In just a moment, the weapons were snatched up by everyone, which made Jiang Xiaoxiao beam with joy.
This scene stunned Zhao Shijie and the other three.
Lin Ye slammed the table and exclaimed, "Damn it, why didn't I think of that!"
"Xiao Xiao is so good at business; she just earned ten contribution points in one go," Ye Wuyai said, completely impressed.
Zhao Shijie pondered for a while, then suddenly spoke, "What do you say, should we form a monster-slaying team, specifically to take new players to kill monsters and earn rewards?"
Upon hearing this, the eyes of the other three immediately lit up.
Lin Ye: "I think this method is feasible."
Ye Wuyai: "That's fantastic!"
Qin Zhenhua: "It's a good method, but will it delay too much of our cultivation time?"
Zhao Shijie: "Only half a day is needed; we'll spend the rest of the time killing other demonic beasts."
Lin Ye: "Then how should we charge?"
Zhao Shijie: "We'll charge according to the demonic beast's level: five points for the mortal realm, ten points for the early Smelting Body Realm. We'll discuss the higher levels once our own levels increase."
Qin Zhenhua: "Then we'll do as you say, as long as it doesn't delay our cultivation."
Ye Wuyai: "I think it's pretty good. Not only can it enhance our practical combat skills, but we can also earn contribution points. It's hitting two birds with one stone."
The four chatted more and more excitedly, even beginning to fantasize about whether they should form a gang in the future.
On the other side, Huo Sichun pulled Jiang Xiaoxiao to a secluded spot, quietly pointed at Zhao Shijie, and asked, "Xiao Xiao, do you know that boy?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao was a bit puzzled but nodded, "Yes, we were among the first batch of players."
"Then what's your relationship with him?"
"Hmm... not very familiar, sort of like online gaming acquaintances."
"Is that so..." Huo Sichun looked disappointed.
Jiang Xiaoxiao was initially a bit strange, but now she understood, and teased, "Senior Sister, you wouldn't have fallen for Zhao Shijie, would you?"
"Not really, it's just that I find him very individual and domineering, so I wanted to get to know him better."
"Senior Sister, then you should make your move quickly! Zhao Shijie has very high talent; even Xian Ge has praised him, and if you look at the disciple rankings, he's always been first!"
"He's that amazing?" Huo Sichun was slightly surprised.
"Of course! That's why I'm telling you to make your move quickly! With your status as the campus belle, a mere Zhao Shijie would be easily won over!"
After saying this, Jiang Xiaoxiao saw Huo Sichun was still hesitating, so she immediately added a bombshell.
"Think about it, in the future, as more players join, there will be even more girls. By then, Zhao Shijie, being number one on the rankings, will definitely have many girls chasing after him."
"Besides, the contribution points in this game can be traded, which means they can be converted into cash. In the future, Zhao Shijie could even achieve financial freedom through this game."
A single remark enlightened Mengzhong Ren.
Huo Sichun's eyes lit up, and she excitedly said, "Now that you mention it, this Zhao Shijie really is good in every way."
"Wait a minute, Xiao Xiao, I feel like you're deliberately trying to set us up. Tell me, what are your intentions?"
Huo Sichun said, reaching out to tickle Jiang Xiaoxiao's waist.
"Hehehe... Senior Sister, I'm ticklish! If you two get together, then won't I have a backer? No one will dare to bully me anymore!"
"Oh, so that's what you're planning! Take this, my Nine Yin White Bone Claw..."
...
At the same time, in the deepest part of the secret forest.
A natural canyon split open from both sides, with towering cliffs and dense fog swirling within the gorge.
At the bottom of the canyon, there was a recessed cave, with a white light flickering at its entrance.
Around the cave entrance, over a dozen powerful demonic beasts continuously roamed, occasionally launching fierce attacks at the entrance.
Whenever a demonic beast approached the cave entrance, a barrier would repel it.
Chu Huaian was inside the cave, surrounded by dazzling crystals.
These crystals were precisely the spirit stones that everyone in the cultivation world dreamed of.
At this moment, Chu Huaian was enveloped by powerful spiritual energy, his aura fluctuating, showing signs of a breakthrough at any moment.
He constantly suppressed his cultivation, using the powerful spiritual energy to temper his physique.
After repeatedly compressing it hundreds of times, he could no longer suppress it and broke through to the Qi Refining Stage.
This was not the end; his realm advanced rapidly, instantly rising to the seventh layer of the Qi Refining Stage, but Chu Huaian forcibly suppressed it back to the third layer of the Qi Refining Stage, only then ceasing.
He slowly opened his eyes and glanced at the spirit stones in the cave.
The spiritual energy of this spiritual vein had already reached the surface; it was highly probable that a medium-sized spiritual vein lay beneath.
He collected all the surface spirit stones, then punched open the ground.
Immediately, a surge of majestic spiritual energy gushed forth.
The demonic beasts outside the cave, sensing this spiritual energy, instantly turned red-eyed, roaring continuously, completely falling into madness, repeatedly charging the barrier.
Chu Huaian collected the surrounding spirit stones, then set up a formation to prevent the spiritual energy from leaking, and only then did he jump down.
"Chirp, chirp..."
In the confined space, the Soul Devouring Rat led the way, occasionally stopping to urge him on.
Chu Huaian touched the surrounding mountain walls covered in spirit stones; there were clear traces of artificial excavation.
This meant that this spiritual vein had an owner before, perhaps decades ago, perhaps hundreds of years ago.
But none of that mattered anymore; it now belonged to him.
The only threat was the Qingcheng Gang; this place would be discovered by them sooner or later.
The deeper they went, the denser the spiritual energy became, with white mist drifting, as if immersed in an ocean of spiritual energy, and his cultivation also stirred restlessly at this moment.
Finally, the man and the rat reached the end.
"Chirp, chirp..."
The Soul Devouring Rat ran to a corner and dug incessantly.
Through the white mist, Chu Huaian vaguely saw viscous liquid emerging from underground.
"Spiritual liquid?" Chu Huaian exclaimed, quickly rushed over, picked up the Soul Devouring Rat, and tossed it aside.
A mass of liquid continuously emerged from below, spreading to Chu Huaian's feet in the blink of an eye.
In the cultivation world, spiritual liquid was an extremely rare commodity, requiring a long period of precipitation, with spiritual energy turning into mist, and then spiritual mist turning into liquid, to form.
The entire process would take at least a thousand years, and during this process, the spiritual vein must not have been damaged.
To some extent, spiritual liquid was comparable to the essence blood of ancient fierce beasts; both were excellent for tempering the physique.
This pool of spiritual liquid was enough for Chu Huaian to temper his body thoroughly several times over.
Without hesitation, Chu Huaian cupped the spiritual liquid and took a large gulp.
If the outside world knew of his wastefulness, they would probably beat their chests and stomp their feet.
Others would absorb it drop by drop, but he just drank it directly, not caring if he could absorb it all.
The Soul Devouring Rat beside him was very displeased, chirping twice before plunging into the spiritual liquid, devouring it frantically.
While Chu Huaian was busy cultivating, Zhao Shijie and the others were also bustling with activity.
The four-person team once again plunged into the secret forest, continuously improving their cultivation through combat.
All their previous contribution points were exchanged for Body Tempering Pills and healing elixirs.
In just two days, the four's realms advanced rapidly.
Zhao Shijie progressed from the third stage of Smelting Body Realm to the sixth stage of Smelting Body Realm.
Next was Lin Ye, who was just a little short of advancing to the sixth stage of Smelting Body Realm.
Ye Wuyai and Qin Zhenhua were both at the fifth stage.
