I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

Corpses littered the city walls.

There were demons and cultivators.

A rough estimate suggests that at least fifty disciples from various sects died in battle that night. Those who survived were also covered in wounds and utterly exhausted.

Qin Yuan stood at the edge of the city wall, a few drops of blood staining his gray robe, but his breathing remained steady. He glanced at the token:

Points: 9780

Overnight, I gained 4,000 points.

Chu Wuyue walked over, panting heavily. She glanced at Qin Yuan's token and grinned bitterly, "I fought tooth and nail, and it only increased by two thousand... Junior Brother Qin, you killed too many people too quickly."

Yun Qingyao and Zi Ling also gathered around; both of them had around four thousand points.

"Fellow Daoist Qin..." Zi Ling hesitated for a moment before asking, "You...are you really only at the early Nascent Soul stage?"

Qin Yuan did not answer, but looked towards the center of the city wall.

There, Yan Lie was coldly surveying the survivors.

"Those who survived are at least somewhat capable." His voice remained icy. "Rest today. Tomorrow night, the demonic tide will be even fiercer. Those who don't want to die should use this time to heal their wounds and improve their strength."

After saying that, he turned and left with his two companions.

In the center of Huangtu City, there is a special building.

It was a three-story stone building with a plaque hanging at the entrance that read "Pavilion of Military Merit".

During the Hundred Sects War, all points earned on the battlefield can be exchanged for resources here. This is a rule established by the upper sect to encourage disciples of all sects to fight bravely against the enemy.

When Qin Yuan entered the Hall of Military Merit, there were already quite a few people inside.

In the lobby on the first floor, the four walls were covered with jade slips, each with a description of the required points and the item.

"The Xuan-rank superior flying sword 'Flowing Fire' requires 5000 points."

"The Earth-Rank Low-Grade Cultivation Technique, 'Blazing Sun Technique,' requires 8000 points."

"The fifth-grade elixir, 'Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill,' requires 12000 points."

……

There are many good items, but the points required are frighteningly high.

Most people are stuck between 1,000 and 3,000 points, and seeing these prices, they can only sigh in despair.

Qin Yuan's nine thousand points are considered a fortune here.

He looked around, his brows furrowed slightly.

Flying swords, magical artifacts, elixirs, talismans... these things are all good, but they are of limited use to him.

He has a system, so he doesn't lack cultivation. He has the "Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Technique," so he doesn't lack cultivation methods. As for magic treasures—he sacrificed the three Profound Bone Treasures of the Dao Integration stage, and he really doesn't care about those below the Earth Rank.

Until he reached the third floor.

There were very few people on the third floor, with only a handful of powerful players with over 10,000 points wandering around.

The items here are also more valuable.

"The Heavenly Rank Low-grade Protective Magic Treasure 'Mystic Turtle Shield' requires 30000 points."

"The sixth-grade pill 'Nascent Soul Pill' can increase the success rate of condensing a Nascent Soul by 30%, and requires 25000 points."

……

Qin Yuan's gaze swept across the area, then suddenly stopped on a black jade slip in the corner.

The jade slip had no luster on its surface and looked completely ordinary. But the description made his pupils shrink slightly:

Nine Deaths Nascent Soul Technique

Rank: Unknown

Synopsis: This is an ancient fragment. To cultivate this method and condense a nascent soul, one must undergo nine trials of life and death, taking ten times longer than ordinary cultivation methods. However, once mastered, the strength of the nascent soul, the total amount of spiritual power, and the range of divine sense all far surpass those of other cultivators of the same level.

Warning: This practice is not suitable for those without great perseverance and exceptional opportunity.

Required points: 9000

Nine Deaths Nascent Soul Technique.

Ten times the time, in exchange for strength far exceeding that of others of the same level.

For others, this is a thankless task—on the path of cultivation, time is life. Who would be willing to spend ten times the time to cultivate just one realm?

But for Qin Yuan...

"The thing I have in abundance is time," he murmured to himself.

Eighty years of cultivation in a day, eight hundred years in ten days. Ten times the time? Even a hundred times, he could afford to wait.

He took the jade slip and walked to the counter.

Behind the counter stood an expressionless old man. He glanced at the jade slip, then at Qin Yuan's token: "Nine thousand points. Confirm redemption?"

