Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 182 Gathering Resources and Developing Steadily
On the speedboat in the distance, Li Qingyan seemed to wake from a dream and quickly replied, "Yes, Master!"

Then, he carefully maneuvered the speedboat over and docked next to the reef where Chen Ye was. He then endured the discomfort and jumped off the boat. Looking at the monster corpses scattered all over the ground, his eyes were still filled with shock.

He single-handedly killed over a hundred water-scaled demons in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

It’s really scary!
"What are you standing there for? Peel off the scales!" Chen Ye's voice rang out again.

"Oh!" Li Qingyan responded, not daring to delay, and quickly took out a sharp short knife from his storage bag to begin processing the corpses of the water scale demons.

She peeled off each palm-sized, hard, black scale completely.

Chen Ye sat down cross-legged to the side and began to circulate his internal energy to recover the qi and blood he had just consumed.

Although this amount of exertion is nothing to him, it's always good to develop the habit of maintaining peak performance at all times.

About half an hour later, Li Qingyan finally finished collecting all the spoils of war.

"Master, everything has been taken care of. There are a total of one hundred and forty-three water scale demon scales and one water scale demon king's demon core." She respectfully handed a storage bag that was full to the brim to Chen Ye.

Chen Ye nodded in satisfaction. "Well done."

Upon hearing this, Li Qingyan's body trembled uncontrollably, and she quickly lowered her head: "This...this is what this servant should do."

She now both respects and fears Chen Ye, so even when she hears praise, she is still filled with dread.

"Let's go back and turn in the mission."

Chen Ye ignored him and got up to return to the ship.

Li Qingyan quickly followed, started the speedboat, and sped off in the direction they had come from.

The speedboat quickly returned to the dock.

Chen Ye did not return to his own wooden house, but instead went to the residence where Li Qingyan lived, which was quieter and he would not be disturbed.

Then Li Qingyan took out the blood-red merit jade slip, made hand seals, and chanted incantations.

A moment later, the merit jade slip flashed red light, and Li Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he cautiously said to Chen Ye, "The mission has been submitted, and the retrieval flying sword should be here soon."

Chen Ye nodded, then sipped his tea and waited quietly.

Sure enough, less than two minutes later, a sword light suddenly flew over and stopped in the room.

A specially made net bag was hanging below the flying sword. Li Qingyan put the storage bag containing the Water Scale Demon's scales and demon core into the net bag, and then the flying sword flew away.

The wait was a little longer this time, but it only took less than five minutes. The merit jade slip flashed red twice, and then a cold female voice came out.

"100 contribution points have been credited to your merit book!"

Li Qingyan's face lit up with joy, and then he said to Chen Ye, "Master, it's done!"

"Hmm." Chen Ye nodded, took the jade slip, and probed it with a wisp of divine sense.

This time, Chen Ye didn't open the task list, but instead chose the exchange area on the side.

That's right, this merit jade slip can not only be used to accept missions, but also to exchange for various resources, which is quite convenient.

The light screen refreshed, and a dazzling list of exchanges appeared in his mind.

[Bigu Pill]: Taking one pill will keep you from hunger for seven days. Exchange Price: 1 Contribution Point.

[Qi Recovery Pill]: Quickly restores true energy. Exchange price: 5 contribution points.

[Healing Pill]: Treats internal and external injuries. Exchange Price: 8 Contribution Points.

[Body Tempering Pill]: Tempers the physical body and enhances Qi and blood. Exchange Price: 20 Contribution Points.

……

Chen Ye's gaze swept over the pill section, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

These elixirs are all of too low a grade.

It would be quite good for ordinary cultivators in the Foundation Building or Qi Nourishing stages, but for him, the effect was negligible.

His body, forged through countless trials, and his domineering Star River Qi Refining Technique require extremely high-quality pills; consuming any amount of these common pills is no different from eating candy.

So Chen Ye skipped the pill section and turned his attention to the magic weapon section behind it.

[Fine Steel Sword]: Forged from ordinary iron, it's better than nothing. Exchange Price: 10 Contribution Points.

[Mysterious Iron Shield]: Decent defensive capabilities, able to withstand a full-force attack from a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. Exchange Price: 30 Contribution Points.

[Wind Chaser Boots]: Engraved with speed runes, increasing movement speed. Exchange Price: 50 Contribution Points.

However, these things were still of no use to Chen Ye; what he urgently needed now was a good, reliable sword.

Although even a tree branch can be transformed into something magical in Chen Ye's hands now, it is still not as easy to use as a treasured sword.

Chen Ye estimated that if he had a suitable treasured sword, his combat power could increase by at least 30%, which was a terrifying boost. Therefore, he directly opened the weapon category and scrolled down.

