Li Taixing bought the ordinary Spirit Stones, which surprised the surrounding Initiation disciples.
"I didn't expect this trash to be so rich."
"Yeah!"
Fatty was equally surprised, but he quickly put away his initial thoughts of belittling Li Taixing. Instead, he approached with a flattering grin, placing a friendly hand on Li Taixing's shoulder.
"Hey, brother, let's chat," Fatty said with a smile, cozying up to him.
Li Taixing, curious about Fatty's intentions, agreed. "Sure, let's talk."
He gestured for Lu Tong and Sun Bohu to head back without him. They nodded, reminding him to stay safe, and went on their way.
On their way back, Lu Tong couldn't help but comment, "Do you think the boss is a bit mysterious?"
Lu Tong smiled. "Hehe, yeah. But that's what makes him interesting. You don't want a boss you can see through completely, do you?"
Meanwhile, Li Taixing and Fatty found a quiet spot near the woods to chat. Li Taixing, eager to check his recent purchase, quickly stored the Spirit Stones.
[Ding! Congratulations on acquiring ordinary Spirit Stones x10 billion!]
A grin spread across his face. 'With this, I won't have to worry about Spirit Stones anymore.' But his interest in Fatty remained—perhaps the man had other treasures to offer.
"So, what's your name?" Li Taixing asked.
"Chen Laifu. And yours?"
"Li Taixing. Are you an Outer Sect disciple?"
"Yes, I am," Chen Laifu confirmed, his eyes gleaming. "You've got quite the fortune, brother. If I find anything else good, I'll be sure to contact you."
"Please do," Li Taixing said.
As Chen Laifu prepared to leave, he leaned in and whispered, "But watch your back, Brother Li. Some people have been eyeing you since you made that purchase."
"Wait." Li Taixing stopped him. "Do you have any other treasures that might suit me?"
Chen Laifu chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Brother, don't bite off more than you can chew. But rest assured, when I have something worth your while, you'll be the first to know."
"Thanks. Until next time."
"See you around."
After parting ways with Chen Laifu, Li Taixing returned to the dormitory. As he walked in, he found his companions gathered and chatting.
"Boss, you're back!" Xiong Hu greeted him enthusiastically.
"What's going on?" Li Taixing asked, taking a seat.
"Boss, is it true you completed the first training task?" Xiong Hu asked, eyes wide with admiration.
"Yes," Li Taixing replied calmly.
"Wow, that's incredible!" Xiong Hu and his brothers were genuinely impressed, having struggled with the same task themselves.
However, despite Li Taixing's current success, they knew the harsh reality—his lack of attributes and first-rank Spiritual Roots would make his future cultivation challenging. None of them voiced these thoughts, though.
"By the way, Lu Tong, do you know how to absorb Spirit Stones?" Li Taixing asked, curious about his next step.
Lu Tong was startled by the question and immediately warned, "Boss, don't rush! You haven't even stepped into Body Refining yet."
"I know, I'm just asking out of curiosity."
Lu Tong sighed in relief, worried Li Taixing might try to absorb the Spirit Stones prematurely. He explained, "You'll need to reach the Qi Gathering stage before you can absorb Spirit Stones. Right now, it's impossible."
"I see."
Still, Li Taixing asked for the specifics, and Lu Tong, who had done his research before joining the Xuantian Sect, explained the process in detail.
"I didn't expect you to know so much," Li Taixing said, impressed.
"Of course!" Lu Tong grinned. "I learned a lot about immortal cultivation before joining the sect."
Li Taixing carefully memorized every word Lu Tong said. 'Strange, my memory seems to have improved too. Could this be the result of the Bone Forging Pill?' He was puzzled but kept the thought to himself for now.
Soon after, Li Taixing suggested, "How about we invite Qingyao and Yueniang to the back mountain for dinner?"
"Huh? Is that a good idea?" Lu Tong hesitated.
"Why not?" Li Taixing asked, confused.
Lu Tong was still concerned. "Boss, it might be better to keep a low profile for now."
Li Taixing chuckled. "As long as I stay within the Xuantian Sect, who can do anything to me?"
Indeed, within the Xuantian Sect, fighting or harming others was strictly prohibited, and conflicts were typically resolved in the sparring arena under strict supervision. Though there were life-and-death battles, they only occurred when both parties consented and an Elder was present.
"Well... if you say so," Lu Tong said reluctantly, but he couldn't argue with his boss.
The group of eight—including Lu Qingyao and Li Yueniang—soon made their way to the back mountain, where they planned to enjoy a peaceful dinner together. The back mountain was quiet and serene, with the occasional disciple passing by. Many came here to relax and watch the sunset.
Li Taixing had prepared an impressive spread of food: meat, vegetables, desserts, and drinks. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the sky, everyone ate, laughed, and soaked in the beauty of the evening.