Chapter 63

"Fortunately, I took the carriage, otherwise it would have been troublesome!"

While running through the city, Lu Li secretly sighed. If he hadn't taken the carriage, he would have been spotted by the scouts long ago. The Zhao family had three Divine Sea Realm experts ambushed at one city gate, so he likely wouldn't have been able to enter the city at all.

Three Divine Sea Realm experts at one city gate meant twelve in total for the four gates. The Zhao family must have hated him to the bone. But thinking about it, it wasn't surprising. After all, he had killed two elders of the Zhao family and Uncle Scar. The Zhao family would be furious.

With this thought, Lu Li ran even faster, his eyes scanning the surroundings. Although the Zhao family was unlikely to make a move within the city, what if they took a desperate risk and tried to kill him? Would the Liu family really risk a falling out with the Zhao family over him, a mere guest?

Lu Li started sprinting, carrying several large burlap bags as if he were a gust of wind, startling many passersby. Many people only saw a black shadow before Lu Li disappeared into the crowd.

It only took him two incense sticks' worth of time to reach the West Gate of the Liu family compound. When he saw the guards outside the West Gate, he finally felt at ease.

The Zhao family apparently didn't have the nerve to openly confront the Liu family, or perhaps they hadn't deployed anyone in the city. Lu Li entered the Liu family compound and rushed straight to the guest hall. Seeing Lu Ling sitting quietly in the courtyard, reading a book and basking in the sun, a radiant smile appeared on his face, his eyes misty.

This trip hadn't been long, less than ten days, but it felt like a lifetime to Lu Li. He had been pursued and nearly killed several times. Being able to see Lu Ling alive was a sign of the heavens' mercy.

"Sis..."

He called out, his voice choked with emotion. Lu Ling stood up, a look of concern on her face, and nodded heavily, saying, "It's good you're back, it's good you're back!"

Lu Li walked over, put down the burlap bags, and reached out to tightly embrace Lu Ling. Lu Ling returned the embrace, and though Lu Li didn't say anything, she knew he must have endured endless hardships and dangers. She didn't speak, just gently patted his shoulder to comfort him.

After a moment, Lu Li calmed down and pointed to the burlap bags, saying, "Sis, look how many eagle eggs I brought back?"

Lu Ling glanced over and her gaze stopped on the long spear and sword inside the bags. She examined them closely and asked, "Did you kill a Divine Sea Realm warrior?"

These were not low-grade mystic weapons; ordinary Mystic Martial Realm warriors weren't qualified to carry them. Lu Ling, being sharp, immediately understood.

"Yep!" Lu Li said, somewhat excitedly. "I killed three, and Sis, I also killed Di Huo."

"Good!"

Lu Ling's face lit up with a radiant smile, pride shining in her eyes. She thought for a moment and said, "Go hide the weapons, don't let outsiders see them."

Lu Li took the weapons inside and hid them, then released Xiao Bai, giving him a few scrap mystic weapons. Only then did he tell Lu Ling about his journey.

"Great job!"

After listening calmly, Lu Ling praised him, "My little brother has grown up and knows how to use his head. Remember, fighting isn't just about strength; strategy is more important. With the right strategy, you can win with less power."

Pausing, Lu Ling continued, "With 7,500 contribution points, Xiao Bai's food is temporarily sufficient. You can't go out again. The Liu family and the Zhao family are at each other's throats. Your strength still needs to improve. If you go out now, the Zhao family will do everything to kill you. Go turn in your mission and check if there are any suitable mystic techniques. Don't even think about the herbs and pills for forming the Divine Sea; you won't be able to exchange for them with your contribution points."

Lu Li nodded, picked up the burlap bags, and walked out. Xiao Bai, seeing Lu Li about to leave, darted into his sleeve. Lu Li smiled wryly and left with Xiao Bai.

Arriving at the mission hall, the same gray-haired old man was in charge. Seeing Lu Li carrying several burlap bags, his sparse eyebrows raised, and he asked, "Kid, what's this?"

