Inside the Main Hall.
Jun Changxiao sat on the Millennium Nanmu Chair without speaking for a long time.
Lu Qianqian's earlier words made him realize that his own Cultivation was lacking, and the sect had only the Yi Jin Jing as its Sect Cultivation Method. With nothing else, how could he make the Iron Bone Unyielding Sect stronger? How could he dominate the continent?
"Ah."
Jun Changxiao sighed and opened the Initial Stage Mall.
As he browsed, he spotted a medicinal pill called the 'Qi Gathering Pill' and habitually opened its detailed description.
"Item: Qi Gathering Pill."
"Effect: After a martial artist consumes it, it can increase the speed of condensing Spiritual Energy by fivefold. Note: Restricted to the sect leader's use."
"Duration: 24 hours."
"Price: 10 Contribution Points."
Jun Changxiao said, "A fivefold increase in Spiritual Energy condensation? This is a great thing for cultivation!"
With his ordinary aptitude, even with a God-grade Cultivation Method, it took him two days to absorb enough Spiritual Energy to break through his meridians. If it increased fivefold, the time would be drastically shortened.
"Buy it!"
Jun Changxiao purchased it without the slightest hesitation.
"Ding!"
"The host has spent 10 Contribution Points and obtained Qi Gathering Pill ×1. It has been delivered to the Spatial Ring."
"Ding!"
"Sect Contribution Points: 40/100."
Before the notification sound had even faded, Jun Changxiao took out the pill bottle marked 'Qi Gathering Pill' and poured out a pill the size of a red date.
The pill melted as soon as it entered his mouth. The instant it merged into his body, his spirits soared, and he could clearly feel every pore seeming to expand without limit.
Jun Changxiao sat cross-legged on the chair and circulated the Yi Jin Jing.
Yet as soon as the Cultivation Method completed one cycle, the Spirit Power within the hall surged toward him like a tide, fighting to be absorbed.
Yesterday you ignored me with all your pride; today I'll make you too lofty to reach.
Proud as they were, Sect Leader Jun began frantically absorbing Spirit Power. In just over four hours, he had condensed enough Spiritual Energy in his body to break through his meridians.
What had once taken two days was now done in less than five hours. The Qi Gathering Pill's effects were truly fierce.
"Break through."
Jun Changxiao said.
The result was a third failure.
"Again!"
After condensing energy for several more hours, he continued trying to break through. The fourth attempt failed again... only on the fifth strike did he successfully open his eleventh meridian.
With no mind to savor the greater power brought by Meridian Opening, Jun Changxiao slumped in his chair and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "With a fifty-percent success rate, it took me five attempts to succeed. Just how black is my luck?"
He had said he would not use the system and would rely on his own efforts to break through his meridians, but Jun Changxiao had still failed to do so. In the end, with the Qi Gathering Pill's assistance, he broke through to Meridian Opening Eleven Stages.
He truly had persevered for a time, but... since Heaven had given me a system, and it contains goods that can help me rapidly increase my Cultivation, there must be something wrong with my brain if I don't use them.
After soothing himself with that reasoning, Jun Changxiao immediately felt refreshed and clear-minded.
In truth, what had urgently driven him to use the Mall's items was still Lu Qianqian's earlier words. After all, he was not a lone cultivator but the sect leader of a sect. He did not have that much time to cultivate and had to grow stronger as quickly as possible to lead the entire sect.
As for effort?
It was a fine virtue to possess, but that depended on the circumstances.
Jun Changxiao opened the Initial Stage Mall again. Sure enough, the 'Qi Condensation Pill' had turned gray, displaying the words: limited to one purchase per month.
He shook his head and said, "If it could be bought without limit, cultivating every day at five times the Spiritual Energy absorption speed, even a pig could break through to Martial God, right?"
Martial God: Was that an insult?
"Speaking of which..."
Jun Changxiao propped up his chin and said, "The effect notes say it's restricted to the sect leader's use. Does that mean there are pills suitable for disciples?"
He continued browsing the products and soon found something rather interesting, called the Initial Grade Disciple Spiritual Energy Array.
He opened the detailed description.
