// See author's thought //
On the morning of the second day, Jiang Heng took out the Gathering Qi Pill he had obtained yesterday, swallowed one, and sat quietly in his room, running the Primordial Genesis Art to its utmost.
"Ding! During cultivation, potential points increased by 10 points!"
"Ding! During cultivation, potential points increased by 10 points!"
...
The continuous notifications resounded in his mind.
Ten minutes later, the Gathering Qi Pill was completely digested.
Jiang Heng checked his potential points: 33,000.
He remembered that after leveling up yesterday, he had only 3,000 potential points left.
In other words, just one Gathering Qi Pill had increased his potential points by 30,000, which was three times more than the effect of the Qi Blood Pill, while the time it consumed only doubled.
This meant an efficiency increase of fifty percent.
Jiang Heng frowned.
After leaving his residence, he went to the trading hall and found the required contribution points to exchange for Gathering Qi Pills.
Gathering Qi Pill: 30 contribution points.
Jiang Heng shook his head silently.
"The price is three times that of the Qi Blood Pill. It's not cost-effective."
"Ordinary people consider absorption efficiency and consumption rate when practicing, but I have the system, which incurs no loss, and I don't need two rounds of conversion."
"For me, the cost-effectiveness is far lower than that of the Qi Blood Pill."
He turned and left the trading hall, heading to the sect leader's cultivation hall.
After announcing his arrival, he met Bai Hao Cang.
"Master, I would like to request that all the Gathering Qi Pills received by the core disciples be exchanged for equivalent Qi Blood Pills in the future. Is that acceptable?"
"No problem."
Bai Hao Cang still had his eyes half-closed, as if in deep slumber.
After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Heng continued, "Furthermore, after reading many books in the Scripture Pavilion, I have a question. I hope Master can clarify it for me."
"In the Tai Sui Realm, the Holy Land is elevated above all and, though it doesn't concern itself with worldly matters, it still firmly controls all the order within the entire dynasty's territory. No sect or martial practitioner dares to openly cross it."
"And between Holy Lands, there has never been any warfare. Does this indicate that there are even more powerful entities above the Holy Lands, controlling the order of the entire Tai Sui Realm?"
This had been a question on Jiang Heng's mind for some time. However, as he learned more information from the books yesterday, this question had deepened.
He had always believed that wherever there were people, there would be war. Yet, in the entire Tai Sui Realm, from the Holy Lands to the sects, it had always been peaceful.
Even above the holy land, there are higher-level managers, and there are bound to be various conflicts of interest.
And these conflicts will inevitably lead to lower-level holy lands having their own interests, eventually causing war.
Unless one situation arises – the presence of an external enemy!
The existence of an external enemy powerful enough to threaten the Tai Sui Realm shifts the internal conflicts within the Tai Sui Realm, maintaining peace and stability.
So, he was eager to know if everything was as he thought.
After all, if his conjecture was true.
It meant that there really was a mysterious external enemy that had posed a threat to the entire Tai Sui Realm for thousands of years.
In the future, as his strength rapidly increases, these are likely the things he will have to face.
Therefore, with someone like Bai Haocang, a high-ranking member of a top sect, who could provide him with answers, he couldn't wait and asked.
And the moment Jiang Heng finished speaking.
Bai Haocang suddenly opened his eyes, a faint sharpness gleaming within.
"Hmph..."
Jiang Heng grunted and couldn't help but close his eyes.
During this time, Bai Haocang remained silent.
After a while.
When Jiang Heng reopened his eyes.
Bai Haocang spoke: "These matters, it's not time for you to know yet."
"When you break through to the Innate Realm and complete the task I've given you, I'll tell you everything you want to know."
"You can go down first!"
Jiang Heng left silently.
Upon returning to his residence, Jiang Heng set aside his thoughts.
Regardless of whether his conjecture was true or not, as long as he had enough strength, all problems would be solved.
He completely focused and immersed himself in cultivation.
Qi-Gathering Pills, Blood Qi Pills, one after another, continuously consumed, and his potential points skyrocketed!
Just four days later.
Jiang Heng had consumed 30 Qi-Gathering Pills and another 480 Blood Qi Pills, increasing his potential points by a staggering 5.7 million!
He opened the system panel and started a continuous upgrade.
First was his current weakness, the Earth-Grade martial art, Swift Wind Steps.
"Ding! Consuming 1,000,000 potential points, undergoing martial art deduction, please wait!"
"Ding! Deduction completed! Please name the new martial art!"
Countless streams of information appeared in Jiang Heng's mind, deepening his understanding of martial arts."
He came to his senses, feeling the entirely new body technique he had instantly mastered, and a faint smile curled up at the corner of his mouth.
Now, this new body technique had completely freed itself from the constraints of the previous Swift Wind Steps, undergoing a transformative change akin to rebirth.
In his mind, he uttered: "Swift Light Flash!"
"Ding! Naming successful, learned [Swift Light Flash (Novice)]!"
Jiang Heng glanced again at his remaining potential points, which were now 4.7 million.
After some thought, he decided not to upgrade his True Qi cultivation for now. His previous cultivation speed was already far from ordinary, and further improvement wouldn't enhance his combat power significantly; it might even draw more attention.
As for the task mentioned by his master Bai Haocang, he thought that he would wait until his strength had significantly increased and he was better prepared.
So, he continued to upgrade his martial arts.
"Ding! Consuming 1 million potential points, learned [Swift Light Flash (Proficient)]!"
"Ding! Consuming 1 million potential points, learned [Sky-Shattering Fist (Proficient)]!"
"Ding! Consuming 2 million potential points, learned [Sky-Shattering Fist (Master)]!"
His personal panel had undergone a remarkable transformation.
Host: Jiang Heng.
Body Cultivation: Fifth Layer of Earthly Transformation (Third Stage).
True Qi Cultivation: Tenth Layer of True Qi Realm (Second Stage).
Physical Martial Arts: [Sky-Shattering Fist (Heavenly Grade - Master)], [Swift Light Flash (Heavenly Grade - Proficient)].
True Qi Martial Arts: [Qian Tian One Qi Sword (Earthly Grade - Perfection)].
Primary Cultivation Technique: [Primordial Genesis Art (Heavenly Grade - Perfection)], [Diamond Body Technique (Mystic Grade)].
Secret Art: [Golden Body Secret (Heavenly Grade - Triple Layer)].
Remaining Potential Points: 703,000.
Although his cultivation hadn't increased, his strength had undergone a revolutionary change.
At this moment, whether it was his explosive power, agility, or physique, they had all completely transcended the Innate Realm.
If he were to face Wu Mingxuan again, he wouldn't need to engage in a prolonged battle like before; he could simply catch up and strike him down with a single punch!
Having completed his upgrades, Jiang Heng returned to the Eighth Peak and separately found Wen Qingxue and Bu Hanyi.
Currently, his sect contribution points had dwindled to only 50 points, and the upcoming daily gain of 100 points was insufficient for his expenditure. It was time for him to earn more contribution points.
Once he ventured deep into the West Luo Mountain Range, Bu Hanyi would be an indispensable ally.
As for Wen Qingxue, she was not only his trusted friend with whom he shared secrets but also a close comrade in cooperation.
The three of them had already formed a tightly-knit task force through their cooperation.