Chapter 5

Tiger Brother had more low-grade spirit stones than the other three, with a total of three low-grade spirit stones, which was a considerable income.

Spirit stones are stones that contain the essence of heaven and earth. Martial artists can absorb the essence from spirit stones to cultivate, achieving twice the result with half the effort.

Spirit stones are divided into five grades: inferior, low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and supreme-grade spirit stones.

Inferior spirit stones are the most commonly used by Qi Sea Realm martial artists. A Qi Sea Seventh Level martial artist can absorb the essence of about seven inferior spirit stones in a day if they absorb it freely. One inferior spirit stone is worth five contribution points in the sect.

In comparison, low-grade spirit stones are much more precious, with one hundred inferior spirit stones required to exchange for one low-grade spirit stone.

As for mid-grade and high-grade spirit stones, they are used by advanced martial artists.

Although Jiang Chen currently has no use for spirit stones, he will definitely need them in the future. He believes he can solve the problem of his broken Qi Sea.

The three low-grade spirit stones are quite valuable, but the most valuable thing on Tiger Brother was the jade pendant. This jade pendant is a rare treasure. Jiang Chen found that as long as he injected true qi into it, the jade pendant would automatically protect its owner. However, the jade pendant has a limited capacity, and the protective true qi it generates can only last for one breath and cannot be sustained for long.

...

"Four Qi Sea Ninth Level martial artists couldn't stop you, Jiang Chen. I underestimated you."

On the balcony, a young man was drinking tea. He wore a green brocade robe and had an extremely handsome face, with eyebrows like swords. Just from his appearance, he was on par with Jiang Chen.

"The next time we meet, the gap between us will be even greater. I hope you don't despair."

The young man's lips curled into a playful smile.

...

Silent Ridge is a vast mountain range, stretching over eight hundred miles north to south and six hundred miles east to west. It's easy to lose your way inside, and you can only rely on the sun or stars in the sky to determine your direction.

Deep in Silent Ridge.

Here, there are high-level one-star ferocious beasts everywhere, with strength comparable to Qi Sea Seventh to Ninth Level martial artists. A slight mistake could cost you your life.

Roar!

A Black Wind Leopard pounced, the air filled with a pungent smell.

The Black Wind Leopard is a high-level one-star ferocious beast, with strength equivalent to a Qi Sea Ninth Level martial artist and defense several times stronger. Jiang Chen's dozen consecutive sword strikes failed to kill it, instead making it even more ferocious and terrifying.

At this moment, if another outer sect disciple had come, they would have been intimidated by the Black Wind Leopard, only able to exert seventy to eighty percent of their strength, or even less.

Facing the ferocious Black Wind Leopard, Jiang Chen remained calm, striking blow after blow with his sword.

Cultivating martial arts first requires cultivating the mind. A strong mind allows you to fully exert your strength in any environment. A weak mind will lead to panic and death when facing a powerful enemy or ferocious beast.

Roar!

Finally, the Black Wind Leopard, covered in sword marks, fell to the ground, its blood staining the earth red.

The dead Black Wind Leopard's defense had dropped significantly. Jiang Chen easily sliced open its abdomen and found a dragon eye-sized crystal inside.

Ferocious beast crystals are precious materials that can be used to forge weapons and refine pills, among other things. However, not every ferocious beast has a crystal. If you're unlucky, you might kill ten and find none; if you're lucky, you might find one in one.

A high-level one-star ferocious beast crystal can be exchanged for about five hundred contribution points in the sect, equivalent to one hundred inferior spirit stones.

"I haven't fought for a year, but my sword technique is still at the same level, and due to the Void Sword Body Technique, it has even advanced to the realm of man and sword as one. However, there are still some flaws in practical combat."

Without engaging in combat, you can't know the shortcomings of your sword technique. Even if someone has poor martial talent, if they survive countless battles, they can still grasp a bit of the essence of martial arts. In other words, martial arts are for killing, and naturally, they must be perfected and transformed in battle.

With his fighting desire rekindled, Jiang Chen's sword became sharp again. One by one, high-level one-star ferocious beasts fell to his sword, and his efficiency steadily increased.

Day by day, Jiang Chen fought ferocious beasts during the day and perfected the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique at night, living a fulfilling life.

"In this month, I have killed twenty-four high-level one-star ferocious beasts and thirty mid-level one-star ferocious beasts. I can now enter the core area of Silent Ridge."

The core area of Silent Ridge is extremely dangerous, with the possibility of encountering mutated high-level one-star ferocious beasts or low-level two-star ferocious beasts. However, the resources in the core area are very rich. If you're lucky, you might find two-star level herbs.

Jiang Chen's luck was good. Just half a day after entering the core area, he discovered three herbs that resembled blue snakes. These were mid-level two-star herbs called Blue Snake Grass, each worth five hundred contribution points, so three were worth one thousand five hundred, equivalent to three hundred inferior spirit stones.

In the core area, Jiang Chen was extremely cautious. Any mutated high-level one-star ferocious beast was not to be underestimated, capable of matching a Flying Heaven First Level martial artist. For example, if the Black Wind Leopard was a regular Qi Sea Ninth Level martial artist, a mutated high-level one-star ferocious beast would be a genius among Qi Sea Ninth Level martial artists, capable of challenging higher levels.

