Chapter 33: Gaining Contribution Points
The heat and the stench of blood from the Molten Mountain Valley hadn't completely dissipated when Ye Li's figure vanished like a ghost behind the jagged red rocks. She didn't immediately flee, but instead sought a secluded crevice and quickly gathered her breath, recovering the spiritual energy expended in the fierce battle.
The "Emperor's Scripture of the Underworld" slowly circulated within him, and extremely cold spiritual energy flowed through his meridians, easily dispelling the traces of fiery evil energy that invaded his body, and even tempering and absorbing it, transforming it into a subtle increase in his own cultivation. Although he had not suffered serious injuries from the encounter with the three molten fire wolves, the consumption of spiritual energy and mental strength was indeed considerable.
After a while, her breathing gradually stabilized, and she stood up to check the gains of this mission.
Five pigeon-egg-sized, crimson-tinged Fire Crystals lay quietly within the jade box, emitting pure fiery energy. These were the primary materials required for the mission. Additionally, there were three venom sacs from a mutant Molten Fire Scorpion (more valuable than ordinary scorpion gallbladders) and a second-tier demon core mined from the skull of a Molten Earth Wolf, imbued with violent fire energy.
The value of these additional gains even exceeds the 300 contribution points of the mission itself.
She had no plans to stay here for long. The people of Yanyang Valley could leave at any time, and the smell of blood here would easily attract more powerful predators. After putting her things away, she performed Shadow Steps, silently leaving the chaotic valley and sprinting towards the sect.
There was no conversation along the way. A few days later, the dusty Ye Li once again stepped into the Xuanyun Sect's Merit Hall.
The hall was still bustling with people, and she walked straight to the window where she was supposed to hand over her tasks.
The deacon disciple behind the window seemed to be replaced, but he had obviously heard about the previous incident at the abandoned mine in Xishan. Seeing Ye Li approaching, a subtle awe and curiosity flashed in his eyes, and his attitude became much more respectful: "Junior sister, are you here to hand over the mission?"
"Number 93, the mission is to collect Fire Wu Crystal." Ye Li handed over the identity token and the jade box containing the Fire Wu Crystal.
The deacon disciple took it and carefully examined it, confirming that the five Fire Wu Crystals were of high quality and intact. A smile appeared on his face, "Junior sister, you are so efficient! Mission accomplished, contribution points will be allocated immediately."
He swiped the token across a compass magic tool, and saw a faint light flash on the Yeli token, and the number of contribution points jumped.
"Junior sister, your performance on this mission has been rated 'Excellent'. An additional fifty contribution points have been awarded, bringing the total to three hundred and fifty points, which have already been credited," the deacon disciple added, his tone even more polite. The higher the degree of mission completion and efficiency, the greater the chance of receiving subsequent high-reward missions. He couldn't help but pay attention.
Ye Li nodded slightly and put away the token. Three hundred and fifty points, plus the remaining points from the snake gallbladder exchange, her contribution points were already approaching the 500 mark! For a newly promoted inner sect disciple, this was undoubtedly a huge sum of money.
She did not leave immediately, but turned and walked towards the huge "resource exchange" jade disk.
Her eyes quickly scanned the dazzling array of items on the list. She didn't need the skills for now. In the weapons section, the top-grade "Autumn Water Sword" still shone with an alluring luster, but she had the short sword from the treasury, which would suffice for now. In the talisman section, the various attack, defense, and auxiliary talismans were dazzling, but they were expensive, and she preferred to draw them herself.
Her gaze was finally fixed on the "alchemy materials" and "weapon refining auxiliary materials" areas.
The cultivation of the "Emperor's Scripture of the Dark World" required extremely high physical strength. Relying solely on self-tempering techniques and soaking in cold springs had already slowed her progress. She urgently needed to refine a stronger body-hardening potion, or simply consume a body-hardening pill. She also had a vague feeling that the mysterious ore she had obtained from the Ye family's treasury was something more than ordinary. Perhaps she needed to try to incorporate it into a weapon or utilize it in some other way.
"Ice Condensation Grass, 10 contribution points per plant."
"Hundred-year-old cold iron, eighty contribution points per kilogram."
"Second-level water attribute demon core, one hundred and twenty contribution points per core."
"Jadeite Ganoderma, 200 contribution points per plant..."
"Lotus pod of the Earth Core Fire Lotus Seed (remaining), three hundred contribution points..."
The names and prices that came into view made her newly bulging wallet seem stretched again.
