up a little and prepare to go to the Outer Sect exchange meet. Unexpectedly, Nan Shan had just arrived at the main peak when he was shocked by the aura of the five elements that was drifting in all directions. At the same time he was sent flying, the Golden Bell shield silently covered him, allowing him to land steadily and not fall awkwardly on the ground. ¡°Hahaha, I¡¯m sorry, Junior Brother. I was in the middle of a fierce battle and accidentally injured you.¡± A young man with a big shoulder and a round waist landed beside Nan Shan and clumsily helped him up. Nan Shan saw that this senior brother looked simple and honest, and the muscles on his dark skin were exaggerated. He was an earth element master. ¡°How is it? are you hurt anywhere? I¡¯m Liu Dazhuang. I apologize for my rudeness just now.¡± Liu Dazhuang cupped his fists and bowed to Nan Shan. ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s my fault for not paying attention. By the way, Senior Brother, I¡¯m here to participate in this Outer Sect exchange meeting. May I know where the main venue is?¡± Nan Shan¡¯s spiritual Qi trembled and swept away the dust that had stuck to the corner of his clothes. He then returned the greeting. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Liu Dazhuang grabbed Nan Shan. Before he could react, he felt his vision blur, and he was directly brought to the main peak¡¯s venue. This was an open and flat land, with some flowers and trees adorning it. Because the main peak was high enough, clouds and mist lingered around it. Such a scene was enough to make people click their tongues in wonder. ¡°Little Junior Brother, seeing that your cultivation level is still shallow, this must be your first time coming to the Outer Sect exchange meet, right? Let me tell you, there¡¯s a monster at the gathering this time. I think he was discovered by the First Elder of the resource Hall, and he actually has five elemental spiritual meridians!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already discussed it. Who cares if he has the five elements spirit vein or not, we¡¯ll have to show him some power!¡± Liu Dazhuang was a warm-hearted person and explained to Nan Shan in detail. However, when his words fell into Nan Shan¡¯s ears, he really did not know whether to laugh or cry. Nan Shan hesitated for a moment, then took two steps back. His senior brother Liu was more than two meters tall, and his entire body was as solid and heavy as an iron tower. If he were to accidentally get punched or kicked, he would definitely suffer physical pain. ¡°We¡¯ve been cultivating hard for decades, but we¡¯re only at the beginner level, and we can only cultivate the techniques that are compatible with our own aura. On the other hand, the five-element spiritual meridians were born from the mother¡¯s womb, and he was destined to be a genius. This world is really unfair!¡± Liu Dazhuang grumbled in a low voice. He didnot know why, but he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity towards this Little Junior Brother he had just met. He was pleasing to the eye! ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right. It¡¯s not fair. Since Senior Brother Liu or whatever still has some matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll take my leave first.¡± Nan Shan suddenly saw Jiang Congshuang in the crowd and his eyes lit up. Chapter 34 - Tribulation Tribulation ¡°Hey, don¡¯t go, Junior Brother!¡± Before Liu Dazhuang could even finish pouring out his grievances, he saw the Little Junior Brother he had just picked up running away. He could not help but sigh bitterly. ¡°Senior Sister Jiang.¡± Nan Shan saw her and quickly waved to greet her. ¡°Junior Brother Nan, I was just looking for you. I wanted to make an appointment with you to come here, but I didn¡¯t expect you to be so fast.¡± Jiang Congshuang¡¯s temperament was cold and aloof. Even if the other disciples were eager to make a move, they did not dare to come and greet her. However, when she saw Nan Shan, she immediately smiled sweetly, which made the surrounding disciples¡¯ eyes pop out. With the nourishment of the water element cultivation method, Jiang Congshuang¡¯s face glowed, and her every movement was more charming. As expected, when the five elements heart technique was used, it also had its own unique point. Nan Shan noticed the change in Jiang Congshuang at a glance and could not help but show some appreciation. With a woman¡¯s Yin body, she was able to achieve her current status in a sect full of talents. In addition to the support of her own strength, she had to cultivate hard on a daily basis to achieve her current status. The two of them walked to the main venue, chatting and laughing. There were even more people gathered here, and none of them sparred like Liu Zhuangshi. Most of them were gathered in groups of three to five, exchanging their thoughts in low voices. In this open exchange meet, those who were qualified to participate were all the most outstanding disciples of their respective palaces. The purpose was to let them not need to work behind closed doors, but to have the opportunity to gather the strong points of everyone. At the same time, the elders from the various palaces had also gathered together. They did not have their usual high and mighty and stern looks, but were instead enthusiastically answering the questions of the various disciples. They would even argue with each other if they had differences on a certain issue. The Outer Sect exchange meeting went on for three full days. Everyone present was a cultivator, so they did not need to rest. In the beginning, Nan Shan traveled with Jiang Congshuang and took care of each other. However, later, he was so engrossed in the two elders¡¯ discussion that Jiang Congshuang was gone when he came back to his senses. She had probably found something that he was interested in. When the Outer Sect exchange meeting ended, Nan Shan was still in a daze. The nine tribulations mental cultivation method had been deeply imprinted in his mind. From the moment he decided to cultivate it, it had already been integrated into his bones and blood dantian. One had to know that his mind had trembled nine times the moment this cultivation technique appeared. He could even faintly feel a slight tenth tremble. However, the last tremor was really too light. The First Elder had also said that making the mind tremble nine times was the most suitable cultivation method, so he didnot go into it. The tribulation of insight was the first tribulation of the nine tribulations mental cultivation method. The change of perception was completed in a subtle way during the three-day exchange meeting. At the last moment, Nan Shan could clearly feel that he was about to break through! He rushed to his residence without stopping, and the moment he closed the door, he stood rooted to the ground. The indescribable pain spread from his limbs and gradually split into two. One seeped into his dantian, while the other split into a dozen tiny streams of air that occupied his meridians. At the same time, the Qi flow continued to spread, stripping away the impurities that had accumulated in his body. This process lasted for a long time. In the end, Nan Shan almost fainted from the pain, but there was a Qi in his dantian that supported his entire consciousness. He could only bear it with his mind clear