Murong Xin had left. Perhaps out of regret for her past impulsiveness, or perhaps out of pity, she had left behind the Meridian Opening Pills, which Xiao Zuiji had placed on the rock.
He didn’t intend to take them, because he didn’t want to accept gifts from the woman who had hurt him.
Jun Changxiao walked over and unceremoniously collected the medicine into his spatial ring. “Three years. Train hard.”
“Sect Master.”
Xiao Zuiji said, “I no longer have any connection with her. Must I really go to the Baihe Sacred Sect in three years?”
Jun Changxiao patted his shoulder. “Zuiji, right now you’re fighting for your pride. It’s not to prove that you’ll be more outstanding than her in the future—it’s to tell her that what was lost must be reclaimed with your own hands!”
“What was lost…” Xiao Zuiji murmured.
What had he lost?
Dignity.
A man’s dignity!
Xiao Zuiji clenched his fists, his gaze determined. “Sect Master, I understand. I will train hard—not to prove I’m more outstanding than others, but because what was lost must be reclaimed with my own hands!”
“Work hard, young man.” Jun Changxiao said.
Returning to the great hall, leaning back in his chair, he said, “Zuiji, your agreement with Murong Xin is actually a form of motivation—motivation to keep getting stronger. I hope you won’t disappoint this seat.”
Setting the three-year agreement for his disciple, though it did have the suspicion of aiming for a face-slapping moment, was more about establishing a goal for him—a goal to constantly strive and fight for.
Like becoming wealthy—first earn yourself a hundred million.
“Sigh.”
Jun Changxiao stretched lazily. “Training disciples is truly not an easy matter.”
As he spoke, he took out the Meridian Opening Pills and murmured, “Can increase the chances of opening meridians? This type of medicine seems quite good.”
The system said, “Host can decompose and refine them in the Alchemy Pavilion, potentially obtaining the pill formula.”
“There’s such a function?”
Jun Changxiao hastily pulled up the system data panel and clicked on the Alchemy Pavilion.
Below the four types of medicines, a new line of text appeared out of nowhere: Meridian Opening Pill [Can be decomposed].
“Decompose!”
“Ding! Host decomposing medicine, consuming 10 contribution points.”
“Ding! Sect contribution points: 265/500.”
Sure enough, whenever the system gave a ‘helpful’ reminder, it always required spending some contribution points.
“Ding! Decomposition successful!”
“Ding! Congratulations to host for obtaining the Meridian Opening Pill formula!”
The Meridian Opening Pill appeared on the Alchemy Pavilion panel. Clicking into it revealed four medicinal ingredients.
Jun Changxiao rubbed his nose and smiled. “Using 10 contribution points to decompose and obtain the Meridian Opening Pill formula—this deal is definitely worth it.”
…
Having the Meridian Opening Pill added to the Alchemy Pavilion meant another step toward completion.
Of course, materials were needed for refinement, so Jun Changxiao decided to make a trip to Huyang City in a couple of days.
“Right now, the more important matter is how to get Zuiji to open his meridians.”
Physical strength ultimately had limits. Xiao Zuiji had to open his meridians and condense spiritual energy to go further. Otherwise, would he just carry his gun around fighting people all the time?
Well, that could work too.
But if he had spiritual energy to assist, it would naturally be like adding wings to a tiger.
Jun Changxiao cupped his chin. “I must figure out the condition preventing this kid from cultivating.”
“That’s right!”
“I can buy an Aptitude Transformation Elixir for him to consume. Forcibly elevating him from a low-grade spiritual root to a common-grade spiritual root might just open his primary meridian, no?”
Thinking was doing. Jun Changxiao directly clicked on the Aptitude Transformation Elixir suitable for low-grade spiritual root consumption.
“Ding! Host spending 50 contribution points, obtaining Aptitude Transformation Elixir ×1, already delivered to spatial ring.”
“Ding! Sect contribution points: 215/500.”
To make his disciple stronger, to reclaim lost dignity three years from now, Sect Master Jun was really going all out.
…
Training room.
Xiao Zuiji held the Aptitude Transformation Elixir. After learning of its effects, he stood frozen in place.