After a moment's deliberation, she made a decision. The most pressing matter now was to increase her physical strength and the power of her dagger.
She walked to the exchange window and said in a deep voice, "Exchange: Two kilograms of Hundred-Year-Old Frost Iron; One Second-Level Water-Attributed Demon Core; One Jade Marrow Ganoderma; In addition, exchange for ten medicinal ingredients for refining the 'Pure Heart Pill'."
The Heart-Clearing Pill is a first-grade elixir, relatively simple to refine and with a high success rate, making it her choice for training and a steady stream of Contribution Points. Centennial Iron, a common auxiliary material for refining equipment, possesses a cold and yin nature, and might be a good match for the ore. The energy of a second-grade water-attributed demon core is pure and can be used to refine higher-level body-quenching potions. Jadeite Ganoderma is one of the key ingredients in refining the second-grade "Jadeite Quenching Pill." While expensive, it's a necessary investment.
The deacon disciple quickly calculated: "Two kilograms of Hundred-Year-Old Frost Iron, one hundred and sixty points; one second-level water-attribute demon core, one hundred and twenty points; one stalk of Jadeite Ganoderma, two hundred points; ten portions of materials for the Heart-Clearing Pill, fifty points. A total of five hundred and thirty contribution points."
Ye Li frowned slightly. It was over 30 points. Without hesitation, she took out the three mutant Molten Fire Scorpion poison sacs and the Molten Fire Earth Wolf demon core and said, "These are discounted."
After the deacon disciple inspected them, surprise flashed in his eyes. The mutant poison sacs and second-level demon cores were truly valuable items. "The poison sacs are of top quality, priced at 40 points each, making three for a total of 120 points. The second-level demon cores are priced at 150 points, making a total of 270 points. After deducting 530 points, 260 points remain to be paid. Junior sister's contribution point balance is 487 points, leaving 227 points remaining after payment."
"Okay." Ye Li nodded. This way, she not only got all the urgently needed supplies, but also had over 200 points left as a backup.
Soon, several jade boxes and packages were delivered. A hundred-year-old iron felt cold and heavy to the touch; a water-attributed demon core was azure blue like a drop of water, emitting a gentle ripple; a chalcedony mushroom was as smooth as jade, its medicinal fragrance tangy; and the ingredients for ten Heart Purification Pills were neatly arranged.
Carefully storing these things in his storage ring, Ye Li felt a long-lost sense of fulfillment. Resources were one of the most important cornerstones of cultivation.
She didn't return to Yundan Peak, but went directly to Bailian Hall. Both refining the body-hardening potion and trying to process the ore required earth fire.
I rented a low-level underground fire room (10 contribution points per day) and activated the protective formation. The temperature inside suddenly rose, and the central underground fire vent spewed out scorching flames.
Ye Li didn't rush to process the ore, but instead took out the newly exchanged herbs and the second-level water-attributed demon core. She planned to first refine "Cold Marrow Quenching □□," another basic liquid medicine included with the "Youhuan Emperor Sutra." Its effect was several times stronger than her previous self-mixed medicine, and it was perfect for her current physique.
Following the recipe from memory, she placed each of the Yin-Cold herbs into a heat-resistant jade urn, carefully controlling the temperature of the earthly fire with her mental power, slowly refining the liquid. The process was tedious and tedious, requiring extremely precise control of the heat.
Thanks to her powerful spiritual power and the subtle boosts in perception occasionally brought by the fragments of the Samsara Mirror, she avoided any major mishaps like a furnace explosion, even though it was her first attempt. However, a sudden instability in the earth's fire caused the extraction of one auxiliary herb to fail, reducing it to ash.
She remained calm and put in another one, being more careful.
After several hours, all the auxiliary herbs were extracted, transforming into a pool of dark blue, viscous liquid. The next step was the most crucial one—integrating the energy of the second-level demon core.
She placed the azure demon core into the center of the liquid medicine, clasped her hands together, and used all her strength to activate the "Youhuan Emperor Sutra", drawing on a trace of extremely cold spiritual power. At the same time, she carefully controlled the earth fire to increase its intensity and began to refine the demon core!
"Buzz..."
The demon core trembled violently, and pure water-attributed energy was forcibly extracted, beginning to merge with the deep blue medicinal liquid! An icy and moist aura permeated the entire stone chamber, even temporarily overpowering the scorching heat of the underground fire.
This process was extremely draining of both mind and spiritual energy. Fine beads of sweat oozed from Ye Li's forehead, and his face turned slightly pale, but his eyes remained extremely focused.
