CHAPTER 407: CHAPTER 402: ONE MILLION CONTRIBUTIONS! CELESTIAL REBIRTH PILL!_1

The Internal Affairs Manager and the Law Enforcement Elders were stunned for a moment, staring at Jia Ren with incredulous expressions, taking a long time to recover their senses.

"Ahem, how many Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures did you actually collect?"

"However many you were able to collect is also a testament to your abilities."

The first place only had 120,000 Lingbao Sect Contribution, and you’ve surpassed a million in one go.

The gap is too huge!

Many people felt that the gap between the first place’s 120,000 and the second place’s 90,000 was huge, but a million and 100,000 is worlds apart.

"It was just luck," Jia Ren could only respond with a smile.

Exceeding one million Lingbao Sect Contribution, with no specific figure, offered huge room for maneuvering.

Nine million, nine hundred and ninety thousand is also over a million, and one million, ten thousand is also over a million. The limit of the Lingbao Scales is here, making it no problem to conceal the Earth Vein Purple Lotus.

It is possible that a good amount of Spiritual Materials could also be hidden.

Jia Ren was well-prepared and flipped his hand to take out more than ten River Mountain Bags.

Each River Mountain Bag was bulging, filled with various kinds of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, none of which were of low quality.

The Insect External Incarnation and the Treasure-seeking Mouse prioritized searching for high-quality Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, too lazy to bother with Spiritual Medicines under a thousand years old.

The preciousness contained within each River Mountain Bag was extremely high, far beyond what an ordinary Lingbao Sect Cultivator could compare with.

With each River Mountain Bag taken out, the reading on the Lingbao Scales rapidly changed.

In a short amount of time, the amount astonishingly reached 800,000.

I haven’t even started to apply real effort...

The appropriate precious treasures had already been selected, with Spiritual Materials and Thousand-Year-Old Spiritual Medicine not being among them.

Priority was given to starting with the River Mountain Bags of lower quality. This was to estimate how many River Mountain Bags needed to be taken out to meet the requirements.

He took out three River Mountain Bags, and his Lingbao Sect Contribution easily broke through the one million mark.

The Internal Affairs Manager was silent and did not speak for a long time.

He picked up the River Mountain Bags and carefully inspected them—the variety and quantity of the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures contained within them were simply too much.

There were many treasures, but not a single piece of Spiritual Material.

Jia Ren’s gain was far beyond this...

"How many more Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures do you have hidden? Bring them all out!" The voice did not come from the Internal Affairs Manager, but from a Law Enforcement Elder standing by.

The Law Enforcement Elder spoke because Jia Ren had a good relationship with the Internal Affairs Manager, meaning the Elder had to be the one to play the villain.

The remaining treasures were all essence, including numerous five-thousand-year-old and Thousand-Year-Old Spiritual Medicines, as well as twenty-three Spiritual Materials.

These treasures were useful to him, and of course, he would not want to hand them over if he could keep them.

Jia Ren spread his hands, looking helpless as he said, "I have already taken everything out."

The Law Enforcement Elder who had spoken turned ashen-faced, but out of consideration for the Internal Affairs Manager, he couldn’t say much more.

Who knew how many treasures he had obtained? They certainly couldn’t search his person.

"Let’s stop here!" the Internal Affairs Manager spoke up, in a way granting Jia Ren a favor.

The Giant Forest Secret Realm was meant to be a benefit for the disciples of the Lingbao Sect. To continue would be too unseemly.

Jia Ren had been able to obtain so many treasures; that was his skill.

"Do you plan to take half or convert them into Lingbao Sect Contribution?" the Internal Affairs Manager asked.

This was no small sum; there were too many Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

Enough to last a hundred years of Alchemy and Artifact Refining.

As the grade of Elixirs became higher and Magical Treasures evolved toward the Spiritual Treasure Level, ordinary Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures became less and less useful to him.

Ordinary Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures weren’t easy to convert into Lingbao Sect Contribution.

"Convert them all into Lingbao Sect Contribution!" Jia Ren did not hesitate and made a decisive choice.

"You have to surrender half to the Sect, a total of 500,000, and an additional reward of 10,000 Lingbao Sect Contribution, totaling 510,000."

The Internal Affairs Manager took the Identity Token Jia Ren passed to him and looked at him deeply.

"Thank you, Uncle-Master."

Jia Ren thanked the Internal Affairs Manager and then left, heading straight for Xiao Mang Mountain.

