Chapter 25

The place to claim rewards was in a large courtyard, which was quite spacious with many multi-story pavilions.

Here, one could exchange contribution points, or use contribution points to exchange for other things, such as elixirs, combat techniques, weapons, and so on.

By the time Zichen arrived, there were already more than a dozen people gathered. Some were inner disciples exchanging contribution points, while others were the top ten from the recent competition, there to claim their rewards.

Seeing Zichen's arrival, everyone's expressions changed slightly, their faces showing a hint of surprise.

At this moment, Wu Sheng walked out from inside. Seeing Zichen, a cold smile appeared on his lips, and he said sarcastically, "What a pity, a core disciple position is now gone. What's the point of being strong? Without a powerful background, you're nothing."

A cold light flashed in Zichen's eyes as he stared intently at Wu Sheng. Miaokong remained silent, his expression calm, as if he had already seen through everything.

"Hmph, you only have the nerve because you have an elder backing you. What's so great about that? With six layers of true qi and a second-rate combat technique, you still couldn't beat Zichen. I don't know what you have to be proud of. If I were you, I would have followed the elder around long ago to avoid embarrassing myself," Lin Xue said coldly, also mocking him.

"Hmph, you have some guts," Wu Sheng's expression instantly turned dark. Lin Xue had hit a sore spot. Although he had successfully entered the core today, he would inevitably be mocked by others in the future.

"Zichen, the gap between us will only grow wider. You'd better pray sincerely that you don't fall into my hands, or else your fate will be very dire," Wu Sheng directed his words at Zichen again.

"That's right, the gap is indeed growing. You lost today, and if you meet me again, you'll lose again. If there's another chance to compete, I won't hold back. I wonder if anyone will still compete for the position if I kill you," Zichen responded coldly, then flicked his sleeves and walked forward with a casual air.

"Finished, this guy doesn't know his place, actually defying a core disciple. He's asking for trouble."

"Losing the position, it's natural to complain, but the weak have no right to complain. Zichen is finished."

"Entering the core, the sect will cultivate them fully, using elixirs without any limits until they reach the innate stage. The gap will only grow larger."

Voices of discussion arose around, but Zichen could no longer hear them.

In front of Zichen stood a young man in white. He was an inner disciple, and Zichen couldn't gauge his strength.

"Why only four true qi pills and eight contribution points?" Zichen looked at him, his eyes filled with anger, and he asked coldly. "The reward for first place is supposed to be five true qi pills and ten contribution points. Why is it less?"

Many onlookers stood nearby.

"Kid, don't be so picky. This is the rule here. Luomen Senior Brother isn't obligated to give you contribution points."

"Exactly, do you think this is a charity? Luomen Senior Brother is just doing his job."

Some people around warned him, but it was more like a commission than a reward.

"Someone is cheating me again." Zichen was furious, his eyes blazing as he stared at the young man in front of him.

"That's all there is," Luomen said indifferently.

Deduction had almost become a habit, and many inner disciples knew about it. Although they were unwilling, they accepted it. But Zichen was unwilling and questioned him.

"If I don't get what I deserve, I will go to the elder," Zichen said coldly.

Facing the elder, he could back down and give up the core disciple position, but if he was bullied by an inner disciple, his future would be even harder, and he would likely suffer every day.

"Zichen, let it go. You already have enough enemies. I'll give you the true qi pills," Miaokong sighed softly beside him.

Zichen shook his head and said firmly, "I must get what I deserve from him. I have many enemies, so one more doesn't matter."

Luomen's face fell, and his eyes flashed with a cold light. The onlookers around him had a look of pity.

"This guy has been hit hard today, acting like a mad dog, biting anyone he sees. He just bit Wu Sheng, and now he's going to bite Luomen Senior Brother. What a pity, if he had a powerful background, he would have the right to be arrogant, but without it, no one will protect him. Being so arrogant is asking for death."

"Finished, a genius is about to disappear."

Faced with the surrounding discussions, Zichen ignored them. Whether it was anger or determination, he was determined to get what he deserved today.

"Good kid, you're tough," Luomen's eyes flickered, and he finally gave in. He added two more contribution points and gave Zichen another true qi pill. Normally, Luomen wouldn't have given in, but Zichen was special. If he went to the elder, the elders would naturally support him.

"What about the first-rate combat technique?" Zichen asked.

"Hmph, wait, I'll get it," Luomen said coldly, glancing at the first-rate combat technique prepared in the cabinet below, then turned and walked towards the martial arts pavilion. A moment later, Luomen returned with a secret manual.

"Here, a first-rate combat technique. Remember to return it in three months, or you'll die a very painful death," Luomen threw the combat technique on the table.