and had no way to escape. The sun and the moon rose and fell. Nan Shan went from standing to sitting cross-legged. He heard three knocks on his door. Once was from Jiang Congshuang, and the other was from the First Elder. There was also one time where he didnot know who it was, but he could only vaguely feel that the aura was also very strong. However, even though he was so close to the door, he could not do anything. If there were any outsiders, they would be able to see a stream of air rising from Nan Shan¡¯s head. This stream of air had a unique sense of holiness as it slowly fused into his body. Following this process, Nan Shan¡¯s aura became purer and purer. When mortals ate grains, they had love, hate, and lust. In a sense, these were considered impurities. When all the deposited impurities were completely evaporated, the torture on Nan Shan finally ended! The pain that could almost drive a person crazy disappeared at the same time. It was only a simple relief, but Nan Shan was so comfortable that he wanted to stand up and shout a few times. Soon, he discovered the changes in his body. It was as if in his eyes, the world was different from before. He could see the veins of a tree branch on a distant mountain peak outside the window. He could hear that many disciples were cultivating outside, and the spiritual energy in their bodies was surging, making a slight noise. He could smell the five-element Qi in the air. The taste of the fire element was a little spicy, like high-quality chili oil, while the wood element was fresh and warm, which made people happy. The water element was cold and long, with endless vastness. As for the metal and earth elements, Nan Shan didnot think they smelled good. They had the smell of rust and earth. However, when these five auras were gathered together, they turned into tasteless air. This feeling was too sublime. Nan Shan slowly stood up with the door frame as support and looked at his hand in a daze. After a while, he closed his eyes and opened them again. His clear eyes returned to normal. Fortunately, this kind of perception could be controlled on its own. If there was a need, his sensitivity to the outside environment would be raised to the highest level. If there was no need, he could return to the chaotic state. After all, sometimes, it was not a good thing to see and hear too clearly. It was rare to be muddled in life. Thinking of this, Nan Shan smiled and pushed open the door. Only then did he realize that the remaining three or four days of his holiday had passed just like that. The time it took to break through the first tribulation was longer than he had expected. ¡°The second trial is the killing heart trial? Why does it sound so ominous?¡± Nan Shan muttered to himself and walked into the group of disciples who were cultivating not far away. ¡°Nan Shan? You¡¯ve finally come out. Senior Sister Jiang has been looking for you for the past two days.¡± The disciple sitting next to Nan Shan noticed the change and opened his eyes. He was so scared that his breathing became a little messy and he almost couldnot maintain his cultivation state. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Just as Nan Shan asked this question, he heard a clear voice calling his name from behind. He turned around and saw Jiang Congshuang standing not far away. She was dressed in a moon-white long dress, which made her look like a fairy who had descended to the mortal world. Her every frown and smile had a unique charm. ¡°Senior Sister Jiang.¡± Nan Shan quickly stood up and stepped forward. ¡°You came out just in time. Every time after the Outer Sect exchange meet ends, there will be a small scale market that lasts for about half a month. Do you want to go take a look?¡± Jiang Congshuang smiled faintly, her voice gentle and pleasant. Chapter 35 - Convenience Of Duty Convenience Of Duty ¡°A market? Of course, I haven¡¯t even seen the market within the sect.¡± Hearing this, Nan Shan immediately agreed. It was like the market within the sect, which was fundamentally different from the shops outside. Although it was possible to use spirit stones to buy elixirs, cultivation methods, and weapons that one needed, most of the time, it was in exchange. Even if it was in spirit stones, everyone was from the same sect, so the price was much fairer. As for Nan Shan, the value of an item was not measured by spiritual stones, but by the multiple of investment in the system. For example, the water element heart technique could only be cultivated by a few women. Such a useless thing to him, but he had exchanged it for the nine tribulations mental cultivation method. Even if the system did not grade this cultivation technique, just breaking through the first tribulation had brought Nan Shan a terrifying improvement! If this cultivation technique was released outside, it would be enough to cause a war between sects to break out. After agreeing to go to the market with Jiang Congshuang, Nan Shan had brought all the things he had. He might be able to exchange them for what he needed. When they arrived at the market, Nan Shan realized that he had thought too simply. The scale of this market was much larger than he had expected. Moreover, it was different from the exchange meet. From honorary disciples to true disciples, anyone could participate and the treasures exchanged were also different. Because Nan Shan¡¯s cultivation method was different from Jiang Congshuang¡¯s, the items they needed were naturally different. After a short walk, the two of them split up. Walking in the market, the dazzling array of goods made Nan Shan click his tongue in wonder. However, he quickly discovered a fatal problem! He wanted to buy something, but he had no money! The system¡¯s rewards were all bartering. It had never given him spiritual stones. In order to buy some necessities, Nan Shan had been spending money like dirt. The remaining low-rank spiritual stones in his pocket could not even afford a bronze sword. As for exchanging for cultivation methods, none of the items that appeared in the market were worth him using his own items to exchange for. From the beginning to the end, Nan Shan saw Jiang Congshuang, who had returned with a full load. Not only did she buy the weapons and pills she needed, but she also bought some pretty little jewelry for ornamentation. There was a shiny gem hairpin in her hair. Thin tassels hung down and swayed with her steps. She was simply beautiful and made Nan Shan stare at her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are there no treasures that you¡¯re interested in?¡± Jiang Congshuang looked at Nan Shan¡¯s empty hands and could not help asking. ¡°Not yet.¡± Nan Shan was too embarrassed to say that it was because he had no money, so he could only give a perfunctory yawn. ¡°There¡¯s no rush. The market will continue for a long time. There will be more good things as it goes on. Perhaps the elders will also participate in the final two days before it ends.