Most of the weapons here are swords, since sword cultivators are the mainstream in the cultivation world.

But there were knives too, and Chen Ye was quickly drawn to one of them.

【Black Prison】: Forged primarily from millennium-old black iron, it was personally crafted by the elders of the Weaponry Hall over forty-nine days. The blade weighs 360 jin (approximately 180 kg), is four feet nine inches long, and is entirely black. It has no sharp edge or blade, yet it can cut through anything. Note: This blade is ferocious; those with weak will should use it with caution.

Exchange price: 1200 contribution points.

Upon seeing the description of the knife, Chen Ye's eyes lit up instantly.

Because both its shape and characteristics suited me perfectly, it was as if it had been tailor-made for me.

"This is it!" Chen Ye made his decision instantly.

However, he only has a total of 100 points now, which is less than a fraction of his total.

However, Chen Ye was not discouraged, because each mission was worth 100 points, and a dozen or so missions would be enough to accumulate the required points.

So Chen Ye then transformed into a mission maniac.

The two worked almost non-stop, without a moment's rest.

Having just completed this task, and without even having time to catch their breath, they rushed off to the next task location.

Li Qingyan was reduced to a mere tool, responsible for accepting missions, piloting the speedboat, and handling various post-war miscellaneous tasks.

Chen Ye, on the other hand, was mainly responsible for combat.

Whether the target of the mission is a ferocious monster or a strange evil spirit, it seems to pose no challenge to him.

In this way, Chen Ye was frantically reaping the tasks of the Merit Hall at a speed that was unimaginable to ordinary people.

[Low-grade Mystic Quest: Delve into the underwater cave and draw a distribution map of the 'Fluorescent Mushrooms'. Reward: 95 Contribution Points.] This quest might sound safer than hunting Water Scale Demons, but it's not.

The underwater environment of Blackwater Lake is complex, with turbulent undercurrents and dim lighting, so dark that you can't see your hand in front of your face.

Even more terrifying is that those caves where fluorescent mushrooms grow are often the lairs of powerful underwater monsters.

An inner disciple once took on this mission, but ended up drowning at the bottom of the lake and his body was never recovered.

Li Qingyan had assumed that Chen Ye would make detailed preparations, at least bringing things like water-repelling beads and illumination talismans.

As a result, Chen Ye only glanced at the map before diving headfirst into the icy lake water.

Li Qingyan waited anxiously on the boat, each day feeling like an eternity.

However, less than half an hour later, Chen Ye emerged from the water, soaking wet, with a precise and detailed map in his hand, which even clearly marked the number of secret passages in the cave.

Li Qingyan was stunned on the spot.

She couldn't understand how Chen Ye could accomplish all of this so quickly at the bottom of the lake where it was pitch black.

She had no idea that Chen Ye's profession as a Tanka (boat-dwelling people) made him feel right at home in the Blackwater Lake.

His Diving Level 4 allows him to hold his breath underwater for extended periods, ignoring the effects of water pressure.

Spirit Clam Sensing lv4, although mainly used to sense spirit clams, can also allow him to perceive subtle changes and energy fluctuations in the surrounding waters to a certain extent.

In addition, his senses, which are far beyond those of ordinary people, make the dark lake bottom no different from daytime to him.

In just four days, Chen Ye collected the required sect contribution points and then directly chose to exchange them.

Similar to the last time when ingredients were delivered, the only difference is that this time the flying swords are of a higher grade. You need to use your identity token to stick it on the sword and verify that everything is correct before you can accept the delivery.

When Chen Ye opened the storage bag and took out the treasured sword, his eyes lit up.

The blade and hilt of this Black Prison Blade are seamlessly integrated, exhibiting a deep, inky black color that seems to absorb all light.

The blade was wide and thick, looking like an unpolished iron bar, without any sharp edge or even a hint of gleam.

But this knife, which even looked somewhat rough, made Li Qingyan, who was standing next to it, feel a chill that came from the depths of his soul.

Chen Ye's eyes, however, were full of admiration and affection.

The moment he gripped the hilt of the sword, a sword cry that seemed to come from the depths of hell suddenly exploded in Chen Ye's mind!

Immediately afterwards, an extremely violent and frigid aura, filled with a murderous and destructive will, surged wildly into his body through his arm!