As for low-level two-star ferocious beasts, they were even more dangerous. Even if Jiang Chen had cultivated the Void Sword Body Technique to the first level, he wouldn't dare to provoke a low-level two-star ferocious beast. Fortunately, the core area of Silent Ridge was still a one-star forbidden zone, and the probability of encountering a low-level two-star ferocious beast was low, and it might have already been killed by inner sect disciples of the One Qi Sect.

After walking for a while, Jiang Chen suddenly stopped. He faintly sensed that the wind carried the sound of a battle.

"Someone?"

Following the sound, Jiang Chen quietly approached.

Ahead was a lush basin. In the center of the basin, six figures were fighting a ferocious beast, with waves of qi surging.

The ferocious beast resembled a wild boar but was several times larger, with two tusks like large machetes, looking mighty. On its body were several dragon eye-sized crystals, which flickered, providing powerful protection.

"A high-level one-star mutated ferocious beast."

Jiang Chen took a deep breath. He had seen a mutated ferocious beast once in the Magic Forest, which was identical to the one in front of him, with crystals embedded in its body and extremely strong defense. At that time, he and Gu Qingyuan had barely escaped after much effort.

These six people were not disciples of the One Qi Sect. From their clothing, they seemed to be disciples of the Cloud Sea Sect.

In the southern part of Dongxuan Kingdom, there were countless sects and forces. Two sects bordered the One Qi Sect: the Crimson Blood Sect and the Cloud Sea Sect, both three-star sects.

The six people were four men and two women, all with high cultivation levels: four at Qi Sea Eighth Level and two at Qi Sea Ninth Level.

However, a mutated ferocious beast is still a mutated ferocious beast, and any high-level one-star mutated ferocious beast has the strength of a Flying Heaven First Level martial artist.

"Senior Sister Lin, I can't hold on much longer. This Giant Tusk Beast is stronger than we imagined."

The younger woman was drenched in sweat, looking panicked as she spoke to the purple-robed woman beside her.

"Don't lose focus."

The purple-robed woman remained calm, her gaze quickly scanning the area. She saw that everyone was struggling, with only herself and Liu Changfeng still able to hold on. Suddenly, she noticed Jiang Chen nearby and her eyes lit up. She called out, "Friend, can you lend us a hand? We'll give you half of the ferocious beast crystals after we kill this Giant Tusk Beast."

Mutated ferocious beasts have many crystals, usually more than five, and each is more valuable than a regular crystal of the same grade, known as mutated crystals.

At this moment, they were only slightly weaker than the Giant Tusk Beast. If one more person joined, even a Qi Sea Fifth Level martial artist, it could tip the balance and overpower the Giant Tusk Beast.

"Sure."

Jiang Chen hesitated for a moment and nodded.

Drawing his sword, Jiang Chen joined the battle, his sword strikes landing on the Giant Tusk Beast.

After a short while, the Giant Tusk Beast fell to the ground, its breaths shallow.

"I am Lin Ziyuan. Thank you for your help just now. May I ask your name?" Lin Ziyuan was an outer sect disciple of the Cloud Sea Sect and considered a genius there.

"Jiang Chen."

Jiang Chen replied.

"Jiang Chen, half of the crystals on this Giant Tusk Beast are yours. Please choose first," Lin Ziyuan said.

Hearing this, Jiang Chen didn't refuse. High-level one-star mutated crystals were very precious, with one worth about a thousand contribution points. The Giant Tusk Beast had at least five or six crystals, so half would be three thousand contribution points.

"Wait, I don't agree."

Liu Changfeng spoke up.

Everyone immediately looked at Liu Changfeng.

Liu Changfeng was also an outer sect disciple of the Cloud Sea Sect. Additionally, he was a direct descendant of the Liu family, a major clan in Yan City and an old two-star family. As a direct descendant of the Liu family, Liu Changfeng should not be lacking in these few mutated crystals.

"I don't care about this much, but it's too easy for him. We fought to the death, and he just showed up and took half of the mutated crystals. Isn't that a bit unfair? Besides, he's only a Qi Sea Sixth Level martial artist and doesn't deserve half of the mutated crystals," Liu Changfeng said.

Lin Ziyuan raised an eyebrow, "Liu Changfeng, without him, someone would have been injured, and someone might have died. Compared to that, half of the mutated crystals is nothing. Also, this has nothing to do with his cultivation level."

"Ziyuan, you lack experience. If he wanted to help, he should have stepped forward earlier. He only showed up when we were about to give up, clearly trying to reap the benefits."

"If I wanted to reap the benefits, I could have just watched from the sidelines and let you and the Giant Tusk Beast fight to a stalemate," Jiang Chen said coldly.

"Stop arguing. You can only take one mutated crystal from this Giant Tusk Beast. This is already out of respect for Ziyuan. Otherwise, you wouldn't get any," Liu Changfeng said harshly.

"Liu Changfeng, you..."

Lin Ziyuan looked at Liu Changfeng in shock, her brows furrowed.

"Never mind, I'll take my leave."

Jiang Chen laughed coldly and chose to leave. He wasn't so poor that he would beg for a mutated crystal. He could see that Liu Changfeng disliked him, perhaps because he had stolen the limelight. As for fighting Liu Changfeng over a few mutated crystals, Jiang Chen didn't think it was worth it or necessary.