Chapter 23: Finding Spirit Stones, the Unlucky One Appears

Zhang Wu, because of a single remark, suddenly had an epiphany and broke through to Foundation Establishment.

You should know, they have been lingering at this realm for a year or two, never able to break through, unable to find an opportunity.

A faint expectation flickered in their eyes.

Indeed, those who have opened the martial path can, with a casual remark, grant others a different breakthrough insight.

Their resolve hardened; now they must cling tightly to Qin Yu's strong leg.

At the same time, a few leading outer‑sect disciples, upon seeing Zhang Wu's breakthrough, had their eyes light up.

Leading them was senior brother Chu Jiang.

As the Grand Competition approached, he broke through to the third level of Foundation Establishment; although the realm was unstable, his chance of taking first place was the greatest.

He narrowed his eyes slightly and whispered to those nearby, "I recall this person, named Zhang Wu, who was stuck at the Body Tempering Peak for over a year."

"I didn't expect him to break through now… that's good news. Send someone to give him three hundred spirit stones, and when he meets the other second‑level Foundation Establishment seniors, let him go all out, no holding back."

"Moreover, each disciple around him should be given fifty spirit stones, so they too can go all out; as long as they can drain those few people's spiritual energy and Qi‑blood, that's good news for me!"

"If they inflict only light injuries, award three hundred spirit stones; if they cause serious wounds, give a yellow‑tier spirit medicine!"

Now the outer sect, vying for inner‑sect slots, is gradually splitting into two factions. Chu Jiang's sudden breakthrough, though targeted by many, still leaves him with a trump card because his foundation is unstable, so he still has a chance.

Behind the scenes they are courting the Body Tempering Peak disciples; once they encounter them, they will go all out, and the more they drain, the greater their chance in the Thirty‑Two Strong Trial.

The other second‑level Foundation Establishment disciples naturally don't want Chu Jiang to secure a slot unopposed.

So they temporarily form an alliance.

They also continue to bribe outer‑sect disciples in secret.

The disciples who heard the order nodded and walked toward Qin Yu and the others.

On the other side, a group of several second‑level Foundation Establishment outer‑sect disciples gathered, narrowed their eyes slightly, and also sent people toward Qin Yu's side.

Only a handful are at the first level of Foundation Establishment.

These Body Tempering Peak ones, though lacking the ability to vie for slots, can make those Foundation Establishment disciples continuously expend spiritual energy and Qi‑blood.

A slight misstep could cause injury.

Zhang Wu has just broken through the Foundation Establishment realm, and with a few Body Tempering Peak friends, that provides a boost.

Naturally they must find a way to win them over.

Buzz—

The aura around Zhang Wu grew heavier, the spiritual energy undergoing a qualitative change, hovering around him like solid matter.

He slowly opened his eyes, exhaled a faint wisp of turbid Qi, and his eyes brimmed with gratitude.

"Thank you, Brother Yu, for granting the Dao, aligning with my thoughts."

"Although I have only broken through Foundation Establishment, … in the upcoming Grand Competition I will do everything I can to help Brother Yu vie for an inner‑sect slot."

A resolute gleam surfaced deep within Zhang Wu's eyes.

He wants to make amends.

Since Qin Yu has already forgiven him, he must also show his stance.

The other four, seeing this, also voiced their support: "We're willing too, Brother Yu!"

It's a prime chance to cling to the big leg.

They know what Qin Yu's true strength is.

Even if they encounter those second‑level Foundation Establishment ones, they are still unafraid.

Even if they are only Body Tempering Peak, their bodies are extremely strong, having broken the ultimate; aside from lacking spiritual energy and combat experience, everything else… as long as they assist, success is possible.

Qin Yu was somewhat shocked; he… had only said a couple of casual words.

That made him feel a bit embarrassed to attack Zhang Wu.

Then later I'll pick a top‑grade yellow‑tier spirit medicine… hmm, after all I'm short on resources myself now.

Mistakes always require a price, and it will be etched in their hearts.

"Then thank you, senior brothers." Qin Yu clasped his fists together and smiled kindly.

At that moment, a burly youth stepped before the crowd, opened the Qiankun Bag in his arms, and a dazzling light burst forth, containing several hundred spirit stones.

"Zhang Wu, junior brothers."

"You also know that this cohort will find it hard to secure a good ranking; as long as you are willing to go all out against Jiang Hai and the others, senior brother Chu Jiang is ready to give you these hundreds of spirit stones outright."

"You don't need to clash head‑on; just gradually drain their spiritual energy and Qi‑blood, and there won't be much danger."

"Moreover, if you inflict any injuries on them, senior brother Chu Jiang will provide yellow‑tier spirit medicine!"

"At minimum a mid‑grade yellow‑tier, okay?"

Zhang Wu, hearing this, flared up instantly, thinking: let Brother Yu make way for them? Send a lackey? Who is being insulted?

