Another Forced Sale!

Back at the dormitory, Dongfang Yueming lay down on the hard bed with his hands behind his head, unable to keep the corners of his mouth from rising.

"78 contribution points..." He looked at the number displayed on his personal terminal, his heart bursting with joy. With this windfall and the basic rewards from the next few days of patrols, he was already very close to his goal of exchanging them for the "Basic Flesh Refining Method"!

How delightful!

Time flew like a white colt flashing past a crack, and six days passed in the blink of an eye.

During those six days, Dongfang Yueming showed up for patrol duty on time every day. Though he encountered no more "surprises" like the Azure-Scaled Leopard, he did deal with a few blind little mortal beasts here and there. His days were peaceful and fulfilling.

Early in the morning, Dongfang Yueming woke as usual and checked his panel first thing.

[Character: Dongfang Yueming]

[Realm: Body Tempering - Skin Tempering Realm (Jade Skin) (gains 2 points daily)]

[Cultivation methods: Basic Skin Tempering Method (perfected), Layered Wave Skin Tempering Method (perfected)]

[Martial arts: Basic Thirteen Fast Saber Forms (perfected), Gale Movement Technique (perfected)]

[Points: 828]

"Not bad. I've steadily gained another 12 points over the past six days." Dongfang Yueming nodded in satisfaction. The steady increase in points meant his foundation was growing deeper.

Then he checked his contribution point balance.

"118 points..." He did the math. He had earned 30 points from basic patrols over the past five days (6*5), and had dealt with a few mortal beasts that had slipped into the city along the way, earning another 10 points in extra rewards altogether. Added to the 78 points he had left from before, that made exactly 118 points.

"I'm just one step away from 120!" A flicker of excitement flashed in Dongfang Yueming's eyes. "Once today's patrol is over and I get the 6 basic contribution points, I'll have enough for 120! I can exchange them for the 'Basic Flesh Refining Method'!"

Just then, his personal terminal dinged with a new message.

It was from Qian Jingming.

"Big shot Dongfang! You're free tonight, right? That gathering we talked about is tonight! I'll come pick you up, so get ready!"

"Oh? It's today?" Dongfang Yueming raised an eyebrow. Time really did fly. He casually replied, "Got it."

After replying, a thought suddenly occurred to Dongfang Yueming.

"Come to think of it... the 'Basic Flesh Refining Method' on the academy website costs 120 contribution points. I wonder... are there other ways to get a Flesh Refining Method?"

"Better yet, I should get a Flesh Refining Method that's better than the basic stuff! After all, I've got the Jade Skin Realm as my starting point now, with a solid foundation. Using the Basic Flesh Refining Method feels like a bit of a waste."

"And... if I can find somewhere cheaper to buy one, it'd be good to save some contribution points."

With that thought, he immediately sent Qian Jingming another message. The guy had connections all over the place and might know something.

"Qian, let me ask you something. Do you... have a way to get a Flesh Refining Method?"

Qian Jingming's reply came quickly, carrying obvious curiosity. "A Flesh Refining Method?! Big shot Dongfang, what do you need a Flesh Refining Method for? Didn't you just start Skin Tempering..." He left the sentence unfinished, but his meaning was clear: he thought it was too early for Dongfang Yueming to need a Flesh Refining Method.

Dongfang Yueming couldn't be bothered to explain and replied directly, "Never mind what I need it for. Just tell me whether you can get one. I've got about 120 contribution points right now. Can I buy something better than the academy's 'Basic Flesh Refining Method'?" He laid out his "budget" upfront to see if he could hook something good.

On the other end of the terminal.

When Qian Jingming saw Dongfang Yueming's message, especially the part about having "about 120 contribution points," he was instantly stunned!

"Holy shit?! 120 contribution points?!" He nearly threw the terminal out of his hand!

It had only been a few days! Hadn't this kid just enrolled?! There was no way he could have saved up that much so quickly, was there?! Had this guy... robbed the contribution point management center?!

But Qian Jingming was Qian Jingming, after all. Once his shock passed, his shrewd mind immediately started turning.

Who cares where it came from! As long as he's got money! The little abacus in his head clattered away. 120 points... doesn't that mean the money for that saber...

So he sent a probing reply: "Oh my! Big shot Dongfang! You really were hiding your depths! You've built up quite a nest egg so quickly! Hehe... well, big shot, about that saber from before..." He deliberately left the sentence hanging, his meaning self-evident.

When Dongfang Yueming saw the message, he immediately felt a little guilty. He really had forgotten about that. Although the other party had "forced" the advance on him, he did still owe him for it in name.

But... the Flesh Refining Method was more important! And tonight's gathering...

Dongfang Yueming's eyes darted about, and he immediately seized on the key to turning the tables.

He replied directly, "We can talk about the saber. But, Qian, you wouldn't want some 'little matter' to spoil my mood, or for me to fall behind in my cultivation because I haven't secured a cultivation method, and end up... unable to attend that important gathering tonight, would you?"

The plainly threatening words instantly choked Qian Jingming!

That was right! Senior Shi was still waiting for him to bring Dongfang Yueming over! If Dongfang Yueming dropped everything and refused to go, he would definitely be in for it!

You're ruthless! Qian Jingming cursed inwardly, knowing he had been caught in Dongfang Yueming's grip.

Dongfang Yueming pressed his advantage and sent another message. "How about this? When you come to pick me up tonight, bring the Flesh Refining Method with you. Once I have it, I'll definitely be at the gathering on time."

He thought for a moment, then added, "The budget is 120 contribution points. A basic one won't do. It has to be better than the one at the academy! The difficulty doesn't matter, as long as its effects are strong enough!"

Reading Dongfang Yueming's self-assured, shameless demands, Qian Jingming felt his blood pressure rising.

This guy... not only was he welching on the saber payment, he was even threatening him into finding a more advanced, more expensive Flesh Refining Method?! And with such a strict budget on top of that?!

How could there be someone so brazen and shameless in this world?!

Qian Jingming held his terminal, speechless for a long while, feeling utterly at a loss.

This kid was definitely the greatest bane he had encountered in his business career!