Chapter 117 : Epiphany

Chapter 117: Epiphany

Chen Beiwu’s expression shifted, and the Transmission Talisman outside his residence immediately turned into a streak of light that merged into his palm.

“Senior Brother Chen, someone has accepted the bounty task you posted, but the reward needs to be renegotiated.”

After reading the message, Chen Beiwu’s eyes lit up with joy. He put away Gold Egg and Iron Egg, then hurried toward the Mission Hall.

After this period of arduous cultivation, his realm had already approached the peak of the Ninth Level of Qi Refining.

He only needed to obtain Moon Dew and Withered Thunder Branch, these two spiritual herbs, before he could cultivate the eleventh layer of the Heaven Book, attempting to break through to the Tenth Level of Qi Refining, or even reach the Eleventh Level of Qi Refining.

Mission Hall.

As soon as Chen Beiwu stepped into the grand hall, Ma Dongmei, who was responsible for mission review, enthusiastically greeted him.

“Greetings, Senior Brother Chen.”

“Junior Sister Ma, no need for formalities.” Chen Beiwu got straight to the point. “What do you mean by renegotiating the reward? Did the cultivator who accepted the task find the reward too low?”

“That’s not it, it’s just…” At this point, a trace of difficulty appeared on her face.

Chen Beiwu slightly furrowed his brows and asked, “Just what?”

Ma Dongmei glanced around, then leaned in and whispered, “Junior Sister Gu doesn’t want sect contribution points. She wants a different reward.”

“What does she want?” Chen Beiwu’s gaze sank.

Contribution points were hard currency within the sect, even more sought after than low-grade Spirit Stones.

For a cultivator who took a mission to reject contribution points, her intentions were certainly not small.

“Junior Sister Gu wants to meet you at the Heart-Nurturing Courtyard to discuss the details of the reward.” Ma Dongmei spoke softly.

“Fine.” Chen Beiwu agreed without hesitation.

…

Heart-Nurturing Courtyard, Room B.

A beautiful female cultivator in a simple gauze dress stood at the doorway.

“Greetings, Senior Brother Chen.”

Seeing Chen Beiwu arrive, Gu Chun quickly stepped forward, respectfully opening the door.

‘Eighth Level of Qi Refining.’ Sensing Gu Chun’s cultivation, Chen Beiwu was slightly moved.

In this past half-year, not only had he progressed, but those fellow cultivators who had entered the sect alongside him were also constantly advancing.

After entering the room and sitting down, Chen Beiwu spoke first. “Junior Sister Gu, could you let me see the Moon Dew first?”

“Of course.”

Gu Chun nodded, then took out a jade box from her storage pouch and opened it, revealing crystalline dew as pure and radiant as the moon.

Exerting his divine sense, Chen Beiwu confirmed that the Moon Dew was genuine. His gaze then shifted toward the exquisitely featured young woman before him.

“What reward does Junior Sister Gu seek?”

Gu Chun took a deep breath and said solemnly, “No reward. If Senior Brother Chen is willing to do me a small favor, I will offer the Moon Dew with both hands.”

Hearing this, Chen Beiwu’s eyes revealed a trace of surprise.

A woman’s words—deceptive by nature.

If it were truly just a small favor, Gu Chun would never have given up a bounty worth as much as one thousand contribution points.

But considering the importance of Moon Dew, Chen Beiwu pondered for a moment before saying, “Junior Sister, feel free to speak. If it is within my ability, as your senior brother, I will certainly do my best to resolve it for you.”

“I would like to ask Senior Brother Chen to mediate for me.” Gu Chun’s voice was soft.

Chen Beiwu frowned. “It is better to resolve enmities than create them. Who has Junior Sister offended?”

“Inner sect disciples with cultivation expertise can choose to join the Six Lineages and Fourteen Halls to earn contribution points.”

At this point, seeing that Chen Beiwu showed no reaction, she retrieved a jade vial from her sleeve.

“According to sect law, a Second-Tier Low-Grade Alchemist has the qualification to apply for the Alchemy Hall. Yet recently, all the application jade slips I submitted to the Personnel Hall were rejected.”

“Afterward, when I asked a senior sister from the Personnel Hall, I learned that Senior Sister Shu You holds a strong grudge against me. So I hoped to ask Senior Brother Chen to act as a mediator.”

