Spending 50 contribution points on a bottle of Aptitude Transformation Liquid pained Jun Changxiao greatly, but on second thought, considering it could improve his aptitude, he consoled himself, “Not a loss, not a loss.”

He retrieved the small vial containing the Aptitude Transformation Liquid from his spatial ring.

“Pop!”

Opening the cork, wisps of red vapor drifted out.

Jun Changxiao sniffed it and immediately felt it was rather pungent. He couldn’t help worrying, “This thing isn’t poisonous, is it?”

“Can’t worry about all that.”

“Bottoms up first!”

Sect Leader Jun resolutely tilted his head back. The red liquid inside the vial flowed into his mouth, then trickled down into his body.

A bit bitter, with a hint of malty fragrance.

“Bring it on!”

Jun Changxiao sat cross-legged, his expression solemn.

What for?

To prepare for the pain that would arise at any moment as the liquid merged with his body!

In Jun Changxiao’s view, this type of item that altered aptitude was equivalent to marrow cleansing and bone refinement—he would certainly have to endure equivalent risks.

“Whoosh, whoosh!”

Sure enough, as the liquid dispersed through his body, surges of magnificent energy instantly erupted!

Jun Changxiao clenched both fists, his gaze flashing with determination as he said, “No matter how unbearable the pain, this sect leader can endure it with great willpower…”

“Ding!”

“Host has used Aptitude Transformation Liquid×1. Transforming spiritual root aptitude!”

“Spiritual root aptitude transformation complete!”

“…”

Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched violently.

He’d already prepared himself to face the pain, yet the transformation was already complete this quickly? Too simple, too casual!

The next second.

Jun Changxiao perceived that the threads of heaven and earth spiritual energy floating in the air were now very friendly toward him!

The higher one’s aptitude, the better one harmonized with heaven and earth spiritual energy.

For someone with superior-grade aptitude like Li Qingyang, as soon as he circulated his cultivation method, heaven and earth spiritual energy would rush forward, competing to be absorbed.

Jun Changxiao couldn’t do that before.

When he’d previously tried circulating his cultivation method to cultivate, the spiritual energy had been completely indifferent.

What about now?

There was a clear change in attitude!

Jun Changxiao said with delight, “Something exchanged for 50 points is still quite worth it!”

“Ding!”

“Congratulations to the host, spiritual root aptitude has risen from low-grade to common-grade!”

Jun Changxiao shook his head and said, “As expected, this body’s previous aptitude was the worst possible low-grade. No wonder even the spiritual energy was completely indifferent.”

“Hah!”

He spread both arms and took a deep breath. His entire person immediately felt refreshed and invigorated!

“Ding!”

“Host has successfully broken through to the sixth stage of Meridian Opening!”

“Ding!”

“Host has successfully broken through to the seventh stage of Meridian Opening!”

Hearing the delightful notification sounds in his ears, Jun Changxiao looked completely dumbfounded. “Opening two meridians from taking one breath?”

The system explained, “When the host’s aptitude improves, it drives improvement in foundational cultivation.”

“I see.”

Jun Changxiao roughly understood.

Rising from low-grade to common-grade and forcibly opening two meridians was essentially a bonus. If he rose from common-grade to medium-grade, there should be further improvements as well.

…

After improving his spiritual root aptitude, what should he do?

Cultivate, of course!

Taking advantage of his second disciple being busy inside and out renovating the sect, Sect Leader Jun began secluding himself without stepping through either door to cultivate in closed-door training.

“This Tranquil Heart Manual should be a common-grade level cultivation method. I can use it to cultivate.”

The Tranquil Heart Manual was the cultivation method the Cangshan Sect Elder had sought advice on. Jun Changxiao, relying on the Insight Talisman, had not only memorized it but also comprehended it to the fourth layer.

Sitting cross-legged, he circulated the cultivation method through a complete cycle.

“Whoosh, whoosh!”

In an instant, the heaven and earth spiritual energy in the room was drawn over, competing to surge into his body.