His Cave was just as before, though a new stone cottage had been added not far away.

Jia Ren had been away at the trial for over ten months. During this time, the thin-faced cultivator had apparently resumed his duties guarding the Cave.

"You can leave. I’ll take it from here."

Being first in the trial, 500,000 Lingbao Sect Contribution could be exchanged for a large number of treasures and Secret Techniques and Divine Abilities at the Spirit Law Pavilion.

The role of the Corpse Guardian was becoming increasingly insignificant.

Yet, Jia Ren had no intention of leaving the place.

The main reason was to enjoy a peaceful and easy life. If there were any miscellaneous matters to attend to, he could delegate them to his Xuan Beast Avatar.

Soon after Jia Ren returned to his Cave, several Lingbao Sect Cultivators followed in quick succession.

News of the one million Lingbao Sect Contribution spread rapidly. Elder Brother Ye’s 120,000 Lingbao Sect Contribution was already not low, yet an unexpected dark horse had emerged.

The gap was too enormous, wasn’t it?

Elder Brother Ye had worked hard to secure the top spot; many Inner Sect Disciples and Outer Sect Disciples had made contributions to gather his 120,000 Lingbao Sect Contribution. What virtues and abilities did this person possess to have so many Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures?

Many suspected there was insider trading and believed he had handed over a large amount of Spiritual Materials and Heavenly Earth Elixirs.

No matter the reason, all fingers pointed at Jia Ren.

"Where is Junior Brother Jia? Elder Brother has taken the liberty to visit."

"Junior Brother Jia, your methods are extraordinary, having found a large number of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. Do you have any secrets to share?"

For a time, several Lingbao Sect Cultivators gathered at Xiao Mang Mountain.

If Jia Ren had been staying in the stone houses allocated to Inner Sect Disciples, his threshold would have undoubtedly been worn down by visitors.

A few who came appeared amiable, but they also wanted to find out Jia Ren’s method of treasure hunting.

He had managed to obtain one million Lingbao Sect Contribution worth of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures in one go; his method of treasure hunting was essential to this.

Jia Ren had anticipated this. He activated the Formation around his Cave and hung a sign outside that read: "In Closed-door Cultivation."

This effectively barred the annoying "flies" from entering.

The Lingbao Sect was not one of the Demon Path Sects but a prestigious orthodox sect. Even if someone harbored malicious intentions, on the surface, they had to act according to the rules.

They called out several times, but no one responded.

They could only resort to using Sound Transmission Talismans, sending them into his Cave.

Visiting, seeking guidance, discussing the Dao, making friends... the reasons they came up with were diverse and numerous.

Outside Jia Ren’s Cave, Lingbao Sect disciples could be seen arriving daily, creating quite a lively scene.

All of them were denied entry and stopped outside.

Ye Yuan was among them, his face as dark as the bottom of a pot.

With 120,000 Lingbao Sect Contribution, he had pulled away from the second-place disciple by a margin of 30,000; his first place was indisputable and truly deserved.

But when Jia Ren made his grand entrance with a million Lingbao Sect Contribution, who could compete with him?

His 120,000 Lingbao Sect Contribution was instantly crushed into dust.

The Sound Transmission Talismans that Ye Yuan sent into the Cave received no response, as if dropped into the ocean.

He was about to leave when, just at that moment, the Cave’s Formation was activated.

Jia Ren’s voice transmitted from within, "Elder Brother Ye, please come in for a chat."

Ye Yuan was slightly startled. As far as he knew, many True Disciples had also been turned away; he hadn’t expected an exception to be made for him.

He strode into the Cave, only to find the interior was even more spartan than he had imagined, with just one Cultivation Room containing a single meditation cushion and devoid of furnishings like tables and chairs.

Truly a cultivator who embraces hardship.

Originally, Jia Ren was an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple, and Ye Yuan, as a True Disciple, wouldn’t have cared about someone whose status was so far beneath his.

Only after Jia Ren’s sudden rise in reputation did Ye Yuan deliberately inquire about him and rush here.

Donating treasures to become a Protector, acting in solitude, only befriending one other Protector in the Sect...

Ye Yuan had received a tip that many Refining Void Ancestors of the Lingbao Sect were interested in this man, harboring thoughts of taking him as a True Disciple.

A dragon does not dwell with serpents. Perhaps it wouldn’t be long before he, too, would rank among the True Disciples.

"Junior Brother, I have come with a rather presumptuous request. The Spiritual Treasure I need can only be refined by Master Zhong Wu, and he’s the one who will handle this particular item’s crafting."