Hearing this, Chen Beiwu felt speechless.

Since ancient times, beauty often led to misfortune.

Most likely, Senior Sister Shu You had failed in pursuit and held resentment toward Junior Sister Gu, deliberately making things difficult for her.

But Senior Sister Shu You had always treated him well, and he was unwilling to become entangled in messy affairs of love and hatred.

“How about one thousand three hundred contribution points?” Chen Beiwu countered with a higher offer.

Gu Chun’s expression darkened. She handed over the Moon Dew with both hands. “Since Senior Brother is unwilling, I will not force it. One thousand contribution points will suffice.”

Receiving the jade box, Chen Beiwu rose to leave.

“I will have Junior Sister Ma settle the task contribution points for you today.”

Only after Chen Beiwu’s figure disappeared did Gu Chun clench her fists and slam heavily onto the tea table.

“A bunch of bastards!”

After venting her anger, Gu Chun took a deep breath, her expression gradually regaining composure.

The law of the jungle was the true essence of the Southern Wastes—this she had long understood.

It was precisely because of this that, even if Chen Beiwu had refused to help today, she could only obediently hand over the Moon Dew. Otherwise, her situation within the sect would only worsen.

The fault lay in her possessing the Jade-Moistening Spirit Body, which drew the covetous eyes of wolves within the sect—yet she lacked the strength to protect herself!

“They want to harvest me? Once I master the Reverse-Origin Cauldron-Exchange Manual, the ones to die will be you!” A flash of viciousness flickered in Gu Chun’s eyes.

…

Mission Hall.

“Senior Brother Chen, this is the contribution point settlement from the task. Please verify.” Ma Dongmei handed over an identity jade slip.

【Contribution Points: 8300】

Sweeping it with his divine sense, Chen Beiwu nodded slightly and gave his thanks.

In order to quickly gather enough contribution points to exchange for the Qi Refining Aperture-Consolidating Method, he had recently taken on another transcription task, uploading a Miscellaneous-Grade cultivation method of the Immortal Alliance.

Unlike the previous time, this cultivation method took much longer to be approved, a full half month before passing review.

‘It seems I need to be more cautious when transcribing cultivation methods in the future.’ Chen Beiwu thought to himself.

If not for gathering contribution points to exchange for the Qi Refining secret art and unlocking the mysteries of the Eleventh Level of Qi Refining sooner, he would never have uploaded another Foundation Establishment method so quickly.

Heading to the Transmission Hall, he spent five thousand contribution points to exchange for the jade slip of the Qi Refining Aperture-Consolidating Method. Then, Chen Beiwu began searching for the exchange option for Mirror Flower, Water Moon.

Unexpectedly, this technique was not listed among the available exchanges.

‘Perhaps my current permissions are too low.’ Chen Beiwu did not dwell on it, and left the Transmission Hall with the jade slip.

…

Moon-in-Water Dwelling.

Chen Beiwu summoned Gold Egg and Iron Egg, letting them each find a place to cultivate. Then, he took out the Qi Refining Aperture-Consolidating Method for study.

“Apertures like stars, mana like rivers, cycling through the Great Cycle, the Dao can be entrusted.”

“If one aperture is blocked, the spirit stagnates like dried earth. When two apertures are clear, Qi flows through the Grand Void.”

“…”

The more he read, the more Chen Beiwu felt the method extraordinary.

This Qi Refining secret art not only had a unique circulation route but also carried a profound philosophy.

It seemed it could even be cultivated alongside the Heaven Book of All Laws Converge.

Thus, Chen Beiwu did not hesitate. His mind moved, immersing his spirit into the grand conception of the Qi Refining Aperture-Consolidating Method.

“Boom!”

As the surrounding spiritual energy continuously poured into his body, Chen Beiwu unconsciously entered a state of selflessness, his breathing and circulation completely changing.

Sensing through their Companion Beast Contract, Gold Egg perceived Chen Beiwu’s resonance with heaven and earth, his aura blending seamlessly with the Dao. Its eyes grew vacant, and its inner mana began to boil.

“Woof?”

Seeing the changes in both man and fish, Iron Egg’s canine eyes widened, and he actually felt a trace of being left out.