After a long while, he said incredulously, “Sect Master, drinking this… can really improve spiritual root aptitude?”
Jun Changxiao said, “Stop talking nonsense and drink it quickly.”
“Pop.” Xiao Zuiji opened the stopper and, without hesitation, tilted his head back and drank the malt-flavored medicinal liquid. His internal meridians seemed to suddenly ignite with flames.
“Huff! Huff! Huff!”
He breathed heavily. His exposed skin gradually turned red, like burning charcoal.
“What’s happening?” Jun Changxiao was stunned.
He had drunk several bottles himself without experiencing this. Could this kid be having an allergic reaction?
The system said, “This is the Aptitude Transformation Elixir condensing spiritual energy, helping him elevate his spiritual root and gather the spiritual energy to break through meridians.”
“Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!”
Just then, Xiao Zuiji’s reddened skin began releasing wisps of strange vapor that smelled somewhat acrid.
The system said, “This is poisonous gas!”
“Poisonous gas?”
Jun Changxiao vigilantly stepped back two paces.
The system said, “If my guess is correct, your disciple has been poisoned.”
“Poisoned?”
Jun Changxiao said gravely, “Could this be why he can’t cultivate?”
The poisonous gas from Xiao Zuiji’s body spread, filling the training room. Fortunately, it only smelled acrid and didn’t cause any harm.
Jun Changxiao rubbed his chin. “Toxic substances in his body preventing cultivation—the matter seems quite clear now.”
“Boom!”
Just then, a sound came from Xiao Zuiji’s body. At both his wrists, a somewhat feeble ring of light began to gather.
This was the symptom of meridian opening!
“Thump! Thump!”
Xiao Zuiji’s heart beat violently, making his chest rise and fall unevenly. The spreading poisonous gas also seemed to be gradually evaporated clean by his scorching body temperature.
As for the rings of light gathered at both wrists, they evolved from blurry to clear, ultimately solidifying into physical form.
“He’s opened one meridian!” Jun Changxiao said joyfully.
As soon as the words left his mouth, a second ring of light appeared on Xiao Zuiji’s wrist. Clearly, the spiritual energy gathered in his body had broken through the second primary meridian!
Half an hour later.
The poisonous gas in the training room had completely dissipated. Everything returned to calm.
Xiao Zuiji stood upright like a mountain peak. On his left and right wrists, four brilliant rings of light each had gathered.
After consuming the Aptitude Transformation Elixir, his spiritual root had risen from low-grade to common-grade. The aptitude elevation drove his meridians to break through in one fell swoop to the fourth stage of Meridian Opening!
“Sect… Sect Master…” Looking at the spiritual energy rings that hadn’t appeared for five years, Xiao Zuiji’s hands trembled violently. His voice nearly hoarse, he said, “Dis… disciple has opened his meridians…”
“Indeed.”
Jun Changxiao said, “You’ve opened your meridians.”
Xiao Zuiji closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, trying hard to control his emotions. But tears still uncontrollably gathered in his eyes.
“Swish.”
Suddenly, his knees bent.
But before he could kneel, Jun Changxiao caught him. “Use your future growth in strength to raise the prestige of my Iron Bone Sect—that will be the best thanks to this seat.”
“Stand up!”
“Swish!”
Xiao Zuiji straightened his bent knees, wiped the tears from his cheeks, and loudly declared, “Disciple Xiao Zuiji will never fail Sect Master’s expectations! In the future, I will surely strengthen the Iron Bone Sect’s reputation and raise the Iron Bone Sect’s prestige!”
Jun Changxiao patted his shoulder. “This seat has high hopes for you.”
“Ding! One of the top hundred entry disciples successfully opened meridians. Congratulations to host for completing hidden quest [Higher Progress] and obtaining 50 contribution points.”
“Ding! Sect contribution points: 265/500.”
Walking out of the training room, Jun Changxiao thought speechlessly, “One of the top hundred entry disciples successfully opening meridians? If Xiao Zuiji hadn’t opened his meridians, would this quest have remained incomplete forever?”
The system said, “Yes.”
“This hidden quest is really damn annoying…”