¡± Jiang Congshuang smiled. Seeing that it was getting late and the market was about to close for the day, the two of them walked back, talking and laughing. Nan Shan was very gentlemanly and helped Jiang Congshuang carry some of the clothes and jewelry she had bought. After returning to his residence, Nan Shan tossed and turned, unable to sleep. In fact, he had taken a fancy to a lot of useful little things. Even if he did not need them, he could keep them as investments. However, he was helpless against a hero¡¯s ability to earn a penny. He was now cleaner than his face. Half cultivating and half distressed, he endured until dawn. Suddenly, Nan Shan jumped out of bed! He smacked his head and finally remembered that he had a family! Moreover, his family had quite a bit of wealth! If he exchanged some money for spirit stones, it would be enough for him to squander in the market. Nan Shan did not care about the elder who came to guide his cultivation chasing after him and ran all the way to the mission hall. After obtaining the water element cultivation technique from the resource Hhall, he accepted the uniform and jade token of an Outer Sect disciple. There were rules in the sect. Once they stepped on the path of cultivation, they had to completely cut off all ties with the mortal world. Therefore, it was not easy for Outer Sect disciples to return to their families. The only way they could take advantage of the loophole was to accept missions from the mission hall and take advantage of this opportunity to go to the mortal world. Moreover, he had not exchanged for his reward after completing the last mission. This time, he could solve it at the same time. He stepped onto the teleportation array and arrived at the mission hall with ease. Perhaps it was because the sect had been more lively recently, and there were very few disciples who received missions. The mission hall, which was usually bustling with people, seemed a little empty. However, there was no need to line up. Nan Shan walked straight in and saw the disciple behind the counter. ¡°Accept the mission or submit the mission?¡± After the disciple at the counter finished speaking in a formulaic manner, he finally noticed who had arrived! He stared at Nan Shan for a long time. His perfunctory and impatient expression was instantly swept away, and he forced a smile at an extremely fast speed. ¡°Junior Brother Nan just showed off his brilliance in the Outer Sect examination, and you¡¯re in such a hurry to take on another mission? I remember that you accepted an errand mission last time. Are you here to hand it in this time?¡± The disciple at the counter came out from behind the counter. The respectful way he looked at Nan Shan was completely different from before. ¡°I¡¯ll continue to accept missions as well. However, I wonder if there are any other missions. Is it convenient for me to take a look?¡± Nan Shan did not mind. After all, in the sect, strength was the first and foremost iron law. He did not have the heart to get rid of the bad wind in the sect. If he had the time, he might as well go home and get some spirit stones. ¡°Of course there is. However, since I have a mission to complete, I have to exchange for the mission reward from the last time before I can accept a new mission. I hope Junior Brother Nan can forgive me for the rules.¡± The disciple at the counter said and took the token from Nan Shan with both hands. As soon as he checked the completion rate, he could not help but reveal a surprised expression! It was clearly a messenger mission, but the reward that appeared was more than 20 times higher than the reward of a mission of this level! The authority of the disciple behind the counter was not high, so he could not see why, but from his experience, he guessed that his Junior Brother Nan had probably completed an even higher level task while delivering the letter. Based on the scale of the reward, it was probably related to the annihilation of the Evil Sect! The disciple at the counter knew that he was unable to handle such a task. He immediately apologized to Nan Shan and sent a message to his elder. If he let such a living God of Wealth go because of his negligence, when the elders found out and blamed him, it would be enough to make him suffer. Nan Shan waited for a long time, but his mission reward was not issued. Instead, the door of the mission hall opened slowly without wind. A man in black clothes and a silver mask walked in step by step. The mask only revealed a pair of eyes. When their eyes met, Nan Shan could not help but frown. He felt that this person¡¯s gaze was too sharp, as if he could see through people¡¯s hearts. Chapter 36 - Entangled By Karma Entangled By Karma The two of them stood face to face, staring at each other for a long time. The disciple behind the counter was very tactful. He first hung a sign from the outside to indicate that he was temporarily resting to prevent other disciples from coming forward to interrupt. Then, he quietly slipped away through the side door. Only Nan Shan and the Man in Black were left in the hall. ¡°Disciple Nan Shan greets the hall of mission¡¯s elder.¡± Very quickly, Nan Shan reacted and cupped his fists at the Man in Black. ¡°This disciple of yours is quite interesting.¡± The elder of the hall of mission laughed, but his voice was hoarse. Then, he took off The Silver Mask, revealing his scarred face. ¡°Did I scare you? A few years ago, I went on a mission for the sect to kill the Evil Sect¡¯s remnants, but I didn¡¯t expect to be injured. I usually wear a mask because I¡¯m afraid of scaring the disciples who enter the sect.¡± The elder of the hall of mission put the mask aside and stared at Nan Shan¡¯s reaction. ¡°Naturally, everyone in the Evil Sect has the right to punish you. Elder, you have sacrificed so much for the sect that you have even damaged your appearance. I am not afraid of you. Instead, I respect you.¡± Nan Shan faced the soul-shaking gaze and stood there with his fists cupped, without any fear. ¡°Hahaha, it¡¯s really interesting. You¡¯re here to take on a mission because you want to go to the secular world, right? In that case, where is the destination?¡± The elder of the hall of mission saw through Nan Shan¡¯s thoughts. The only way to go to the secular world was to accept missions. The elder had been stationed in the hall of mission for many years. He knew the rules of this place very well. However, he was giving Nan Shan a little privilege by saying it so clearly. ¡°Red Lotus town is my hometown.¡± Nan Shan thought for a moment and did not hide anything. Since the elder had already said it so clearly, if he continued to hide it, it would appear too indecisive. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a month¡¯s leave to supervise the work at Red Lotus mine. Come back when the month is up.¡± As the elder of the hall of mission spoke, he raised his hand and made a grabbing motion. A black token appeared in his palm. ¡°Take this to supervise the work. no one will dare to disobey. go to the back hall to get your horse and luggage. I¡¯ll give you the highest standard.