You'll Regret This!

Lin Xuan had won nearly three hundred contribution points and returned to his little hut in satisfaction.

There was still one month until the inner sect assessment, and he had to plan carefully. His strength was currently at the peak of the Fourth Level of Meridian Condensation, and he would soon enter Meridian Condensation Stage Five. With those three hundred contribution points, he could choose two martial arts techniques.

Lin Xuan only had the Thunder Movement Swordsmanship. His footwork was still basic martial arts, and he knew none of the other techniques. But with these three hundred contribution points, all those problems could be solved.

"Contribution points really are a good thing. No wonder those people are willing to risk their lives over them." In the outer sect, having contribution points meant possessing abundant resources. With resources, one naturally cultivated faster than others.

I wonder what life is like for inner sect disciples? Lin Xuan could not help longing for it. He had heard Tang Yu say that the inner sect had a Martial Arts Pavilion, where any martial arts below the Profound Rank could be found—and they did not even cost contribution points.

At that thought, Lin Xuan could hardly wait to become an inner sect disciple. Then he would not have to do missions every day and struggle desperately to earn contribution points.

"Never mind. I'll sleep first." Lin Xuan took a bath, then swiftly drifted into dreamland.

When he woke, it was already the next day. After breakfast, Lin Xuan headed for the Mission Hall.

"Brother Lin, morning!"

The moment Lin Xuan entered, he heard Chen Dazheng's voice. Chen Dazheng walked over with a broad smile, and Lin Xuan tossed him a spirit note.

"Thank you for that day, Brother Chen. I'll remember this favor," Lin Xuan said solemnly.

"Why be so polite? It was mainly because you were capable enough to win Elder Fang's attention. Otherwise, how could I possibly have the ability to invite an elder?" Chen Dazheng said with a simple grin.

"Enough nonsense. I want to choose a few martial arts techniques. Does Senior Brother Chen have any recommendations?" Lin Xuan went straight to the point.

"What kind? Swordsmanship or movement techniques? Palm arts or leg arts?" Chen Dazheng asked.

Lin Xuan rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. He did not need swordsmanship; he had only learned the first level of Thunder Movement Swordsmanship, and he would likely continue practicing it for a long time to come.

He needed a movement technique, since he was still using basic footwork. As for the other one, he wanted a martial art that strengthened the body. The greater his strength, the more powerful the Thunder Movement Swordsmanship would become.

He had originally wanted Wine Lord to provide a few basic martial arts techniques, but Wine Lord had bluntly told him that he had plenty of techniques, just none suitable for Lin Xuan. There was no helping it—Lin Xuan's cultivation was simply too low.

Left with no other choice, he had come to the Mission Hall to exchange for martial arts.

"Find me movement techniques and body-tempering techniques," Lin Xuan said.

Chen Dazheng handed over two books. "They're all in here. Take a good look."

Lin Xuan read quickly, and before long, he selected two techniques. One was a mid-grade Yellow Rank movement technique, Shadowstep. Once mastered, it allowed one to move like a shadow following a form, chasing the wind and racing the sun.

The other was the Golden Jade Body Tempering Art, also a mid-grade Yellow Rank martial art. It could strengthen one's blood and vitality, increase one's strength, and once mastered, make the flesh difficult for blades and swords to harm.

After selecting the martial arts, Lin Xuan accepted several more missions before leaving the Mission Hall.

He planned to practice these martial arts first, then make another trip to Leyang City to buy a better weapon. Otherwise, a swordsman without a suitable weapon would be nothing but a joke.

Lin Xuan did not return to his little hut. Instead, he went to the training rooms.

The training rooms had been specially established by the Profound Heaven Sect for its disciples, ensuring that they would not be disturbed while practicing. They also contained Bamboo Forest Guards for sparring. The training rooms were divided into three levels, with the main difference being the Bamboo Forest Guards inside. Level one had ordinary Bamboo Forest Guards, level two had Red-Spotted Bamboo Forest Guards, and level three had Golden-thread Bamboo Forest Guards.

A level one training room cost ten low-grade spirit stones per day, a level two room cost twenty, and a level three room cost thirty spirit stones.

Lin Xuan had already experienced the Red-Spotted Bamboo Forest Guards during the outer sect assessment. Their strength was roughly equivalent to Meridian Condensation, Third Stage through the Fourth Level of Meridian Condensation. The Golden-thread Bamboo Forest Guards possessed strength between Meridian Condensation Stage Five and Six.

After a brief consideration, Lin Xuan chose the Golden-thread Bamboo Forest Guards. The Red-Spotted Bamboo Forest Guards no longer posed any challenge to him.

After paying the spirit stones and receiving his room key, Lin Xuan was about to leave. Just then, a pair of male and female disciples approached. Lin Xuan paid them no mind, asked where the room was, and left.

After Lin Xuan had taken only a few steps, he heard a shriek behind him. "What did you say? There are no more level three training rooms?"

The disciple in charge of registration said, "That's right. The last level three training room was just booked. You should choose something else."

"Who booked it?" the girl asked. "Tell me now. I'm from the Azure Robe Society!"

Upon hearing the words Azure Robe Society, the recording disciple shrank his neck and pointed at Lin Xuan's retreating figure.

When the girl saw that Lin Xuan was only at the Fourth Level of Meridian Condensation and did not belong to any of the three major factions, she immediately lifted her chin and chased after him.

"You, stop!" she said arrogantly.

Lin Xuan acted as though he had not heard her and continued walking at an unhurried pace. This enraged the girl. Usually, male disciples fawned over her like servants, yet Lin Xuan ignored her completely. Her little hand trembled with fury.

"Hmph, you dare disobey this young lady?" The girl's pretty face turned cold. With a wave of her hand, she struck toward the center of Lin Xuan's back. Spiritual energy rippled through the air with a piercing howl.

Lin Xuan had not wanted to bother with such a woman, but he had not expected her to attack him—and to target a vital point at that. His lips tightened slightly. He joined his fingers like a sword and struck backward.

Ssst!

Sword radiance flickered from his fingertips, incomparably sharp. It pierced through the spiritual energy around the girl's palm in an instant and struck her fair hand.

"Ah!" The girl cried out in pain, clutching her hand as she retreated. A red spot had appeared on her palm, caused by Lin Xuan's sword radiance. Yet she did not know that Lin Xuan had already shown mercy.

"You—you dare injure me? Do you know who I am?" The girl clutched her palm, her voice as cold as flying snow.

Seeing that Lin Xuan still did not turn around, the girl furiously said to the male disciple beside her, "Are you a rock? Can't you see him bullying me?"

The young man had assumed that, with the girl's Meridian Condensation Stage Five cultivation, dealing with a mere fourth-stage junior disciple would be effortless. He had not expected matters to turn out so differently.

In his eyes, Lin Xuan's actions were simply courting death.

"I'll give you one chance. Get over here and apologize immediately, or you're dead!" the young man shouted harshly.

Lin Xuan did not react.

"Damn it, you'll regret this." The young man suddenly lunged forward like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, his momentum terrifying.

Lin Xuan had already warned the girl, yet they still refused to repent. Anger rose in his heart as sword radiance flared once more from his hand.

Get lost!

With that single shouted word came an incomparably dazzling streak of sword radiance. Vast streams of green energy surged forth and instantly struck the young man in the chest.

Pfft! The young man was sent flying backward through the air.

Only after the young man landed did Lin Xuan finally see his face clearly, and he froze for a moment.