39: Chapter 39: A Review of the Gains

"We're out! Finally out!"

"Damn it, after twenty days of living in constant fear inside, I never want to go back in there again!"

"Haha, Senior Brother Wang, we've struck it rich this time! That mist heart orchid is worth at least two hundred contribution points!"

Outside the Restriction light screen, the crowd was boisterous.

The sunlight spilled down without obstruction, stinging the eyes of many Disciples who had just emerged from the gloomy valley, causing them to squint.

The air was fresh and dry, forming a sharp contrast to the damp and gloomy atmosphere inside the valley all year round. Many people collapsed to the ground as soon as they came out, gasping for air, their faces filled with the relief of having survived a disaster.

Lin Xuan walked out of the light screen with the flow of people, the sunlight shining on his body, bringing a long-lost warmth. He squinted his eyes to adapt to the light, his gaze sweeping across the noisy crowd.

He saw Chen Hao's team emerging from the other side.

Chen Hao's light-red Flame Peak robe was so dirty that its original color was unrecognizable, and there was a shallow bloodstain on his face, but he was full of energy, waving his arms and speaking animatedly to Zhang Meng and Li Ming:

"Did you see that! That last Iron-Backed Bear—if it weren't for my 'Explosive Fireball' interrupting its charge, we would all have been finished!"

"Senior Brother Zhang, your saber technique is fierce enough, and Senior Brother Li, that bell sound of yours was really useful at the critical moment! Our coordination was perfect!"

Zhang Meng smiled honestly while wiping the bloodstains off his broadsword. Li Ming carefully organized several bulging parcels at his waist, his round face full of smiles: "Junior Brother Chen, don't just praise us; your aim with the Fireball Technique has certainly improved. Our harvest this time is not bad; when we go back and divide it up, it will be enough for us to Cultivate for a while."

Chen Hao chuckled, his gaze scanning the crowd as if looking for someone. When he saw Lin Xuan, his eyes lit up, and he opened his mouth to shout.

Lin Xuan shook his head at him from a distance and pointed to his own body, signaling that he was fine and that they would talk later.

Chen Hao understood, nodded vigorously, made a "talk later" gesture, and then happily went back to boasting to his teammates.

Lin Xuan smiled and turned his gaze to the other side.

Chen Yufei's team had also come out.

The five of them still had an aura that was a cut above the rest.

Chen Yufei walked at the front, his moon-white robe spotless, his expression calm, showing neither joy nor anger.

Behind him, the sturdy, tower-like Houtu Peak Disciple carried a huge leather bag, which seemed to contain something heavy.

The female cultivator from Sharp Metal Peak carried two swords on her back, her expression stern. The male Disciple from Qingmu Peak looked pale, his steps unsteady, and he was being supported by that female Disciple from Houtu Peak, his breath unstable—clearly, he had suffered a significant internal injury.

"It seems even strong teams suffer losses," Lin Xuan thought to himself.

Chen Yufei's gaze also swept across the crowd, and when it briefly met Lin Xuan's, it paused slightly.

He seemed to want to see something from Lin Xuan, but Lin Xuan's aura was restrained, his robe was ordinary, and he had nothing else except for that standard qingyun sword at his waist and a bulging Storage Pouch.

In the end, Chen Yufei looked away and led his team away directly.

Lin Xuan did not linger and followed the crowd to the General Affairs Hall to complete his mission.

There was a long line inside the hall, and it was exceptionally noisy. The Deacon Disciples were busy running around, inspecting items, and registering contribution points.

"Twenty stalks of cloud mist grass, Medium Grade, exchange for forty contribution points!"

"Five pieces of water-condensing stone, Low Grade, twenty-five contribution points!"

"wind bell flower... Hmm? Only three stalks? And damaged? Thirty points!"

Some were happy, while others were sad.

When it was Lin Xuan's turn at the counter, he took out the portion of his harvest that he had prepared long ago from his Storage Pouch:

Twenty stalks of ordinary-looking cloud mist grass, ten pieces of water-condensing stone of varying sizes and poor quality, and five slightly flawed wind bell flowers—these were all parts he had carefully selected, which were relatively low in value and would not attract attention.

The Deacon Disciple counted quickly and recorded expressionlessly: "Twenty cloud mist grass, forty points; ten water-condensing stone, fifty points; five wind bell flowers, Medium-to-Low Grade, sixty points. A total of one hundred and fifty contribution points. Identity jade token."

Lin Xuan handed over his jade token. A white light flashed, and the contribution point number jumped, increasing by 150 to become 157 points.

"Next!" the Deacon Disciple waved his hand.

Lin Xuan put away the jade token, turned, and left, completely inconspicuous.

The real harvest was in his bosom and in the Spirit-Taming Tower Space.

When he returned to the small courtyard in Zone C of Emerald Bamboo Peak, the setting sun had already stretched the bamboo shadows long.

Lin Xuan closed the courtyard gate, bolted it, and carefully checked inside and outside the courtyard again to confirm no one was spying, before walking into the Quiet Room and lighting the oil lamp.