¡± The elder of the hall of mission turned around and walked out. When he reached the door, he stopped again. He did not know when the mask had covered his scarred face again. ¡°Not only did you deliver the letter, but you also caught all the criminals the Evil Sect had planted in the human world. It¡¯s an honor for the sect to have a disciple like you. ¡± Then, without waiting for Nan Shan¡¯s response, he left. Holding the token in his hand, Nan Shan had mixed feelings. No wonder the hall of mission¡¯s elder rarely appeared in front of people. So there was this secret. After calming himself down, he went to the back hall to get his horse and luggage. Even though he had expected that the treatment would be different from the last time since the elder had spoken, Nan Shan still could not help but sigh in his heart as he held the red-maned fierce horse in his hand and carried a bulging bag on his back. Sure enough, it was easier to do things with support from someone above! This horse was not only a good horse that could travel a thousand miles a day, but there was also a lot of gold and silver in his luggage, enough for his expenses on the road. Moreover, even though the job of a supervisor was called a task, it was actually equivalent to giving him a sabbatical. The Red Lotus mine was right next to the Red Lotus town, so it was equivalent to him being home. Also, no one knew the Red Lotus mine better than Nan Shan! The place had always been managed in an orderly manner, and the supervisor was dispensable. With gratitude in his heart, Nan Shan mounted his horse and rushed back to his hometown. With the token and the convenience of the task, the disciples guarding the mountain only asked a few simple questions before letting them go. After leaving the range of the mountain-protecting formation, Nan Shan keenly felt his body become heavy. This meant that he had finally stepped into the secular world again. The breath of the five elements was turbid. It did not have the light and agile feeling on the mountain, but it made people feel very familiar. The red-maned fierce horse was fast and good at walking on the mountain road, but after all, the road was long. When they got off the mountain, they galloped for a few hours. As the night grew darker, Nan Shan did not need to rest, but the horse could not stand it. It slowed down and finally stopped in the wilderness. ¡°You¡¯re really good at finding a place. The vegetation here is flourishing, so it can fill your stomach, but there¡¯s no inn within a hundred miles. What do you want me to do?¡± Nan Shan got off the horse and could not help but laugh and scold, patting the horse¡¯s neck. The horse was raised on the mountain and seemed to have some intelligence. It snorted and did not even look at Nan Shan. It leisurely strolled to the side and lowered its head to eat grass. ¡°Alright, you have to carry me back to my hometown. Even if you gallop, you have to refuel, right?¡± Nan Shan said to himself. He prepared a simple bonfire for himself and prepared to rest. After all, this was the secular world. Even if there were some wolves, tigers, or leopards in the wilderness, he was not afraid. As the night grew darker, Nan Shan sat on the ground, leaning against a tree trunk and half-lying beside the bonfire. The weather was good today, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. It was rare to have such a pleasant time. Nan Shan closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. He felt the pure spiritual Qi of heaven and earth gathering in his dantian. Although it could not be compared to the cultivation speed in the sect, it was still interesting to experience the secular world occasionally. At this moment, the clatter of horse hooves could be heard. Nan Shan¡¯s eyes and ears were sharp. Even though he could hear someone rushing over, they were actually at least a thousand meters away. Moreover, in this barren mountain, a group of people riding horses in the middle of the night did not seem to be good people. They might even be mountain bandits and road tyrants. Nan Shan thought about it and turned over comfortably. No matter who he was or where he was going, it had nothing to do with him. Moreover, he had only made this bonfire, so no matter how capable the horse gang was, they would not be able to find him. However, even though he had made up his mind to take a break, the noise of the horse¡¯s hooves still made him a little uncomfortable, and his light sleepiness disappeared. ¡°You¡¯re annoying.¡± Just as Nan Shan was grumbling softly, the sound of horse hooves suddenly stopped. In a distant mountain cave, a burst of fire soared into the sky. It was already close to autumn, and the forest was unusually dry, so the fire was spreading very quickly. Even though it was far away, with Nan Shan¡¯s sensitivity, he could still hear the miserable cries and cries for help in the fire. ¡®It should be that gang of horse bandits who went to rob some village. It¡¯s really tragic. There¡¯s still a village in the wilderness. I guess there¡¯s no place to run to¡­¡¯ Nan Shan did not want to meddle in other people¡¯s business and get involved in karma. He even deliberately turned his back to the fire. However, gradually, the cries became more and more intense, and the desperate and helpless screams and sobs of the babies were mixed with the arrogant and filthy words of the horse gang. They kept drilling into Nan Shan¡¯s ears. Even the horse beside him was stomping its hooves uneasily. It looked at the fire for a while, then at Nan Shan. ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡± Nan Shan glared back. The red-maned stallion snorted in disdain and turned its head away. ¡°You¡¯re still in the mood? So you¡¯re not the one who¡¯s involved in this, right?¡± Nan Shan got up and pointed at the red-maned horse¡¯s nose and cursed! In the end, he raised his hand and slapped himself. Then, he mounted the horse with his sword in hand! With his heel pressing on the horse¡¯s stomach, he galloped towards the village that was engulfed in flames. Chapter 37 - Purgatory On Earth Purgatory On Earth Perhaps it had sensed something, the red-maned fierce horse ran quickly and took Nan Shan to the place of the fire! Before they even got close, they could already hear countless cries of battle, and the thick smell of blood almost permeated the air a few hundred meters away. Nan Shan¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed, and his pupils reflected the burning flames. Immortal cultivators should not involve themselves too much in the affairs of the mortal world. Every choice today might cause them to bear the karma of tomorrow. In other people¡¯s eyes, this time, Nan Shan had saved them out of anger. However, there was a destiny that once Nan Shan killed the thief, karma would still be on his head. With just a little more restraint, in the end, as one¡¯s cultivation gradually increased, the inner demon would also take root and sprout unknowingly. Whether it was a blessing or a curse, no one could tell. Just as he arrived near the village in the mountain, Nan Shan¡¯s pupils suddenly shrank. All of his worries and hesitation had disappeared without a trace, leaving only the growing anger in his heart! A brawny horse gangster, holding a wide-bladed and thick-backed saber, was dragging a girl by her hair into the short forest. At the same time, he had already undid most of his belt. The red-maned fierce horse snorted, and the unusual movement attracted the attention of the horse gang. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect there to be a fish that has been caught. Come over here obediently. If I¡¯m in a good mood, I¡¯ll spare your life.