"Red Phosphorus Eagle eggs!"

Lu Li grinned, opened the bags, and took out the large eagle eggs. The shells were very hard, and none of them were crushed.

There were fifteen Red Phosphorus Eagle eggs in total, which Lu Li neatly arranged. He smiled and said, "Sir, you said 500 contribution points per egg."

"..."

The elder of the mission hall was speechless. Normally, getting so many Red Phosphorus Eagle eggs would be normal. But with the current chaotic situation at Cold Cloud Mountain, where mystic beasts roamed everywhere, this kid actually managed to get Red Phosphorus Eagle eggs, and fifteen of them at once?

Regardless, the eggs were genuine and without any issues. After the gray-haired old man inspected them, he gave Lu Li 7,500 contribution points. He asked how Lu Li had obtained them, but Lu Li didn't tell the truth, just made some vague excuses and left.

Leaving the mission hall, Lu Li didn't go to the weapon hall. He thought for a moment and headed straight for the Mystic Technique Hall. Now that he had contribution points, he naturally wanted to learn a powerful mystic technique to enhance his combat strength.

The Mystic Technique Hall was not far away, much larger than the mission hall, a two-story pavilion. Inside, another old man was in charge. After checking Lu Li's token, he said, "You can browse the first floor freely, but you don't have the qualifications to enter the second floor. Also... each mystic technique has a contribution point value marked. If you want to exchange for one, you need double the contribution points!"

"Double? Why double?"

Lu Li was puzzled. Previously, when exchanging for scrap mystic weapons, there was no mention of double. He had earned these contribution points with great difficulty, and these 7,500 points were the result of risking his life several times.

"You didn't know?"

The old man frowned, seeing that Lu Li was genuinely unaware. He explained, "For guest members, exchanging for mystic weapons, mystic techniques, pills, and cultivation techniques requires double contribution points. Outer hall members can exchange directly, while inner hall members only need half the contribution points. This is the same in any family."

"Oh..."

Lu Li responded expressionlessly. It seemed guest members were not well-regarded in any family. It made sense that he didn't have to pay double for scrap mystic weapons.

He walked inside and saw four large rooms, each labeled "Attack," "Speed," "Defense," and "Special."

Lu Li thought for a moment and opened the "Attack" room. Inside were three large bookshelves, filled with dozens of booklets. Each booklet had a faint glow, indicating they were protected by restrictions to prevent damage.

Below each booklet were annotations explaining the mystic technique's characteristics, difficulty of cultivation, and required contribution points.

Lu Li circled the room, carefully examining each mystic technique. After half an hour, he walked out with a disappointed look.

There were many mystic techniques, dazzling to the eye. Unfortunately, most were low-level and of little use to him.

Only three mystic techniques were suitable for him. If he cultivated them to perfection, his combat strength would increase significantly, but he couldn't exchange for them. Each required 10,000 contribution points...

Since he needed to pay double, he would need 20,000 contribution points to exchange for these three mystic techniques.

Feeling不甘心 (unwilling to give up), he entered the "Speed" mystic technique room. This time, he only stayed for two incense sticks' worth of time and came out with the same disappointed look. The only mystic technique he liked required 10,000 contribution points.

He didn't even want to look at the "Defense" mystic techniques. In his view, attack was the best defense. He entered the "Special" mystic technique room.

There were far fewer mystic techniques here, only about twenty. Lu Li casually scanned the room, and his gaze was suddenly drawn to a yellowed, ancient booklet.

This booklet looked very familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen it. When he walked over and read the annotation below, his entire body trembled violently.

He saw six words—*Upper Volume of the Thunderbolt Mystic Technique*.

...

PS: Fellow students, take a moment to browse the book reviews and leave a comment if you like.

Don't forget to vote for the book every day. Votes are free and can boost the book's popularity!

There will be two more chapters tonight.

...