118: Chapter 118 Secret News

"The first place winner is rewarded with eight thousand contribution points... and for those after the fifteenth place, all participants are rewarded with five hundred contribution points."

"Alright,"

Manager Qin finished distributing the contribution points and waved his hand.

"Everyone go back and rest. We'll talk about anything else tomorrow."

The four of them went their separate ways.

Li Changsheng returned to Section C Field No. 7, pushed open the door of the tool warehouse, and lit a lamp.

Everything was as it had been.

That first cracked Pill Furnace he had bought was still in the corner, and those few changes of clothes were still in the cabinet.

There was only a thin layer of dust in the air.

He had already been away for half a month.

He set down his luggage, pushed open the door, and walked to the edge of the field.

Under the moonlight, the spirit field was a sheet of silvery white.

The Spirit Tea Tree had grown taller again, now reaching half a person's height, its branches and leaves lush, shimmering with a faint silver light under the moon.

The nearby Jade Dew Ginseng was also growing well, each plant a dripping emerald green, with the larger batch already reaching three inches in height.

He squatted down and gently brushed the leaves of the tea tree.

The leaves were slightly cool, carrying dew, and trembled softly at his fingertips.

"You've grown taller."

He said softly.

The tea tree was silent, only swaying gently.

He stood up and looked into the distance.

Suddenly, he felt someone approaching.

Li Changsheng looked back and saw a familiar figure standing not far away.

White clothes, an ancient sword, and a cold, aloof face.

Liu Qingchen.

He was more steady than half a year ago, and his aura was deeper.

Those eyes were still cold, but when looking at Li Changsheng, they held a rare hint of warmth.

"Senior Brother Liu."

Li Changsheng stepped forward quickly and cupped his fists in greeting.

Liu Qingchen nodded, his gaze lingering on him for a moment, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

"Qi Refining Level 9 Middle Stage?"

Li Changsheng nodded.

"Just broke through not long ago."

Liu Qingchen was silent for a moment, then suddenly said.

"I heard about the Exchange Meeting."

"A draw, tied for first. Very good."

His tone was still flat, but Li Changsheng could hear the appreciation in it.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Liu."

Liu Qingchen shook his head.

"It is the path you walked yourself. I was just... passing by."

He paused and said.

"Come with me, there are some things I need to tell you."

Li Changsheng nodded and followed behind him, walking out of the spirit field.

The two returned to a secluded pavilion near the outskirts of the spirit field.

The pavilion was built on the edge of a cliff, with a bottomless abyss below and rolling mountains in the distance.

The night wind blew, bringing the sound of pine waves, making one feel refreshed and relaxed.

Liu Qingchen sat down in the pavilion and gestured for Li Changsheng to sit as well.

Li Changsheng sat opposite him, waiting for him to speak.

Liu Qingchen was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked.

"Do you know about Foundation Establishment?"

Li Changsheng was slightly startled, then nodded.

"I know a little."

"After reaching the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage, one can attempt to charge for Foundation Establishment."

"Upon success, Lifespan increases, strength surges, and one can fly on a sword."

"If one fails, at best their cultivation regresses, and at worst... they perish and their Dao vanishes."

Liu Qingchen nodded.

"That's correct. But do you know how to increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment?"

Li Changsheng thought for a moment and said.

"Use a foundation establishment pill."

Liu Qingchen looked at him, nodded, and said, "Correct, a foundation establishment pill can increase the success rate by thirty percent."

"But the foundation establishment pill is only an aid; what truly determines success or failure is one's Foundation, state of mind, and Opportunity."

"Besides that, there is one more thing—the Shelter Platform."

The Shelter Platform.

It was the first time Li Changsheng had heard this term.

Liu Qingchen continued.

"The Sect has a Shelter Platform, located at the summit of the main Peak, built by the Ancestral Masters of past generations with great magic."

"Establishing one's Foundation on the Shelter Platform can increase the success rate by ten percent."

"More importantly, even if Foundation Establishment fails, the damage is minimized; it won't harm your Foundation, and you won't end up perishing with your Dao vanished."

He paused and looked at Li Changsheng.

"Do you understand what this means?"

Li Changsheng nodded.

"It means that even if I fail, I have a chance to try again."

"Exactly."

