“I’ll repay my debts first.” After walking aside, Meng Qi immediately clasped his hands with a cheerful smile and said, “Dear friends who share life and death, I’m really grateful for your assistance this time.”
“Always joking around without seriousness,” Jiang Zhi whispered with a smile, then murmured, “I’ll first sublimate the White Rainbow Through the Sun Sword before considering anything else.”
As they spoke, the group arrived before the central luminous pillar. Meng Qi cleared the “debt” of sixty Virtue Points, leaving him with 740 remaining.
Jiang Zhi placed the “White Rainbow Through the Sun Sword,” a piece of Gengjin ore, and a demonic flame crystal into the misty, immortal qi-filled pillar, awaiting the Sixfold Samsara Sovereign’s instruction.
After one breath’s time, she turned to Meng Qi and others and said, “Fifty Virtue Points to remove impurities, and with the current materials, it’ll cost 300 Virtue Points for sublimation.”
“Not bad at all,” Zhang Yuanshan sincerely remarked. If they had taken these materials to his sect’s master artisan for enhancement, there would not only be a risk of failure but also a need to spend sect contribution points and incur a favor, easily costing more than 300 Virtue Points.
Meng Qi lacked such experience and could only smile and say, “The Sixfold Samsara Sovereign has always been fair and honest to all.”
Jiang Zhi wasn’t really seeking their opinion, merely informing them. After a slight nod, she turned back and chose to proceed with the sublimation.
Light points danced like stars falling like rain, completely enveloping the White Rainbow Through the Sun Sword. After several breaths, everything dissipated. The originally sharp and clear blade seemed more restrained and profound, with faint black patterns embedded within.
Jiang Zhi retrieved the “White Rainbow Through the Sun Sword,” swung it a few times to reacquaint herself, then smiled and said, “Sharper than before, nearly reaching the limit of sharp weapons, and it now carries the demonic flame’s intimidation effect against evil spirits and damage to primordial spirits.”
In other words, this White Rainbow Through the Sun Sword had become a standout among sharp weapons, worth at least nine hundred Virtue Points. Of course, when factoring in the demonic flames, Gengjin ore, and the sublimation cost, the total investment was nearly equivalent.
Moreover, the enhancement of a familiar sword significantly boosted Jiang Zhi’s combat effectiveness.
“Let’s help the little monk decide what to redeem first. He still needs to face a powerful enemy upon returning,” Jiang Zhi said with a smile as she sheathed her sword. She didn’t mention her own needs, secretly planning that if Meng Qi lacked Virtue Points, she could lend him some. For her, having just opened the nasal orifice, the oral orifices remained unrefined, and many sword techniques still required deeper contemplation. She had no urgent need for anything else at the moment.
After repaying sixty Virtue Points, Meng Qi had 740 remaining. He hesitated for a moment and said, “My A-nan Breaking the Precepts Saber Technique has improved significantly, gaining an additional desperate move. With Zhiwei’s ‘Yama Edict,’ there’s no need to redeem anything else in this area.”
He didn’t tell them he had comprehended the “Fall into the Mortal World” technique, as it would contradict his previous “lie”—he had only claimed to have obtained a fragment of the first move of the A-nan Breaking the Precepts Saber Technique.
“With the Demonic Qi Stone Gate, I’ve already unblocked the acupoints connected to the ear orifice—only the refinement stage remains. If I exchange for a bottle of Illusory Essence Nourishing the Splendor Pills, I can complete it within ten days to half a month. After that, I’ll redeem a ‘Heavenly Vision and Earthly Hearing Pill’ as a backup. First, I’ll try to open the orifice on my own. If I still can’t succeed at the final moment, I’ll rely on the pill to break through.”
He credited the unblocking of the ear-related acupoints and the near completion of the fifth stage of the Golden Bell Cover to the stone gate and the contamination of demonic energy.
Zhang Yuanshan nodded slightly, “A sound plan.”
He greatly appreciated Meng Qi’s desire to open the orifices independently, as only by gradually reducing dependence on the Sixfold Samsara Sovereign and pills could one progress further in the future.