"I wish to exchange rewards with you, Junior Brother Jia, and I will compensate for the difference."

Ye Yuan looked at Jia Ren, his eyes full of earnest pleading.

Jia Ren was momentarily stunned. Talk about perfect timing; it’s like dozing off and having someone offer you a pillow.

He had turned others away and agreed to meet only Ye Yuan because he wanted to trade for the Treasure Light Body Refining Technique, the prize for the second-place winner.

A personally tailored Spiritual Treasure, one truly belonging to oneself, is invaluable and irreplaceable.

Jia Ren was an Artifact Refiner, and the Spiritual Treasures he crafted could also be enhanced through the Demon-Sealing Tower, far surpassing what outsiders could offer.

In comparison, the Treasure Light Body Refining Technique suited his own aspirations better.

Just as he was thinking about how to broach the topic, he hadn’t expected Ye Yuan to bring it up on his own initiative.

"I feel a strong kinship with you, Elder Brother Ye, so let’s proceed as you suggest. There’s no need for compensation."

The Treasure Light Body Refining Technique held a higher value in his eyes; an even exchange would also forge a good relationship.

Otherwise, being seen as an ’enemy of the whole world’ within the Lingbao Sect would not make his days easy.

Having one more friend is always better than having one more enemy.

"Thank you, Junior Brother Jia! I will remember this favor," Ye Yuan said, not having expected Jia Ren to agree to an even exchange of rewards. He hastily expressed his gratitude.

After a few more pleasantries, Jia Ren saw Ye Yuan off.

No sooner had Ye Yuan left than Zhuo Chengdao strode over, passing him and heading straight for Jia Ren’s Cave.

"Thank you, Junior Brother Jia, for saving my life. I shall repay this debt handsomely in the future."

Zhuo Chengdao’s appearance truly startled Jia Ren. Observing the other’s body, Jia Ren seemed unable to sense any major differences.

The man had died only a few days ago; how could his body have recovered so quickly?

Even for someone as well-informed as Jia Ren, the methods of the Lingbao Sect still shocked him.

Indeed, as one of the top sects in the Mysterious Realm, their capabilities were extraordinary.

Zhuo Chengdao turned to look in the direction Ye Yuan had departed, his expression grave. "Junior Brother Jia, have you offended that man?"

"Rest assured, as long as I am here, he won’t be able to touch a hair on your head."

This was a man who sought to repay his debt of gratitude, not an ingrate.

"I had a pleasant conversation with Elder Brother Ye; we hold no grudges," Jia Ren clarified.

"Elder Brother Zhuo, for your body to recover so quickly is truly a miracle," Jia Ren said with genuine admiration.

When a body is thoroughly destroyed, even if the soul remains, the only options are seizing another’s body or rebuilding one’s own flesh.

Seizing another’s body brings endless troubles, and no one willingly chooses a new host unless out of desperation.

To rebuild the flesh, precious treasures are required. If the original foundation is destroyed, one must start anew.

That Zhuo Chengdao’s vitality was merely weakened while other aspects were largely unaffected was indeed bewildering.

"This is all thanks to the flesh and blood that you, Junior Brother Jia, brought back."

"My master procured a Celestial Rebirth Pill, which allowed me to rebuild my body," he explained.

At this point, Zhuo Chengdao’s spirits seemed to dip slightly; this failure had dealt him a great blow.

He had returned empty-handed from the trial, his Spirit Heart Sword and several other Spiritual Treasures lost. He wondered if there would ever be a day they would be returned to him.

Celestial Rebirth Pill?

Although Jia Ren was unsure of the grade of an Elixir that could regenerate flesh and blood and restore a Nascent Soul, such a pill could be deemed nature-defying.

Surely, it was not something ordinary people could use, and it must have come at a great cost.

Is there any way to obtain the Alchemy Recipe?

Ancestor Jikong had taken Zhuo Chengdao as a disciple not long ago; the treatment was too generous!

"Does Ancestor Jikong plan to take any more disciples? Might it be possible for me to become his disciple?"

If he became a disciple of Ancestor Jikong, he wouldn’t need to acquire the Spirit Devouring Treasure Art from Zhuo Chengdao; he would have a brand new channel to obtain it.

Zhuo Chengdao appeared taken aback for a moment, then laughed. "If I could share the same master with you, Junior Brother Jia, it would indeed be a wonderful affair."

"I’ll inquire about it for you."