Nearly another hour passed.
"Congeal!"
She let out a low cry, and the magic gesture in her hand changed!
The light in the jade jar suddenly retracted, and all the energy was perfectly integrated, turning into a small half jar of medicinal liquid that was as crystal clear as a blue gem and exuded an astonishing chill!
Cold marrow quenching, done!
Although the success rate is not 100% due to unfamiliarity with the operation and the efficacy of the medicine may be slightly compromised, it is undoubtedly a successful refining!
Ye Li let out a long sigh, a flicker of joy in her eyes. She carefully divided the liquid medicine into several jade bottles.
After resting for half an hour, her eyes turned to the gray mysterious ore obtained from the Ye family's treasure house and the two kilograms of hundred-year-old cold iron that she had just exchanged.
She placed the ore and cold iron next to the fire, but did not throw them in immediately. Instead, she tried to slowly infuse the spiritual power of the "Youhuan Emperor Sutra" into the ore.
This time, the ore's reaction was even more pronounced than before! The gray surface gradually faded, revealing a deep, dark blue interior that seemed to absorb all light! An extremely ancient, cold, and heavy aura emanated, causing even the surrounding earth fire to pause slightly!
"It's truly extraordinary!" Ye Li's heart was shaken. The quality of this item was definitely far superior to that of Hundred Years of Cold Iron!
She tried to use the dagger she got from the treasure house to cut the edge of the ore, but the dagger only left a shallow white mark! The ore was completely intact!
She tried to inject a trace of spiritual power into the hundred-year-old cold iron, but the cold iron only emitted a normal cold breath, which was like a firefly and the bright moon compared to the deep antiquity of the ore.
"It seems that using it to strengthen the dagger is not an easy task. Perhaps... it should be used as the main material?" A bold idea arose in her mind.
But with her current level of refining skills and cultivation, it is simply not enough to smelt and forge this mysterious ore.
After a moment's hesitation, she changed her mind. She cast the century-old iron into the earth's fire, controlling the flames to begin smelting it. Since she couldn't move the ore, she would first improve the dagger itself.
The century-old iron gradually softened and melted in the underground fire, turning into a silver-gray liquid. Ye Li plunged the dagger into it, using her mental power to guide the cold iron liquid to evenly cover and penetrate the blade of the dagger.
This was a painstaking process, requiring immense patience and precise control of the flame. She concentrated completely, removing impurities from the dagger bit by bit, infusing it with the essence of the century-old iron.
Time ticked by. As the local fire room's rental period neared its end, the dagger emitted a clear, humming sound! The blade's previously dull luster became introverted and deep, exuding a chilling chill. Its sharpness and toughness had clearly been elevated to a new level! While not yet at the highest level, it was already far superior to ordinary iron weapons.
Ye Li put away the dagger with satisfaction. Although he hadn't been able to process the mysterious ore, the purpose of this trip had been achieved.
She walked out of the underground fire room, and the sky outside was already full of stars.
Returning to the courtyard at Yundan Peak, she couldn't wait to pour out a bottle of cold marrow quenching liquid, mix it into the clear water, and immerse herself in it.
A biting chill instantly enveloped my entire body, as if thousands of ice needles were piercing my pores and deep into my bones! The pain it brought was several times more intense than the previous medicine!
But Ye Li gritted his teeth and silently practiced the "Youhuan Emperor Sutra", guiding the powerful medicinal power to wash over his limbs and bones, tempering every inch of muscle and every meridian.
She could clearly feel that her body was undergoing subtle yet profound changes in this extreme cold, becoming tougher and more able to accommodate and circulate powerful spiritual power.
After several hours, the medicinal power was gradually absorbed. Ye Li stood up from the wooden barrel, her skin translucent, a faint precious light flowing, and her aura becoming more and more profound.
"The effect is remarkable!" She felt the growing strength within her body, and her heart was filled with excitement. At this rate, breaking through the physical barrier of the Condensing Veins Realm would be just around the corner.
She looked at the chalcedony mushroom and other materials in the storage ring, her eyes burning. The next step was to try to refine a true second-level elixir—the chalcedony body-tempering pill!
The resources are in place and the path forward is clear.
Ye Li sat cross-legged and began his daily practice. The spiritual energy vortex in his dantian slowly spun, growing stronger and stronger, getting closer and closer to the barrier of that realm.
The sect's contribution points turned into real power, pushing her forward steadily on this path that went against the will of heaven.
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