“However, the most crucial thing is time. Whether it’s refining acupoints, opening the ear orifice, or mastering desperate moves, all require time to familiarize oneself,” Zhang Yuanshan continued.
“Mm.” Meng Qi had already considered this point, “I have a Cycle Talisman and plan to go to a world I’ve experienced for training, striving to further master my techniques and open the ear orifice. Hmm, one month definitely won’t be enough. I’ll spend two hundred Virtue Points to redeem an additional month.”
He didn’t attempt to redeem two months because even if he opened the ear orifice, he might still not be able to kill An Guoxie. He needed to reserve some Virtue Points to redeem “auxiliary items”—although he could borrow from Jiang Zhi and others, borrowing a large amount would be inappropriate. Each task in the Cycle World becomes increasingly difficult, and others’ Virtue Points would also be needed for their own improvements.
As for opening the orifices, the seven orifices—eyes, ears, nose, and mouth—primarily correspond to the internal organs. However, when constructing one’s internal heaven and earth, it must naturally form a cycle, just like the real heaven and earth, encompassing birth, prosperity, decline, beginning, process, and conclusion. This is the great Dao of heaven and earth, cyclical and ever-repeating. The decline and purification of the internal heaven and earth naturally correspond to innate orifices, known as the front and back yin.
“The remaining Virtue Points should be enough to redeem a bottle of ‘Sorrowful Fragrant Breeze,'” Qi Zhengyan said, clearly still thinking about it.
Meng Qi smiled and nodded, “That’s exactly what I plan to redeem. Whether there’s enough left for the special technique of ‘Fated Death Dart’ depends on what remains.”
He had long desired the ‘Sorrowful Fragrant Breeze.’ Generally speaking, the most expensive part of hidden weapons is the weapon itself, with the technique accounting for less than a tenth.
“More or less that’s the plan. Any opinions from you all?” After finishing, Meng Qi looked at Jiang Zhi, Zhang Yuanshan, and Fu Zhenzhen.
Fu Zhenzhen softly asked, “The little candle won’t be used up, right?”
“No,” Meng Qi replied with a smile. Obviously, the Seven-Star Begonia wouldn’t be used for assassinating An Guoxie, since lighting the candle would be too conspicuous.
Jiang Zhi pondered for a moment, finding no issue, and chuckled lightly, “It’s a shame we can’t exchange for teleportation to the main world. Otherwise, I could go assist you directly. I’d love to experience the Raging Sand Divine Technique myself.”
“Very thorough planning,” Zhang Yuanshan felt increasingly impressed with Zhen Ding’s younger apprentice brother. When they first met, he was still an ignorant little monk, impulsive and hasty, lacking methodology, only with a good heart and many ideas. Now, beneath his seemingly playful and impulsive exterior lay a steady heart. He was methodical, energetic yet cautious, willing to risk his life but also prepared for contingencies, no longer to be underestimated.
Meng Qi approached the central luminous pillar, extended his hand into the misty immortal aura, and instead of directly examining the value of the ‘Fated Death Dart’ special technique, he assessed the thunder mark on his wrist.
“A mark left by residual essence from the Nine Heavens Divine Spear. It’s both a mark and a key that can open the ruins of the Nine Heavens. Activating it can simulate a trace of the Thunder God’s aura. In thunderstorm weather, it can summon lightning to assist three times. Irreplaceable, unique item, cannot be exchanged for Virtue Points, nor transferred to others.”
Meng Qi was somewhat stunned by the thunder mark’s usefulness—it was actually the key to the Nine Heavens ruins!
He and Gu Xiaosang each had their gains. The only problem was that the mysterious disappearance of the Nine Heavens made it elusive, and he had no clue at all.
Moreover, it could simulate a trace of the Thunder God’s aura, summoning lightning to assist three times, almost equivalent to an external scenery ability, of course, depending on the weather… Meng Qi was extremely satisfied with the thunder mark.
After calming his thoughts, Meng Qi inquired about the special technique for the ‘Fated Death Dart.’
“The special technique for using the ‘Fated Death Dart,’ valued at twenty-five Virtue Points.” The Sixfold Samsara Sovereign’s reply made Meng Qi secretly relieved. Borrowing from others too often would eventually make even his thick skin feel embarrassed.