"Sure."

The old man took the token and rubbed it on it.

The points decreased from 9780 to 780.

The restriction on the jade slip was lifted, and Qin Yuan probed it with his divine sense, a large amount of information flooding into his mind.

The "Nine Deaths Nascent Soul Technique" truly lives up to its name, requiring nine life-or-death trials during the Nascent Soul stage. Each trial is an extreme refinement of the Nascent Soul; the slightest mistake will result in the Nascent Soul shattering, leading to death and the dissipation of one's Dao.

However, if successful, after nine attempts, the Nascent Soul will reach a near-perfect state. Not only will its strength far surpass that of others of the same level, but it will also possess a variety of incredible supernatural abilities.

"Just what I wanted." Qin Yuan put away the jade slip.

Just as I was about to leave, a voice suddenly came from behind me:

"Fellow Daoist, please wait."

Qin Yuan turned around and saw a young man dressed in a moon-white robe.

The young man had a handsome face and a refined demeanor. He held a scroll in his hand and looked more like a scholar than a cultivator. However, the aura emanating from him had reached the peak of the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm, and it was extremely solid.

"I am Li Qingfeng of the 'Book and Sword Sect'." The young man cupped his hands and smiled. "I just saw you exchange for the 'Nine Deaths Nascent Soul Technique' and became curious. This technique is extremely dangerous and takes a very long time to master. In the past hundred years, only three people have exchanged for it, and none of them have succeeded. Are you... truly confident?"

The Book and Sword Sect, ranked fifteenth among the Hundred Sects, is renowned for its dual cultivation of Confucianism and Taoism.

Qin Yuan calmly replied, "Just giving it a try."

A hint of surprise flashed in Li Qingfeng's eyes, but his smile widened: "Fellow Daoist, you have an extraordinary bearing. To be honest, I have come here to invite you to explore a secret realm together."

"A secret realm?"

"Not bad." Li Qingfeng lowered his voice. "According to the ancient records of my sect, deep within this battlefield lies an 'Ancient Cultivator's Abode,' left behind by an ancient powerful being. The abode is protected by an array, requiring at least five Nascent Soul stage cultivators to work together to open it. I have found three so far, and I still need one more."

He looked at Qin Yuan with sincere eyes: "Fellow Daoist is at the mid-Nascent Soul stage, and your combat strength far surpasses that of others of the same level, making you more than capable. If you are willing to join, the rewards for your contribution to the cave will be distributed according to your strength."

Qin Yuan remained silent for a moment.

An ancient cultivation cave... perhaps, there is something he needs inside.

"When are we leaving?"

Li Qingfeng's eyes lit up: "We'll meet outside the city in three days. Here's the map and the token."

He handed over a jade slip and a jade pendant.

Qin Yuan accepted it: "See you in three days."

When we left the Hall of Military Merit, it was already nearly dusk.

Qin Yuan returned to his room at the inn and sat down cross-legged.

He took out the jade slip containing the "Nine Deaths Nascent Soul Technique" and began to study it again.

"Nine temperings...it's best to use the earth's core fire for tempering."

The Earth's Core Flame is a rare and wondrous fire that even Nascent Soul stage cultivators dare not easily touch. To use it to incinerate one's infant is tantamount to suicide.

But a look of excitement flashed in Qin Yuan's eyes.

"Perfect timing, I can try out the system's 'Energy Conversion Insight' function."

He closed his eyes and silently recited in his mind:

"System, convert 10,000 units of energy to activate the state of enlightenment."

[Energy conversion in progress...]

[Enlightenment state activated, lasting twelve hours.]

In an instant, Qin Yuan felt his thinking speed increase a hundredfold!

The profound mysteries of the Nine Deaths Nascent Soul Technique, which were originally obscure and difficult to understand, are now as clear as lines on the palm of one's hand. The characteristics of the Earth Core Flame, the key points of burning the nascent soul, the secret methods of protecting the nascent soul... everything is rapidly being deduced and perfected in my mind.

Twelve hours later.

Qin Yuan opened his eyes, a flash of understanding crossing his gaze.

"So that's the secret..."

He looked out the window.

The night is getting darker.

The second wave of demonic invasions is coming.