This malevolent energy was like a flood that had burst its banks, trying to break through his meridians, freeze his blood and qi, and even erode his soul, turning him into a sword slave who only knew how to kill!
Chen Ye didn't care at all; the sword will that had been tempered a thousand times in the depths of his soul suddenly erupted!
At the same time, the martial arts spirit of Grandmaster Jian Shen was also pushed to its limit!
In an instant, these unruly baleful energies were like wild horses that had been tamed, obediently merging into Chen Ye's true essence, making his true essence aura more solid, and also colder and sharper!
"What a fine knife!" Chen Ye couldn't help but exclaim.

This knife is indeed a perfect match for him!

Not only will it not cause him any harm, but it can also become an aid to his cultivation!

With a flick of his wrist, Chen Ye lifted the 360-pound Black Prison Battle Blade as if it were nothing.

With his movements, the fierce and malevolent aura emanating from the blade seemed to find an outlet, becoming even more violent!

Standing to the side, Li Qingyan felt a bone-chilling cold rush towards her, causing her to involuntarily take several steps back, her face turning deathly pale.

"Let's go, let's continue with the mission."

Chen Ye hoisted the Black Prison onto his shoulder, turned around, and walked towards the Clippers.

"Yes, Master."

Li Qingyan dared not delay and hurriedly followed.

With the Black Prison Battle Blade, Chen Ye's efficiency in completing tasks became even more terrifying.

Previously, he might have needed to put in some effort to resolve a battle, but now it's basically a matter of one strike.

No matter what kind of demonic beast or formation it is, it is no different from paper in front of the Black Prison's sharpness that can cut through anything, and the Calamity Eye of the Myriad Tribulations Blade Lord that can see through all flaws.

One strike, and all is over.

Li Qingyan followed him, going from initial shock to numbness, and now to taking it all for granted.

She felt like a mortal witnessing a miracle, constantly refreshing her worldview.

She even began to think that perhaps the so-called core disciples and even the Core Formation elders of the Blood Lotus Sect were nothing more than this man.

Chen Ye's contribution points were also increasing rapidly. With contribution points, cultivation resources would naturally follow.

Chen Ye began exchanging large quantities of pills and cultivation supplies. With such a luxurious accumulation of resources, Chen Ye's cultivation level began to soar wildly!
Just one month later, on this day, Chen Ye was sitting cross-legged in meditation, and the Star River Qi Refining Technique in his body was running at its maximum on its own!

Within the dantian and dantian, the river formed by the convergence of stellar true essence surged with towering waves!

A surge of powerful true energy coursed wildly through his meridians, cleansing his limbs, bones, and internal organs.

Suddenly, as if struck by a divine inspiration, Chen Ye silently uttered a single word.

"Congeal!"

Rumble!
Within the dantian and dantian, the surging river of true essence began to churn and compress violently under the suppression of this powerful will!
Just moments later, a drop of liquid true essence, shimmering with dazzling starlight, slowly formed from the bottom of the river!
Then came the second drop, the third drop...

As these liquid true essences accumulate, the entire river of true essences begins an irreversible transformation, eventually turning completely into this purer and more solid liquid true essence!
Qi Sea, done!
Then, an aura more than ten times stronger than before suddenly erupted from Chen Ye's body, and swept outwards in all directions from him!

Li Qingyan, who was in the distance, was not too surprised after sensing this aura.

Or perhaps she had become somewhat numb with surprise.

At this point, she completely regarded Chen Ye as an old monster who had been reincarnated and cultivated again. Therefore, even though he had only taken one month to prove his Dao from the Unobstructed Realm to the Sea of ​​Condensation Realm, and his cultivation speed was unprecedented, she still felt it was only natural.

At the same time, Chen Ye slowly opened his eyes, looked down at his hands, and then gently clenched them together.

An unprecedented feeling, full of explosive power, surged from every corner of my body.

He could clearly feel that the Starry Sea of ​​Qi in his dantian was continuously providing him with abundant true essence.

This feeling is completely different from the previous state of unimpeded freedom!

If the true essence before was a flowing stream, then the true essence now is a calm ocean!

Both in quality and quantity, there have been earth-shattering changes!

Seeing this, Chen Ye finally showed a genuine smile. Because after so long since he transmigrated, he had fought his way up from a criminal struggling to survive at the bottom of society until today when he finally had the means to make a living.

With his cultivation at the Condensation Sea Realm, coupled with the assistance of powerful professions such as the Grandmaster of the Divine Realm, the Mirage Pavilion Master, and the Myriad Tribulations Blade Master, Chen Ye was confident that even if he encountered an Inner Realm or Core Formation Realm elder, he would have the ability to fight back and protect himself, instead of having to retreat and seek survival as before.

From this day forward, we will no longer live in constant fear!
This is the world's changes after one attains enlightenment and condenses the sea of ​​enlightenment!

(End of this chapter)