¡± The horse gangster shouted arrogantly, and at the same time, he threw the girl in his hand away. No one knew what kind of tribulations the girl had experienced. At this moment, she was lying on the ground, her long hair like a waterfall hanging down. Her whole body was trembling, and she did not even dare to breathe loudly. The small mountain village nearby was gradually burning down. The entrance of the village not far away was crowded, but most of the horse gangsters were also blocking the way. As if they were picking goods, they would pick out the young women that caught their eyes and imprison them on the side, while those who were old and frail would be mercilessly pushed back to the fire. The continuous screams and the crackling sounds of the fire intertwined and drilled into Nan Shan¡¯s ears. He could clearly feel that there seemed to be some kind of emotion that he had never felt before surging continuously in his chest. The spiritual energy that had been flowing in his meridians for a long time had also slowly begun to become violent. This feeling was as if there was a breath stuck in his throat, and if he did not shout it out, he would not feel good! ¡°Why is it a male?¡± At this time, the horse gangster saw Nan Shan¡¯s appearance by the light of the fire. In an instant, the wanton and arrogant look was restrained, and the eyes became more fierce. Before Nan Shan could calm down, he saw the horse gangster slash at him without a word. The heavy long knife made a sound of wind as it was aimed at Nan Shan¡¯s face. Looking at the ruthlessness of the attack, it was obvious that he wanted to kill Nan Shan in one blow! In the eyes of others, this fierce and swift technique seemed to be playing in slow motion in Nan Shan¡¯s eyes. He could even clearly see every point of force exerted by the horse gangster¡¯s arm, as well as the bloodshot eyes filled with excitement and madness. ¡°What a bunch of trash.¡± Nan Shan sighed with disdain. Just when the horse gangster thought that his close-range sneak attack would definitely succeed, an extremely thin but extremely bright cold light flashed in front of his eyes! It was also the last scene he would see in his life. With a ¡°Gu Dong¡± sound, the head of the horse gangster fell to the ground. The horse gangsters leader¡¯s face was still full of disbelief even before he died. The warm blood splattered all over the ground. The thick smell of blood condensed and drilled into Nan Shan¡¯s nose. He stepped over the dead body of the horse gang expressionlessly and walked to the girl who was still curled up on the ground. Perhaps she was shocked and scared, but the girl had already fainted. Nan Shan stretched out his long arm and carried the girl on his shoulder. He walked towards the village step by step. The red-maned horse seemed to understand human nature and followed Nan Shan¡¯s footsteps. The Devouring sword was in his hand, and the unsheathed blade was dragged on the ground, making an ear-piercing sound. After turning into a forest, the village, which was deep in the sea of fire, finally appeared in front of Nan Shan. This place was deep in the wilderness, and life was not very convenient. The scale of the village was naturally not large. At this moment, the fire was raging and had engulfed more than half of the village. However, one could still see that the interior of the building was quite exquisite and ingenious. It even felt out of place with the surrounding environment. However, no matter how quiet and peaceful the village used to be, it had now become a living hell. ¡°Who¡¯s there!¡± Suddenly, a loud shout exploded in Nan Shan¡¯s ears. One could faintly hear that this angry shout contained a power that could shock people. It did not look like a spell cast by a cultivator, but more like the person who shouted had a strong prestige, an aura that only someone in a high position could have. Nan Shan turned around and saw the shadow of a horse and a tall man riding on it in the fire. His clothes were very different from the other horse gangsters. Not only was he wearing a large cloak, but he also had a close-fitting chain armor for defense. [Ding!] [Congratulations to the host for triggering the hidden mission to eliminate the sect¡¯s traitors scattered outside.] [Chen Qiang.] [Age: 45 years old] [Stage: foundation building stage (pseudo)] [Strength: physical style henglian cultivation method, long and strong breath, belonging to the firm and fierce force.] [Weakness: Too brittle and easily broken. It doesn¡¯t have enough strength. If it¡¯s destroyed by force, it will definitely be killed in one blow.] A system notification suddenly appeared in Nan Shan¡¯s mind. However, this time it was not an investment, but a so-called hidden mission. ¡®It seems that the leader of the horse gang in front of us is Chen Qiang. However, the so-called sect traitor label is a little interesting.¡¯ ¡°Obviously, there are very few immortal cultivators in the secular world, but this horse gang leader, with his foundation establishment cultivation, did such a thing like rape and plunder. He really should be killed.¡± For some reason, the strange throbbing in his chest became more and more intense. The person in front of him had already been determined by the system to be a target that should be killed. Looking at the sins around him, Nan Shan felt that there was no need for him to be patient. It was a waste of time to even talk to them! ¡°Hahaha, quickly look! This brat who hasn¡¯t even grown his hair yet wants to play the hero saving the beauty, he really doesn¡¯t know the immensity of heaven and earth! ¡°Don¡¯t fight with me. Killing hose little girls in the village is no fun. Leave this for me to play with.¡± Those horse bandits, whose eyes were red from killing, laughed arrogantly and looked at Nan Shan with contempt and disdain. It seemed that if it was not for the horse gang leader¡¯s gesture to stop them, Nan Shan would have been attacked by the crowd. ¡°Where are you from? Where to? If we¡¯ve met by chance and there¡¯s no enmity between us, then please leave.¡± The leader of the horse gang stared at Nan Shan for a long time, and said these words politely. ¡°You and I have indeed met by chance, and there is no enmity between us.¡± Nan Shan stood in front of the horse and muttered to himself. Chapter 38 - Treasures Treasure In the village, the massacre was still going on. However, the horse gang leader was pretending to talk about the morality of the martial world. Nan Shan knew very well that it was because the horse gang leader was also a cultivator that he could feel his aura. He had no choice but to say this. If it were anyone else, without the corresponding strength, they would have been chopped to death by this group of lawless horse gangsters. ¡°Little Brother, what do you mean by this?¡± The horse gang leader saw Nan Shan lowering his head and not saying a word, but slowly raising the long sword in his hand, he could not help but question with a more serious tone. Before he could finish speaking, he had already leaned down from his horse. At the same time, he took out the knife on his back and ruthlessly chopped down at Nan Shan¡¯s head! Everything happened too quickly. Nan Shan could not help but sneer in his heart. Those who could become bandits really did not have a shred of conscience left. In addition, this horse gang leader was a traitor to the sect and was fickle, so he would definitely be shameless. The pretentious act just now was all to make him let down his guard so that he could make a move and kill. However, with the help of the nine tribulations mental cultivation method, Nan Shan¡¯s eyes and ears were sharp, and he could clearly sense all the changes in the environment. The horse gang leader¡¯s small action of taking out the knife just now could not be hidden from him. Facing the big knife, Nan Shan did not avoid it and even went forward. The Devouring sword blocked upward. It was clearly Nan Shan who attacked later, but his attack landed first! Before the leader of the horse gang could use his full strength, he had already been knocked back by Nan Shan. This time, the knife in his hand rolled far away with a clang, and even his arm was bent at a twisted angle. It was obvious that the bones were broken. ¡°F*ck you, you little b*stard, how dare you touch our boss!