He took a step forward, ready to strike, when Qin Yu reached out and stopped him: "Alright, we agree."

Anyway, these are all obstacles to snatching inner‑sect disciples.

All of them need to be dealt with.

If we can also get some spirit stones, why not?

The burly youth, seeing this, was somewhat puzzled: Zhang Wu broke through Foundation Establishment, yet he isn't the leader of this small group?

Instead, this inexperienced youth never seen in the outer sect holds the say?

Nevertheless, since the other side agreed, that's a good thing.

After Chu Jiang ascends to the inner sect, his followers will also thrive within the outer sect, having a backing.

"Alright! There are a total of five hundred and fifty spirit stones here; check them carefully."

"Also, senior brother Chu Jiang has already broken through to the third level of Foundation Establishment; his inner‑sect position is secure. I expect you to keep your promise and not sabotage yourselves."

The burly youth tossed the Qiankun Bag aside, narrowed his eyes slightly, uttered a threatening remark, and then turned and left.

After he left, Zhang Wu and the others furrowed their brows and, hesitantly, spoke: "Brother Yu, could it be that you don't trust us? With your strength, plus the assistance of the five of us brothers, you could certainly enter the inner sect in this round."

"Why must you agree to Chu Jiang and make a wedding dress for them?"

The other four also nodded repeatedly, their eyes showing doubt.

Qin Yu smiled: "If I want the inner sect position, does that mean I must become enemies with Jiang Hai and the others? Must I also compete, and if I can pick up spirit stones for free, why not?"

"After injuring them, we can also obtain the Yellow‑tier spirit medicine, and then go to Chu Jiang to claim the prize."

Zhang Wu and the others suddenly realized, and immediately stated that they themselves did not need spirit stones; Qin Yu could take them all into his own pouch.

After all… these so‑called spirit stones now are insignificant compared to the future friendship with a true heir.

Moreover, Qin Yu is certainly lacking resources now.

Every single spirit stone is extremely important.

At that moment, another disciple at the pinnacle of body‑tempering revealed his identity as a member of Jiang Hai's lineage, hoping that when Qin Yu and his group meet Chu Jiang, they can strike with full force, and so on.

The wording is the same, and the reward is the same.

Zhang Wu and the others were about to refuse, because they had already received Chu Jiang's spirit stones.

Qin Yu directly placed the Qiankun Bag into his own pouch.

Jiang Hai's subordinate, seeing this, left satisfied.

Zhang Wu and the others again showed doubt.

Qin Yu calmly said: "We're all about to compete for them; when facing Chu Jiang, is that also within our target to resolve?"

"Chu Jiang's people only said that upon seeing Jiang Hai's group, they would strike with full force, but they didn't say they couldn't act against him?"

"Reasonable and logical."

"Let's split these spirit stones evenly."

Zhang Wu and the others saw that Qin Yu had to divide the spirit stones.

"Brother Yu, if you say it like that, it means you think too highly of us; those Foundation Establishment second‑ and third‑tier disciples will certainly have to be dealt with by you alone, and we can at most help you handle some of the others."

"Alright then, there are a total of 1,100 spirit stones here. The four of us at the pinnacle of body‑tempering each take fifty spirit stones, while Zhang Wu takes three hundred spirit stones."

"The remaining 750 spirit stones all go to you."

"If you don't agree, then we won't take a single spirit stone."

Qin Yu, seeing this, could only allocate them in this way.

He truly is quite short of spirit stones now.

The little resources bestowed by the Thunder Spirit on his body are certainly not enough.

To break through the Foundation Establishment realm, a massive accumulation of resources is required.

Especially for those whose mortal body strength has reached its limit, it roughly requires a thousand spirit stones and a Yellow‑tier Foundation Establishment Pill worth three thousand spirit stones.

Having tempered his body to the ninth level… already gives him thirty thousand jin of mortal strength.

Even at three times the calculation, that's over ten thousand spirit stones…

The key is that he still has potential for enhancement; he has only completed bone‑refining and still has the stage of nurturing the mortal body.

The stronger the ferocious beast's essence blood used, the better the effect.

Here… it will cost at least several thousand spirit stones again.

Immediately, it was Qin Yu's group's turn to draw lots.

Qin Yu was the first to step forward.

The number he drew was 36.

At that moment, a Foundation Establishment first‑tier disciple following Chu Jiang, with both hands behind his back, stood on the arena and calmly said, "Who is number 36? Step up, don't waste time."

Within the outer sect, as long as he doesn't encounter the top ten, it's essentially a sure win.

Moreover, those few have basically finished the first round.

He's already stable.

Naturally, there's no need to worry.

Hearing this, Qin Yu also smiled faintly and walked toward the arena.

Zhang Wu and the others showed a hint of pity in their eyes.

"This guy, how pitiful, clearly a first‑tier Foundation disciple, and the strongest few have already been mostly dealt with, yet he ran into Brother Yu."

"Unlucky bastard."