Liu Qingchen said.

"Therefore, many Disciples at the Peak of the Qi Refining Stage will save up contribution points to exchange for an Opportunity to establish their Foundation on the Shelter Platform."

Contribution points.

Li Changsheng's heart stirred, and a look of joy couldn't help but appear on his face.

He began to calculate his contribution points.

He had just finished the Exchange Meeting and won first place, which gave him eight thousand contribution points.

There were also the points from returning from the Secret Realm last time, totaling forty-four thousand contribution points.

However, later he had consumed a lot by consulting those ancient books, spending a full thirteen thousand points, and also buying Medicinal Pills, Alchemy herbs, etc., which consumed another roughly nine thousand points.

Over these few years of planting spirit plants, although he had been diligent, he had some contribution points.

But they had mostly been consumed by occasional reference lookups, item exchanges, and so on, leaving only about a thousand contribution points.

Adding it all up, he now had roughly thirty-one thousand contribution points on hand.

After Li Changsheng finished calculating, he immediately asked.

"How many contribution points are needed?"

"Fifty thousand."

Fifty thousand.

Li Changsheng fell silent.

He currently had thirty-one thousand contribution points, still short by nineteen thousand.

If he contributed some of the high-quality herbs several hundred years old that he had accumulated from the Secret Realm, he might be able to exchange for enough.

But he didn't want to waste them now, and taking them to exchange now was clearly inappropriate.

Liu Qingchen seemed to see through his thoughts and said.

"You have two paths now."

"One is to continue farming and save up slowly."

"The other is to go on missions."

"Missions?"

"Yes."

Liu Qingchen nodded.

"The Sect has various missions posted every day, some simple, some dangerous. Completing a mission earns you the corresponding contribution points."

"If you're lucky, a single mission can earn you several thousand."

Li Changsheng also knew about doing missions; Senior Brother Zhou from the medicine field next door would sometimes do them. He had even invited Li Changsheng to go along sometimes, but it never happened.

He heard the contribution points weren't that many, ranging from a few dozen to at most two or three hundred.

He paused and looked at Li Changsheng.

"You are now at the Qi Refining Level 9 Middle Stage; your strength is sufficient."

"You can go take on some high-difficulty missions to earn points quickly."

Li Changsheng was silent for a moment, then asked.

"Does Senior Brother Liu have any suggestions?"

Liu Qingchen thought for a bit and said.

"I suggest you start with simple ones to familiarize yourself with the mission process."

"Once you have more experience, then take on the difficult ones."

"There's no rush; you still have time."

He paused, then suddenly lowered his voice.

"Besides, for the coming period of time, things may not be peaceful."

Li Changsheng's heart stirred.

"What does Senior Brother mean..."

Liu Qingchen looked at him and said slowly.

"Do you know why this Qi Refining Stage Disciple Exchange Meeting was held?"

Li Changsheng shook his head.

Liu Qingchen said.

"On the surface, it's an exchange between Sects, but in reality... it's to appease the Blood Fiend Sect."

Appease the Blood Fiend Sect?

Li Changsheng frowned.

Liu Qingchen continued.

"The Blood Fiend Sect has been quite restless these years; they were even active in Qingshi Town near the Sect earlier."

Seeing Li Changsheng's slightly confused face, Liu Qingchen continued.

"When the Blood Fiend Sect was first founded, it was also a true Righteous Path School."

"It's just that at some point, it gradually began to head down an evil path."

Liu Qingchen seemed somewhat moved; he gently closed his eyes and stopped.

Li Changsheng had also heard similar claims, that different cultivation philosophies led to demonic transformation.

Liu Qingchen quickly regained his composure, opened his eyes, looked at Li Changsheng, and continued.

"The Blood Fiend Sect—now they superficially submit to the Righteous Path, but in secret, they are accumulating strength and expanding everywhere."

"The various Sects in Yunzhou have seen this for a long time, but no one wants to be the first to act."

"After all, it's said that the Blood Fiend Sect has Demonic Path powerhouses backing them."

He paused and said.

"This Exchange Meeting was actually to let the Blood Fiend Sect see the strength of the Qi Refining Stage Disciples of each Sect."

"To make them have some misgivings and not dare to act rashly."

"But..."

"But what?"