“A bottle of Illusory Essence Nourishing the Splendor Pill, fifty Virtue Points.”
“One Heavenly Vision and Earthly Hearing Pill, two hundred and sixty Virtue Points.”
“A bottle of Sorrowful Fragrant Breeze with antidote, two hundred Virtue Points.”
“One month of training time in the Cycle World, two hundred Virtue Points.”
“The special technique for using the ‘Fated Death Dart,’ twenty-five Virtue Points.”
The Sixfold Samsara Sovereign’s voice echoed in Meng Qi’s ears one after another. As his palm tingled, several items had already appeared.
He retrieved his hand and saw a small green jade bottle containing a bright red pill. Even through the bottle, a faint fragrance could be smelled. There was also a white porcelain bottle, two tightly sealed bottles, a sheet of paper, and a red mark protruding on the verdant and moist Cycle Talisman.
Meng Qi inspected everything, put them all away, and said contentedly, “Now it’s your turn.”
He had five Virtue Points left, insufficient to redeem a good acupoint-stimulating method. However, this wasn’t a big problem. With two months of training time, he could focus on collecting related secret techniques. If all else failed, he could exchange various miscellaneous items for Virtue Points.
Qi Zhengyan, expressionless, said, “I plan to break through the ear orifice before the next task, so I’ll redeem two bottles of Illusory Essence Nourishing the Splendor Pill, one Heavenly Vision and Earthly Hearing Pill, and a ‘Blue Snow’ crystal from the fourth layer of the Hun Tian Bao Jian.”
The *Huntian Baojian* also encompassed techniques for opening the orifices. The “Tu Kunlun” corresponded to the first four orifices. Once the eye and ear orifices were unsealed, one would need to cultivate the “Blue Snow.” This stage could be practiced until the eighth orifice was opened.
Regarding his lack of confidence and focus on pills, none of the others wanted to comment extensively. Meng Qi, being relatively more outgoing and skilled in communication, said, “Senior Brother Qi, why not redeem a cultivation method to improve your talent? The ‘Muscle and Bone Tempering Chapter’ is quite good.”
Qi Zhengyan’s expression remained unchanged, as rigid as a corpse, as he replied, “As the level of the ‘Cosmic Chalice Supreme’ itself improves, my talent also gradually enhances. Therefore, breaking through to the fourth orifice with pills and cultivating ‘Azure Snow’ should reduce my dependence on elixirs. If that still doesn’t suffice, I’ll redeem the ‘Muscle and Bone Tempering Chapter.'”
“Amitabha, well said, well said,” Meng Qi joked, seeing that Qi Zhengyan had thought it through.
Soon, Qi Zhengyan retrieved two bottles of Illusory Essence Nourishing the Splendor Pill, one Heavenly Vision and Earthly Hearing Pill, and a crystal that looked like it was surrounded by falling snow, with swirling snow inside, containing infinite mysteries from the central luminous pillar.
Thus, his Virtue Points were exactly used up.
Zhang Yuanshan looked at Fu Zhenzhen and said, “For now, I only need the ‘Heavenly Vision and Earthly Hearing Pill’ and some auxiliary items. If I can’t open the orifice by myself, I’ll use them to breakthrough in the next Cycle World mission. I’ll lend the remaining Virtue Points to Zhenzhen so she can redeem the first part of the ‘Saving Lives Sutra,’ which will be of great benefit to all of us.”
He had already mastered the “True Martial Seven Cuts Sutra” and learned one of its ultimate techniques, making his strength formidable. Unfortunately, he hadn’t had the chance to showcase it this time. As the legitimate heir of a wealthy family and a direct disciple of the sect, he lacked no resources and was cultivating the highest-tier martial arts. He didn’t wish to be distracted by other matters, waiting for the day when he would accumulate two thousand Virtue Points to infuse and open the meridians for the “True Martial Seven Cuts Sutra” Orifice-Opening Stage.
The “Saving Lives Sutra” was both a primary cultivation method and a miraculous healing technique, most suitable for Fu Zhenzhen’s cultivation. Therefore, he planned to lend Fu Zhenzhen two hundred and fifty Virtue Points so she could gather a total of nine hundred.
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