"Item: Initial Grade Disciple Spiritual Energy Array."
"Effect: When arranged on the ground, it can form a ten-square-meter Spiritual Energy Array, with Spirit Power inside twice as dense as the outside world."
"Duration: Activated upon opening."
"Price: 10 Contribution Points."
"Note: Restricted to sect disciples. Activating the Formation consumes 1 Contribution Point and lasts 24 hours."
Seeing the note, Jun Changxiao said, "One point only lasts one day? This burns through Contribution Points far too quickly."
One point per day was not much, but he only had 40 Contribution Points. After buying it, even if he used all the rest to activate the Formation, it could only be maintained for thirty days at most.
"It's restricted to disciples, so there's no point exchanging for it." Jun Changxiao did not plan to exchange for the Initial Grade Disciple Spiritual Energy Array.
The system prompted, "When disciples become stronger, the sect becomes stronger. Recommended purchase rating: five stars."
Jun Changxiao rolled his eyes. "You aren't recommending that I buy it. You're recommending that I spend Contribution Points, aren't you?"
The system said, "The system's mission is to assist the host."
"Fine."
After hesitating briefly, Jun Changxiao said, "I'll trust you this once."
"Ding!"
"The host has spent 10 Contribution Points and obtained Initial Grade Disciple Spiritual Energy Array ×1. It has been delivered to the Spatial Ring."
"Ding!"
"Sect Contribution Points: 30/100."
A bag filled with numerous small flags suddenly appeared inside the Spatial Ring, along with an instruction manual for setting up the Formation.
Jun Changxiao said speechlessly, "Why isn't there a warranty card?"
"Sect Leader!"
Just as he was preparing to take out the Spiritual Energy Array and study it, a disciple hurried in, panting heavily. "S-Someone is causing trouble!"
"What?"
Jun Changxiao slapped the armrest and rose furiously. "Who the hell ate a bear's heart and leopard's gall, daring to cause trouble at my Iron Bone Unyielding Sect?!"
"Beat him! Beat him hard!"
Before the gates of the Iron Bone Sect, painted in vermilion lacquer, a richly dressed young master shouted angrily.
Several underlings at the Fourth and Fifth Stages of Pulse Opening were punching and kicking a youth lying on the ground. The youth wore tattered clothes, his hair wild and unkempt, looking like a beggar.
"Damn it! A filthy beggar dares steal pills from our Cui Family? You've got some nerve!"
One servant cursed as he beat him.
The richly dressed young master said coldly, "His Cultivation may be nothing much, but he runs quite fast. If he hadn't blundered into this barren mountain and found himself with nowhere to go, he really would have been hard to catch."
"Keep beating him!"
"Beat him to death for this young master!"
Upon receiving the order, the underlings all began viciously stomping and kicking him.
Their blows were exceedingly forceful. In no time, they had kicked the youth black and blue, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
"Stop!"
Just then, a booming voice rang out.
The servants who had been punching and kicking stopped and turned their heads together. Jun Changxiao was walking out through the gates with a group of disciples.
"Huh?"
The richly dressed young master looked at the plaque over the gate and laughed. "So this nameless barren mountain is the Iron Bone Unyielding Sect's territory."
His smile and tone were steeped in disdain.
Jun Changxiao glanced at him, then at the youth being viciously beaten by the crowd, and said flatly, "This is my Iron Bone Unyielding Sect's territory. If you want to fight, get out and fight elsewhere."
So no one had come to cause trouble at the sect. It was simply a group of people fighting one person outside the gate.
The richly dressed young master said in astonishment, "You told me to get out?"
He looked at his servants and grinned. "This tiny Iron Bone Sect dares tell this young master to get out? Is he crazy? Is he stu—"
Bang!
A foot came flying over and struck him squarely in the face. His flesh immediately caved in, and his entire body shot into the air, his mouth crooked and eyes askew as he flew in a magnificent arc.
Thud!
The richly dressed young master flew more than ten meters before crashing down before the stone stairs leading down the mountain. A little closer, and he would have rolled all the way down.
Jun Changxiao withdrew his foot. "You talk too much."
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