After the spiritual energy merged in, it followed the meridians’ fixed pathways, gathered in his dantian, and under the refinement of the Tranquil Heart Manual, formed an energy sphere the size of a fingernail.

In the memories Jun Changxiao had absorbed, this was called spiritual power.

When the spiritual power in one’s dantian reached a certain intensity, it could be used to break through some of the blocked meridians in the body, thereby achieving a cultivation breakthrough.

“Continue, continue!”

Jun Changxiao cast aside distracting thoughts and continued circulating the cultivation method.

However, after a night’s effort, the energy sphere in his dantian had only increased by a tiny bit.

He couldn’t help feeling disappointed. “To reach the standard for meridian breakthrough, who knows how many months it will take.”

A few months was also thanks to the Tranquil Heart Manual.

If he’d used the lowest-grade cultivation method instead, combined with his previous lowest-grade spiritual root, being able to condense enough spiritual power for a meridian breakthrough within a year would already be quite good.

“Too slow!”

Jun Changxiao said, “System, is there a way to rapidly open meridians?”

“Yes.”

The system said.

Jun Changxiao asked with great joy, “What method?”

The system said, “Click on sect contribution points.”

“Huh?”

Jun Changxiao was stunned, then pulled up the system panel and clicked on the sect contribution points. A new small panel immediately popped up.

On it was written simply—Exchange contribution points for cultivation points!

“My goodness!”

Jun Changxiao said with great delight, “So contribution points have a button function, and there’s a cultivation point exchange feature!”

The system reminded him, “Although this cultivation point exchange function is convenient, it will instantly consume all the host’s contribution points. Please consider carefully before making a decision.”

“Is that so?”

Jun Changxiao stroked his chin, contemplating seriously.

If he took all his contribution points to exchange and only improved by one tier, that would definitely be a huge loss!

“No good.”

After thinking briefly, Jun Changxiao said seriously, “My current cultivation is really too low. The urgent priority is still to rapidly improve my martial cultivation realm!”

Moreover.

During his recent research, he’d discovered that aside from a few talismans and weapons, other beginner-tier items were not only expensive but also required certain hard conditions.

For instance, the Nine-Fold Collapsing Fist in the shop, though it only required 10 contribution points, had a notation in the detailed description that one must possess tenth-stage Meridian Opening realm to cultivate it.

“Hah!”

Jun Changxiao exhaled and said, “Contribution points can be earned again once spent, but if cultivation doesn’t improve, how can I survive on the Starfall Continent?”

“Whoosh!”

As he spoke, he resolutely clicked the [Exchange] button on the panel.

“Ding!”

“Sect Contribution Points: 0/100.”

“…”

The original 47 contribution points instantly zeroed out, paining Jun Changxiao immensely. After all, those were what he’d worked so hard to earn in Qingyang City!

“Ding!”

“Host has successfully broken through to the eighth stage of Meridian Opening!”

“Ding!”

“Host has successfully broken through to the ninth stage of Meridian Opening!”

“Ding!”

“Host has successfully broken through to the tenth stage of Meridian Opening!”

A series of notification sounds rang out. Jun Changxiao clearly felt surges of powerful spiritual energy condensing in his body, breaking through all three main meridians with devastating force.

“My goodness!”

He exclaimed with delight, “Actually opened three meridians in a row!”

Opening three meridians with 47 experience points was still acceptable to Jun Changxiao.

The system said, “The host’s cultivation is currently low, so exchanging with contribution points can achieve consecutive breakthroughs. After the realm tier becomes higher and you exchange again, naturally it won’t be as cost-effective.”

Jun Changxiao ignored it. Clenching both fists, ten brilliant rays of light appeared on his left and right wrists. He grinned and said, “The feeling of becoming stronger—awesome!”

“Boom!”

Throwing out a punch, the house collapsed.

Sect Leader Jun was directly buried under the collapsed bricks and tiles.

The next day.

Li Qingyang stood before the ruins, his expression grave. “Sect Leader, that punch of yours will require at least two hundred taels to rebuild.”

Covered in dust, Jun Changxiao rolled his eyes upon hearing this.