¡± ¡°Brothers, let¡¯s go! Kill him!¡± The bandits who were originally laughing and watching the show suddenly roared angrily when they saw that their boss was losing. Arrows were shot in the air, and some of the arrowheads were even on fire. They covered the sky and fell at Nan Shan. These horse bandits committed all kinds of evil, including killing and plundering, and their means of backstabbing and underhanded tricks were endless. Just as Nan Shan was moving forward to avoid the arrow rain, he suddenly felt that he had stepped on something. He looked down and saw that the open space outside had been covered with a layer of netting, and he was standing on the edge. ¡°Whoosh.¡± The entire patch of fallen leaves and soil behind him was thrown into the air. If Nan Shan had taken another step back, he would have definitely fallen into the trap. Looking at it with the light of the fire, the rope was extremely strong and faintly glimmered. Coupled with the identity of the horse gang¡¯s leader, it was clear whose work this tempered rope was. ¡°Since you¡¯re in such a hurry to die, I won¡¯t be polite.¡± Nan Shan looked back and then turned his attention back to the front. More than a hundred horse gang members waved their long knives and short swords in their hands and charged at him. After all, in the eyes of mortals, Nan Shan was just a young boy in his early twenties. Although he had a strange sword in his hand, he was not a threat at all! Countless people¡¯s battle cries, coupled with the raging flames behind them, and the never-ending screams. In such an environment, the emotions that Nan Shan had been suppressing just now exploded. His eyes were bloodshot and his brows were slightly furrowed. There was a faint murderous intent floating in the young and handsome voice. In the next second, under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, Nan Shan slowly placed the Devouring sword in front of him. Without any flashy moves, he thrust out his sword, and his spirit Qi moved at will. When this sword was unleashed, the dozen or so members of the horse gang who were charging at the forefront were all cut in half at the waist! Even though their heads had already been separated from their bodies, they still had the strength to look down in disbelief. They took a few more steps out of inertia before they fell to the ground and died unwillingly. Although this group of horse bandits all had mortal bodies, under the leadership of Chen Qiang, they more or less knew some methods of body tempering, and were stronger than ordinary martial arts practitioners. However, in front of Nan Shan, it was not worth mentioning! Finally, Nan Shan took a step towards the village. With every step, a few horse gangster members were killed by his sword. The Devouring sword absorbed an unknown amount of blood and even began to buzz with excitement. At the same time, Nan Shan also felt the feeling of flesh and blood mixing together. It was as if the Devouring sword was his other pair of hands. With a single thought, the sword¡¯s will awoke! As they walked, they killed. The hundreds of horse bandits were crushed by Nan Shan¡¯s sword alone, and blood flowed like a river. In fact, the shrill screams were even louder than those of the innocent villagers who were affected by the disaster. The emotions in his heart became more turbulent. Nan Shan felt that everywhere he looked, his eyes were filled with blood. The choking smell of the flames, mixed with the smell of blood, continuously provoked his already extremely tense nerves. Suddenly, Nan Shan stopped in the middle of such an intense fight. The horse gangsters had long been scared of him, and they were only putting up a stubborn resistance. When the remaining dozens of people saw him suddenly stop, they immediately threw away the swords in their hands and ran back while screaming. ¡°Sword Qi.¡± Nan Shan lowered his head slightly and did not even look at the people who were running away. As he said this, he threw the Devouring sword into the air. There was no other support, but the sharp sword stopped in the air. A loud and clear buzzing sound echoed in the valley. Almost at the same time, the horse gangsters that ran out fell down layer by layer like wheat being cut by a scythe. The ones who fell to the ground did not even have the space to struggle and died instantly. ¡°I thought I ran into some blind young master who came to the deep mountains to have fun. I didn¡¯t expect it to be a cultivator.¡± A cold voice entered Nan Shan¡¯s ears. The tone was flat, but it could not hide the strong unwillingness in it. ¡°Why do you care who I am? For committing such a sin of murder, naturally, everyone has the right to punish me. Today, if it wasn¡¯t for me, there would be someone else who would stop you.¡± Nan Shan turned around. The gang leader¡¯s limbs and joints had been broken by his sword. He was crumpled on the ground in a sorry state and could not move. After the system¡¯s reminder, Nan Shan had actually been more careful. He specifically attacked his joints in order to destroy the brute force he relied on. ¡°You¡¯re making it sound nice, but you¡¯re still after the village¡¯s treasure, aren¡¯t you?¡± The horse gang leader muttered to himself. Suddenly, his eyes became sharp. An extremely weak and thin light shot out from his slightly trembling fingertips, directly towards Nan Shan¡¯s face. With a ¡°Chi¡± sound, the Golden Bell shield moved at his will, tightly protecting Nan Shan. The tiny light hit the Golden Bell shield with a crisp sound. Then, a silver needle dipped in poison fell at Nan Shan¡¯s feet. In an instant, the grass that came into contact with the silver needle began to turn black and rot. Chapter 39 - Purple Qi From The East Purple Qi From The East ¡°You¡¯re really vicious. No wonder you betrayed the sect and came to the mortal world to cause trouble.¡± Nan Shan looked at the situation of the grass under his feet and could not help but feel a little scared. Fortunately, he had the Golden Bell shield. If it was anyone else, they would have suffered a great loss in a moment of carelessness. The person who used poison was the most vicious, but the horse gang leader could still be so calm in the face of desperation. He was indeed a rare figure. Nan Shan¡¯s face was as calm as water. He stared at the leader of the horse gang and stretched out his hand. The Devouring sword made a beautiful curve in the air in the distance and obediently returned to Nan Shan¡¯s hand. Probably because it had drunk blood, the gorgeous and intricate patterns on the Devouring sword looked more exquisite, even vaguely revealing the flowing light. At the same time, Nan Shan suddenly asked in confusion, ¡°Huh?