Under the dim yellow halo, he began to take detailed stock of the harvest from this trip to Cloud Mist Valley.

Cultivation Breakthrough to Qi Refining Level 2. Total Spiritual Qi, quality, recovery speed, and acuity of the five senses were all improved in every aspect.

Obtained "Thunder Gathering (Elementary) Talent". Efficiency in Cultivating the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Art increased several times, and control over Thunder Spiritual Qi was enhanced.

New Spirit Pet: Purple Lightning Glow Insect (First Stage Medium Grade): Core support, "Thunder Gathering" talent, symbiotic with thunder-attracting vine, can continuously improve the environment of the Spirit-Taming Tower Space.

Thunder-Patterned Pangolin (First Stage Medium Grade, sub-adult, recovering from severe injuries): Dual Earth and Thunder attributes, talents "Earth Perception" (Elementary, practical) and "Thunder-Patterned Armor" (damaged). Great potential; once recovered, it will be a Sharp Weapon for underground exploration.

Herb-Seeking Mouse (First Stage Low Grade): Continuous growth, Spirit Energy Tracking ability enhanced, added weak lightning affinity.

Material harvest (precious parts): Two stalks of mist heart orchid (with mist orchid seeds): Value over approximately 200 contribution points.

Nine stalks of high-quality wind bell flower (three in near-bell-ringing state): Value approximately 150-200 contribution points, main ingredient for barrier-breaking pill.

Three pieces of First Stage Medium Grade lightning-struck stone, several scraps of thunder-patterned iron raw Ore: Artifact Refining Materials, very valuable.

One section of lightning-struck wood: Excellent carrier for low-level thunder talismans.

Three stalks of Yin Marrow Grass: Rare medicinal ingredient for harmonizing Yin and Yang.

Various Yao Beast Materials: Poison mist python skin, poison sac; Yin-corrosion toad skin, poison sac; Iron-toothed wild boar fangs, heart; cloud mist python skin, claws/teeth, etc. Total value over 300 contribution points.

Basic Spiritual Plant and Ore: 150 contribution points already exchanged, with some remaining.

Intelligence and clues: Confirmed the claw-mark area is the lair of a sub-adult Purple Lightning Sable (First Stage Peak High Grade), accompanied by Purple Lightning Glow Insect.

Discovered clues of a suspected small lightning-struck stone/thunder-patterned iron Ore vein (Pangolin's old lair).

Gained an in-depth understanding of the valley environment, Yao Beast distribution, and the ecology of other Disciples.

The harvest was so rich that it far exceeded the imagination of ordinary Outer Sect Disciples.

However, there was not much joy on Lin Xuan's face; instead, his brows were slightly furrowed as he thought about the hidden dangers that would follow:

Senior Brother Wang's team: They lost the Pangolin, and if they knew it was in the hands of someone with "lowest-tier aptitude" like him, they would likely not let it go.

Although he had disposed of the traces at the time, if the other party had special tracking methods, or if he appeared with the Pangolin, they might trace it back to Emerald Bamboo Peak.

Risk of self-exposure: If the speed of his Cultivation improvement (from Middle Stage of Level 1 to Level 2 in twenty days in the valley) were noticed by someone with ulterior motives, it might arouse suspicion. If a large amount of precious Materials were not handled properly, it would also attract covetous eyes. He must be careful.

"Must not get carried away," Lin Xuan warned himself in a low voice.

He began to think and started to formulate a short-term plan:

First, heal and nurture the Pangolin. Prioritize its recovery to health and attempt to train the application of "Earth Perception". This is the key to exploring Ore veins and ruins in the future.

Second, learn new Spells. At Qi Refining Level 2, he can learn more practical attack, defense, and auxiliary Spells.

Third, process Materials. Use some for himself, and exchange some in batches for contribution points or necessary resources. Then consider purchasing better Magical Artifacts and robes.

Fourth, investigate clues for thunder-path resources. Combining the Pangolin's perception and known information, systematically investigate thunder-attribute resource points in Emerald Bamboo Peak and the surrounding areas of the Sect.

Fifth, continue to consolidate Cultivation. Use the "Thunder Gathering" talent to accelerate the Cultivation of the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Art, stabilize Qi Refining Level 2, and move towards Level 3.

Outside the window, twilight completely swallowed the last trace of daylight.

The light of the oil lamp flickered on Lin Xuan's face, reflecting his calm and determined eyes.

The trip to Cloud Mist Valley had ended, but the path of immortality was long, and this was just a new starting point.

The bamboo forest outside the courtyard rustled, and the mountain wind blew by, bringing a chill from afar.

The night at Sanyang Sect was as quiet as ever, and as always, undercurrents were surging.

Lin Xuan blew out the oil lamp, sat cross-legged, and began his first Cultivation session after returning.

Pale purple Thunder Spiritual Qi, guided by the "Thunder Gathering" talent, gathered in wisps and smoothly merged into his Meridians.