The surface of the manual emitted a faint silver light, and a mysterious energy flowed around it. As soon as the manual appeared, the hall seemed to be filled with a heavy atmosphere. The large characters on it flashed like thunder.

This was an extraordinary manual.

"This is Thunder Finger."

"Heavens, Senior Brother Luomen, you actually took out Thunder Finger."

Voices of shock and cold laughter echoed around, as people stared at Luomen in surprise.

Thunder Finger was a first-rate combat technique, and it was widely recognized as the most powerful first-rate combat technique in Lingwu Sect. However, it was also considered the most useless first-rate combat technique.

Many years ago, it was very powerful, and there were legends that it was originally an innate combat technique. Unfortunately, the latter moves were missing, making it incomplete, so it was classified as a first-rate combat technique. However, if practiced, it was still very strong.

Unfortunately, over the years, no one in the entire Lingwu Sect had managed to master Thunder Finger. Over time, the most powerful combat technique became the most useless.

Today, Luomen took out this combat technique, clearly to get back at Zichen and make him suffer.

"Pity, for one true qi pill and two contribution points, he lost a first-rate combat technique and got a useless one instead."

"Zichen really lost out."

The surrounding discussions were accompanied by cold laughter. Zichen was already unlucky, but the combat technique issue made things worse. He had a first-rate combat technique, but it was even worse than a third-rate one.

Zichen heard the discussions but showed no more expression. Like a child throwing a tantrum, he didn't even look at the combat technique before putting it away. At the same time, Zichen said to Luomen, "I want to exchange ten contribution points for four true qi pills and two qi recovery pills."

"Hmph," Luomen's lips curled into a cold smile, and he gave Zichen the items he needed. Then Zichen left.

He left quickly, walking fast.

To others, it seemed Zichen was afraid, but only Zichen knew that if he walked any slower, he would burst out laughing.

Thunder Finger, to others, was a useless combat technique, but Zichen felt a surge of lightning power from it, and a sense of familiarity. The aura from the book was the same as the energy in his body.

This combat technique was tailor-made for someone like Zichen, who practiced lightning cultivation techniques.

"You guys go, don't come to me again."

After leaving the gate, Zichen hurried away, leaving Lin Xue and Miaokong with these words before his figure gradually disappeared.

"You..." Seeing Zichen disappear, Lin Xue became angry again, her eyes turning red.

"He doesn't want to involve us. In just two days, he has offended many people," Miaokong said calmly.

"What do we do? Do we just let him fend for himself?" Lin Xue asked.

"Besides this, we have no better way. The only thing we can do is to practice hard and not disturb him. In the outer sect, Zichen is very calm. Today's incident is out of character for him, but I believe he's not impulsive and might have a solution," Miaokong said.

"What can he do? He's just waiting to die. No, I have to find Senior Sister and ask her to save Zichen." With that, Lin Xue left in a hurry.

Miaokong shook his head, sighed softly, and muttered, "Zichen, I believe you won't die. Don't let me down."

With that, Miaokong left.

Zichen hurried back to his residence and closed the door.

He had just entered the inner sect, and although he had offended some people, they wouldn't act immediately. So Zichen needed to strengthen his power before they did.

Currently, he had the strength of six layers of true qi. Once he refined nine true qi pills, his strength would increase again. Even if he couldn't break through to the seventh layer of true qi, he would at least reach the peak of the sixth layer.

Sitting cross-legged, he focused on his breathing to calm himself, then swallowed a true qi pill.

The Heavenly Thunder Body Tempering Technique was in operation. After the energy from the true qi pill circulated for half a cycle, it was absorbed by his heart. A moment later, with each heartbeat, a pure energy surged through Zichen's limbs and body.

After a quarter of an hour, Zichen successfully refined the first true qi pill.

Immediately, he swallowed the second true qi pill.

As true qi continued to be injected, the true qi pills gradually decreased, and time slowly passed. When the fifth true qi pill was completely refined, Zichen felt his body undergo another transformation.

This time, Zichen could clearly feel his body becoming stronger, seemingly reaching the limit of a sixth-level fierce beast, about to break through to a seventh-level fierce beast.

When the seventh true qi pill was also refined, a suction force appeared on Zichen's body, and the energy in the room began to surge, being absorbed by his body.

In his dantian, the true qi, which had already reached its limit, underwent another transformation. The quality of the true qi became higher, and the lightning snakes within the true qi became clearer.

"Sixth layer of true qi."

When Zichen opened his eyes, he had already broken through. Refining seven true qi pills had taken only half a day and a night.

The sky was bright, and Zichen looked at the last two true qi pills, then without hesitation, swallowed them both.