¡± A sound. Just now, he was in an intense battle, and all his senses had been raised to the extreme. That was why he was able to detect the silver needle, which was even thinner than a strand of hair. At this moment, he stared at the horse gang leader and vaguely saw that the horse gang leader¡¯s forehead was covered with a layer of faint purple light, which was mixed with traces of red gold. This light was very agile. It was clearly an illusionary thing, but it kept swimming as if it was alive. Upon closer inspection, one could actually see the shape of a dragon! Nan Shan was a little puzzled. Seeing that the battle was over, Nan Shan tried to ask the system. He would not have known if he did not ask, but he was shocked when he asked. According to the system¡¯s explanation, the brigand leader¡¯s glabella was surrounded by a dragon¡¯s energy. A person with dragon Qi would definitely be extraordinary in the future! If he was in the Golden Age, he would be second only to one person and above tens of thousands of people. If it was a chaotic world, he would definitely be a strong general and have the ability to fight the world. He also asked for some other information. After all, this was the first time the term ¡®sect traitor¡¯ had appeared. Mortals spent their entire lives pursuing the path of becoming Immortals. If they had this opportunity, they would definitely grasp it firmly and never relent. The most important thing on the path of immortality was to join a good sect. Not only could you obtain cultivation techniques, but you could also be free from the outside world, obtain protection, and undoubtedly achieve a positive outcome. Moreover, the relationship between the disciples and the sect was basically a complementary one, so traitors were very rare. When he roughly understood the situation of the world, Nan Shan suddenly realized. The mortal world and the secular world were closely related, and the countless connections between them could not be cut off and would only make things more chaotic. There were so many sects in the world. However, five of them were recognized by all cultivators. Taiji Palace. Most of their cultivation techniques were yang and unyielding, and they were originally a small, unknown sect. However, a few years ago, a person from the Taiji Palace ascended. As the saying goes, when a man attains Dao, his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. Because of this one and only immortal ascension, the Taiji Palace was undoubtedly the leader of the five great sects. The second was the Dragon Blood Palace. This was the most mysterious sect. Its disciples and elders were deeply hidden, and people did not know much about it. They only knew that Dragon Blood Palace had countless connections with the current dynasty. There were even rumors that the owner of the Dragon Blood Palace was a direct descendant of the dynasty. However, rumors were just rumors, and they could not be completely believed. As for the other three major sects, they were the Ethereal Sect, Union Palace, and Godly Cloud Palace. The Ethereal Sect was an old sect. However, they did not have any outstanding figures in the past. It was just that they had a long history and naturally had a place. The joyous Union Palace¡¯s cultivation technique was rather special, and the entire sect was made up of women. As for the Godly Cloud Palace, it was said that there was a divine tree that had grown for tens of thousands of years in the sect. Furthermore, the disciples there were mostly wood and earth element experts. The five great sects could be considered to have set the rules of the world today. There were various other small sects, but they could not compare to the five great sects in terms of size. There were even many small sects who would choose join any of them if they could. In general, although there were minor conflicts between the five great sects, they still lived in peace. However, the Taiji Palace and the joyous Union Palace did not see eye to eye with each other. According to rumors, there was once a period between the palace master of Taiji Palace and the protector of Union Palace. It was a love affair, but it did not end well. This was the first time Nan Shan had learned of these secret past events and could not help but click his tongue in wonder. It seemed that the immortal world was not much different from the mortal world, and they were still scheming against each other. However, he did not know which sect this horse gang leader was a traitor to. Looking at the dragon Qi between his eyebrows, he was struggling for a moment. Since the system had given this Dragon Qi such a high evaluation, if he let this horse gang leader go, he might be able to form a good relationship with him. After all, those horse gang minions were on a completely different level compared to Chen Qiang. It was obvious that Chen Qiang did not have any intention of avenging them. In the path of immortal cultivation, the strong were respected, and the weak were prey to the strong. Even if Chen Qiang was unwilling to accept this, he did not have any resentment. Nan Shan looked at the fire that was getting bigger and bigger in the distance. At this moment, the girl who he had carefully placed at the side slowly woke up. The moment she saw Chen Qiang, she suddenly showed an extremely frightened expression. She did not care about the gravel on the ground and the withered branches that had scratched her soft palms. She just crawled back with all her might, trying to get as far away from this demon as possible. However, at this moment, Chen Qiang smiled darkly, his eyes filled with lust and even a little bit of bigoted madness. At this moment, the dragon Qi in between his eyebrows was struggling. At the edge of the struggle, there was a faint trace of black that was constantly immersed in the aupreme purple Qi. ¡°You¡¯re just putting on an act and never changing. If someone like you really gets the world, it¡¯ll be a great disaster for the world.¡± Nan Shan finally made up his mind. He reached out and summoned the Devouring sword. He immediately stabbed it between Chen Qiang¡¯s eyebrows! Even though the sword was not unsheathed, it still pierced through Chen Qiang¡¯s head. Nan Shan moved a little to the side, blocking the girl¡¯s view. Under Nan Shan¡¯s control, the Devouring sword cut off Chen Qiang¡¯s last trace of life and obediently returned to his hand. However, the trace of dragon Qi that had yet to dissipate was captured by the devouring sword and hung at the end of the sword. It looked a little nice. After this matter was settled, Nan Shan did not delay any longer and jumped to the front of the village. The horse gang had the intention to kill all the villagers in the fire, so they guarded the only exit tightly. The old, the weak, the women, and the children had nowhere to escape to. They leaned against the fence, helplessly crying and screaming. The atmosphere of despair spread endlessly. However, he saw Nan Shan appear outside the fence. The villagers, who already had nowhere to run, all revealed an expression of extreme fear and retreated with all their might. It was as if Nan Shan was a demon that wanted people¡¯s lives. Chapter 40 - The Womens Village The Women¡¯s Village Only now did Nan Shan realize that the village seemed to be full of women. There were babies, women, and elders, but no men. They were so