The spiritual energy contained in natural spirit stones was very refined. Jun Changxiao and others casually absorbed a breath or two and felt it was stronger than eating a High-Multiplier Qi Gathering Pill!
And this was just during the dissipation process!
If they took a complete one, wrapped it in spiritual energy, and seriously absorbed it, it would definitely be even more awesome!
“Dig! Dig! Dig!”
Jun Changxiao urgently urged them on, wishing he could hollow out the entire spirit stone vein and stuff it all into his space ring.
Li Qingyang and others carefully dug.
As for Su Xiaomo, she definitely got a demerit and couldn’t eat for two days.
Actually, reaching Wushi stage, going without food for a few days was fine, but not being able to eat Liu Wanshi’s cooking was definitely a huge torment!
With this punishment system in place, everyone dug extremely carefully.
Sunset in the western mountains.
Li Qingyang and others climbed out of the deep pit covered in mud.
It seemed that being a disciple at the Tiegu Sect required not only cultivating martial arts but also working various jobs part-time—like being miners now.
Natural spirit stones were laid out in baskets on the grass. At minimum, there were over five thousand.
After taking inventory, Jun Changxiao waved his hand and collected them into his space ring.
From the spirit stones obtained, he only gave one to each disciple who participated in mining. The rest he accumulated.
These naturally condensed martial arts resources—use one, lose one. Unlike pills that could be mass-produced, they had to be carefully considered and planned.
……
Night fell.
Jun Changxiao sat in the Spirit Gathering Array, both hands cradling a natural spirit stone just collected.
Whoosh whoosh!
Magnificent spiritual energy, drawn by his mental intention, transformed into threads of pure flowing light that merged into his body through his mouth and nose.
These naturally formed spirit stones—don’t be fooled by their similar size to market ones, but the spiritual energy contained inside was abundant and sufficient!
In one night, Jun Changxiao absorbed ten stones.
“Phew!” He exhaled and murmured: “At this rate, absorbing and cultivating day and night, I can advance from Five-Star to Six-Star in two or three days!”
Previously one month, now two or three days.
The speed was extremely obvious!
Of course.
Calculating at an absorption rate of twenty stones per day, two or three days would consume fifty to sixty spirit stones.
If these were artificially refined spirit stones, forget about achieving rapid breakthrough—it would definitely consume hundreds of stones. Ordinary people simply couldn’t afford it!
The System said: “Worthy of being natural spirit stones. In spiritual energy and purity, they totally outclass artificial spirit stones.”
“There are still over ten days until the Huashan Martial Tournament.”
Jun Changxiao said: “I hope during this time, I can advance from Five-Star to Seven-Star.”
Next, he ordered disciples to continue mining spirit stones while focusing all his energy on cultivation.
Going to participate in the Huashan Martial Tournament, if looked down upon by the major sects, there would definitely be trouble. Only by improving strength could he have the confidence to clash with them!
……
Three days later.
Jun Changxiao smoothly advanced from Five-Star to Six-Star Wuzong.
This speed was truly super fast!
If it were other Wuzong, even with an endless supply of natural spirit stones, they absolutely couldn’t break through in just a few days.
Because they lacked a High-Multiplier Spirit Gathering Array and High-Multiplier Qi Gathering Pills.
So.
Jun Changxiao’s rapid breakthrough—natural spirit stone supplements only accounted for part of it. The array and resources complementing each other was the key point.
“Phew!”
After cultivating a while longer, he opened his eyes and exhaled turbid air: “Advancing from Six-Star to Seven-Star will take at least six days.”
Double the time.
However, he could set out for Huashan to participate in the tournament right on schedule.
“Continue, continue.”
Jun Changxiao again took out spirit stones and Qi Gathering Pills to cultivate. Except for eating one meal daily, most of his time was spent in the Spirit Gathering Array.
Over these three days, the sixty-plus natural spirit stones he’d absorbed no longer had spiritual energy and scattered nearby like stones.
Li Qingyang and others continued mining natural spirit stones from the vein. They could dig out about five thousand daily. Although they really wanted to use spirit stones to cultivate, they still dutifully turned them in without anyone secretly hiding any.