frightened in a moment of crisis. Nan Shan did not think that their fear was groundless. After all, the bodies of the horse gang were lying not far away, piled up in a mess, and the ground under their feet was almost dyed red with blood. Anyone who saw it would be creeped out. At this moment. Nan Shan noticed the system¡¯s notification in his mind, but he did not probe further because the situation was urgent. No matter what happened, it would have to wait until he rescued the villagers. The horse gang¡¯s means were ruthless and the fence blocking the exit was extremely strong. Nan Shan had to use the swallowing method to cut open a way out. Back at the gate, the villagers screamed and ran out. The flames followed behind and spread at an extremely rapid speed. The surrounding was full of forest and vegetation. If the mountain fire was allowed to continue burning, no one would be able to escape in the end. Even though the villagers had just escaped from the sea of fire, Nan Shan could only command them to put out the fire bit by bit. They worked for most of the night, and only when the sun rose did they finally put out the last bit of fire. Standing on the small square in the village, Nan Shan looked around and saw that it was a scene of devastation. Everywhere was gray. However, just by looking at the remaining ruins, one could vaguely see the prosperity of this small village. ¡°It¡¯s a pity,¡± Nan Shan mumbled to himself. In the end, when he looked up, he saw that the villagers he had saved with great difficulty were all gathered around the square, looking at him with guarded eyes. The disgust and fear that spread from the bottom of his heart could not be concealed at all. Nan Shan hesitated for a moment. He raised his voice and asked. ¡°Who¡¯s the village chief here? Come out and talk to me.¡± This sentence seemed to have frightened the surrounding villagers, and they immediately retreated more than ten meters. Not long after, a group of villagers came from the street. From the looks of it, they did not look as disheveled as the villagers outside. They must have been hiding somewhere when the fire broke out to avoid the disaster. However, the appearance of this group of villagers stunned Nan Shan. The villagers who followed him to put out the fire were all burned by the smoke. Their little faces were all black, and their clothes were also in charred. As for the villagers who were slowly walking over, all of them had graceful figures and beautiful faces. Some were charming, some looked pure, and some were delicate. No matter which girl was picked out and placed outside, they would all be top beauties. Nan Shan even realized that the girls here were really beautiful from young to old! She looked as delicate as a baby in his arms. Her big, clear eyes looked at everything in the world curiously. Her round face was smooth and fair. She had been a beauty since she was young. The women walking in front were mostly old, and their light muslin clothes could not hide their exquisite curves. Her eyes were gentle and quiet, with a unique charm that had been accumulated over the years. At this moment, the crowd parted, and a tall girl with phoenix eyes and cherry lips walked out. She was equally beautiful, but she had a bit more heroic and heroic spirit than others. Her dark green robe was clean and refreshing, and there was only a waist seal embroidered with dark golden threads around her waist, which made her waist appear even more fragile. The girl stopped when she was about ten meters away from Nan Shan. She was obviously very nervous and forced herself to look fierce. However, perhaps there had never been a man in their village, so they naturally did not know how much love such an expression made people feel. ¡°You should leave quickly. We have already reported this to the officials. They said that they will come to take you away in less than four hours. If you don¡¯t leave now, you will definitely be thrown into prison.¡± The girl¡¯s delicate hands were twisted together as she stared at Nan Shan and said word by word. ¡°Report to the authorities?¡± Nan Shan was confused. He had clearly captured all the horse gangsters in one fell swoop, so how did he offend the officials? ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve already reported it to the authorities! Are you leaving or not?¡± The girl shouted sternly. This made Nan Shan not know whether to laugh or cry. For a moment, he could not figure out what her intentions were. He was the one who saved all the girls in the village. Even if he did not expect the villagers to bow down to him, they should not be so hostile to him! ¡°Our village is located in the depths of the mountains and has always been separated from worldly affairs. We didn¡¯t expect such a disaster to happen. It¡¯s fine if you two fight in secret, but why did you burn down our village?¡± The more the girl spoke, the sadder she became. She could no longer maintain the imposing manner she had just now. Nan Shan looked at her and two lines of tears fell. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t cry. What¡¯s there to cry about? Didn¡¯t I already catch all the horse gangsters?¡± Nan Shan was really panicking this time. He was not afraid of anything, but he was afraid of a woman crying. Most importantly, a woman crying was enough to give him a headache. However, as the girl who stood up to talk to him lost control of her emotions, the other villagers who had been holding back their fear for a long time also sobbed softly. The extreme fear and the sudden crisishad long broken down their emotional defense. Someone was pleading intermittently. Nan Shan listened for a long time before he roughly understood what was going on. This small village, which was like a country of women, had always been located in the mountains. For a long time, they had maintained a peaceful and comfortable life. However, after the horse gang set up camp nearby, this peace was completely broken. Originally, they wanted to evacuate the entire village, but the horse gang did not give them this opportunity. Now that Nan Shan had completely destroyed the horse gang, in the eyes of these girls, it was a battle between two different forces. No matter which side won, it would be a disaster for them. After all, this village was made up of only girls, so their ability to protect themselves was extremely weak. It could even be said that they could only be slaughtered. ¡°Are you guys willing to listen to my explanation?¡± Nan Shan was speechless for a long time before he asked with a bitter smile. ¡°What¡¯s there to explain? You can kill us if you want, but you¡¯re alone. Even if we give up our lives, we won¡¯t let you do as you wish!¡± ¡°Right! We just want to live our own lives and have never caused any trouble, but if you continue to force us like this, at most we¡¯ll fight to the death!¡± The voice was getting louder and louder. Nan Shan looked around and all he met were wary eyes. That kind of distrust was engraved in her bones after being hurt so many times. Even if Nan Shan wanted to explain, he would not be able to. ¡°My savior! It¡¯s you!¡± Suddenly, a crisp voice called out to Nan Shan. It sounded familiar. Before Nan Shan could match the voice with the familiar voice in his mind, there was a commotion in the crowd. A little girl stumbled out and plunged into Nan Shan¡¯s arms.