Sect Leader treated them so well, providing resources and techniques—if they acted on selfish impulses and pocketed spirit stones, they’d be unworthy of being Tiegu Clanging Sect disciples.
It must be said.
The sect that Sect Leader Jun carefully managed had an excellent atmosphere.
If it were other sects, facing so many natural spirit stones, few disciples could resist the temptation and would choose to secretly take a few and put them in their own pockets.
……
How large the vein was and how many spirit stones it contained were unknown variables. Tiegu Sect disciples followed Sect Leader’s orders and actively mined every day.
Six days later.
Jun Changxiao advanced from Six-Star to Seven-Star Wuzong!
In nine days total, he had absorbed 180 natural spirit stones.
Artificial spirit stones on the market sold for ten thousand taels each.
These natural spirit stones, abundant and pure, could probably sell for at least two to three hundred thousand taels each.
“Even using 1,800 artificial spirit stones to help me advance to Seven-Star wouldn’t be this fast,” Jun Changxiao murmured.
The System said: “So after spiritual energy revival, for the host and the sect, it’s truly a heaven-sent opportunity.”
High-multiplier spiritual energy, high-multiplier spirit stones.
For a martial cultivator, it was simply a super welfare package.
Jun Changxiao also had the Spirit Gathering Array and High-Multiplier Qi Gathering Pills. With multiple combinations, rapidly breaking through realms would become easy.
An opportunity.
An opportunity to grow stronger!
“Although these natural spirit stones are powerful, the vein will eventually be mined out.”
Jun Changxiao murmured: “So reasonable allocation is very important.”
If natural spirit stones could be inexhaustible, he’d definitely distribute them like pills—giving disciples fixed monthly amounts. But now he had to plan carefully.
Initial thoughts.
Inner sect disciples would receive a fixed monthly amount. Outer sect disciples could also receive some, but not too much.
Regular assessments could provide appropriate rewards, making them focus more on cultivation.
There were also sect missions.
If disciples completed a certain number of missions within a month, or earned a certain amount of contribution points, they’d receive corresponding rewards.
In short.
With these natural spirit stones, disciples all had opportunities to obtain them.
However, they had to earn them through their own efforts. They weren’t just given away freely.
Of course.
The vein still had plenty of spirit stones.
Sect Leader Jun began having disciples mine in rotating batches instead of always making the same group work as miners.
Although disciples wouldn’t act on greed and pocket stones, he still established rules: anyone who privately took spirit stones, once discovered, would be expelled from the sect.
As for breaking spirit stones during mining, they’d continue going hungry for two days, watching everyone eat Liu Wanshi’s cooking in the dining hall.
This punishment made disciples howl internally!
Some were even willing to be severely beaten rather than miss a single meal of Liu Wanshi’s cooking!
“Sect Leader.”
In the great hall, Jiang Xie said seriously: “I’m a Tiegu Sect elder. I should also receive fixed monthly spirit stones, right?”
“Of course.”
“How many can I receive?”
“Five stones.”
Jiang Xie immediately froze, then collapsed: “Inner sect disciples can receive twenty stones monthly, but as an elder I only get five!”
Jun Changxiao said unhurriedly: “Five stones is base salary.”
“Base salary?” Jiang Xie was bewildered.
Jun Changxiao said: “There are many outer sect disciples who need instruction. As this elder, you shouldn’t just focus on cultivation. When you have time, hold teaching sessions and guide them in martial learning.”
“…” Jiang Xie’s mouth twitched.
Jun Changxiao continued: “This master has already built a Martial Teaching Hall. Go teach at intervals. At month’s end, based on outer sect disciples’ progress, you’ll receive a certain number of spirit stones.”
Jiang Xie slapped his chest: “Teaching a bunch of Pulse-Opening and Wutu disciples—this elder can definitely handle it!”
He spoke too confidently.
Little did he know, when this Wuwang powerhouse faced Shangguan Xinyao who asked questions to the bitter end, he’d crawl out of the Martial Teaching Hall bleeding from all seven orifices.
Gods, save me!