I Can Add Points Infinitely - Chapter 23

The strike that had slain Wang Hongde moments ago seemed effortless, but Shen Lian knew victory hadn’t come easily. Every action required precise timing; the slightest hesitation could have spelled disaster. Even that final desperate attack had come at great risk, and Shen Lian couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat afterward.

Thankfully, the system-provided armor had done its job, shielding him from the worst of the impact. Aside from spitting out a mouthful of blood, he was relatively unscathed. He casually swallowed a healing pill, feeling the medicinal power spread through his abdomen, quickly mending his wounds.

Turning his attention to the spiritual sword in his hand, Shen Lian appraised it briefly. Wang Hongde’s flying sword was merely a low-grade spiritual artifact, nothing special compared to his Blue Jade Sword. 

The Blue Jade Sword, acquired through a system lottery, was a mid-grade spiritual weapon of exceptional quality—nearly on par with top-grade spiritual swords. Unimpressed, Shen Lian stowed Wang Hongde’s sword without a second glance.

Next, he inspected Wang Hongde’s storage pouch. What he found inside made him grin. The wealth of treasures was befitting a Foundation Establishment expert. 

There were over three hundred low-grade spirit stones, along with a dozen mid-grade ones, totaling nearly five hundred low-grade stones. The pouch also contained a plethora of pills, miscellaneous items, and several thousand taels of mundane gold and silver.

The only disappointment was the absence of any cultivation techniques or martial arts manuals. Azure Cloud Sect strictly controlled access to such texts; they could only be viewed in the sect’s library and were never allowed to be taken out.

After looting Wang Hongde’s belongings, Shen Lian swiftly disposed of the body, making sure to leave no trace. He paused for a moment, deep in thought, before deciding against returning directly to the sect. Instead, he headed toward Liao Xin City.

Wang Hongde’s appearance had reignited Shen Lian’s desire for strength. He had previously taken pride in his rapid growth, feeling like a rising expert. But facing Wang Hongde had shattered that illusion, making Shen Lian acutely aware of the divide between mortal and immortal.

And that was just a Foundation Establishment cultivator. What if he faced someone at the Golden Core stage or higher? The sheer thought was terrifying.

Never had Shen Lian felt such urgency to break through. Even achieving Foundation Establishment would have prevented today’s events—he wouldn’t have been tracked without realizing it if he had divine sense.

“I need to get stronger quickly. The Qi Refinement stage is far too weak,” Shen Lian muttered, pushing his movement technique to the limit.

Two hours later, a towering city loomed ahead. A long line of people waited at the city gates. Shen Lian slowed his pace and stopped at the gate’s side.

A guard, noticing Shen Lian’s distinctive robe, hurried over with a respectful salute. “Are you a cultivator from Azure Cloud Sect?”

Shen Lian nodded calmly and handed over his identity token. The guard inspected it briefly before returning it with even greater deference, guiding Shen Lian straight to the front of the line and into the city without any further delay.

As the dominant power in southern Yan Country, Azure Cloud Sect wielded many privileges, some of which were more apparent in large mundane cities. Sect disciples like Shen Lian were exempt from queues and entry fees, unlike the hundreds of commoners who could only watch in awe and envy.

Inside the bustling city, Shen Lian dismissed the guard and strolled along the main street, observing the lively scene. Liao Xin City was the largest city under Panyang Prefecture, filled with vendors selling wares on both sides of the crowded roads. Most were ordinary people, though some were minor sect disciples or rogue cultivators hawking materials and trinkets.

Recognizing Shen Lian’s sect robes, many cultivators nodded politely in greeting. Shen Lian returned the gestures courteously. However, he wasn’t interested in the small items they were selling. After asking for directions, he learned that the largest trading house in Liao Xin City, Spirit Treasure Pavilion, was located in the city center.

Spirit Treasure Pavilion had a legendary reputation. It was founded by a group of rogue cultivators who had banded together, supporting each other to establish a business dedicated to serving cultivators. Over time, it had grown into a massive operation with branches throughout Yan Country and even rumors of expansion into neighboring lands.

With renewed purpose, Shen Lian quickened his pace, soon arriving at a grand building occupying an enormous area. Above the entrance, a majestic sign proudly displayed the words “Spirit Treasure Pavilion.”

Without hesitation, Shen Lian stepped inside. As soon as he entered, a young and beautiful woman in her twenties greeted him. Noticing Shen Lian’s robes, she respectfully addressed him, “Greetings, Senior. My name is Ling’er. How may I assist you today?”

Shen Lian looked at her in mild surprise, not because of her appearance but due to the faint aura she exuded. Despite being only at the first level of Qi Refinement, having a Qi Refinement cultivator serve as a mere receptionist spoke volumes about Spirit Treasure Pavilion’s formidable resources.

“Hello, Ling’er,” Shen Lian nodded. “I’m looking to purchase a Foundation Establishment technique and a Foundation Establishment Pill. Do you have any in stock?”

Ling’er immediately replied, “We have Foundation Establishment techniques available in-store, but Foundation Establishment Pills are rare and only sold at auctions.”

Shen Lian frowned. He knew his current body’s poor aptitude; even with a Qi Refinement technique, he had required a Profound Spirit Pill to successfully advance. Attempting to break through to Foundation Establishment without a Foundation Establishment Pill was a guaranteed failure.

“Is there any other way to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill outside the auction?” Shen Lian asked, unwilling to give up so easily.

Ling’er hesitated before suggesting, “The pavilion occasionally accepts custom orders for rare items, but the cost is significantly higher. Alternatively, you may seek opportunities in the auction houses of larger cities, where more precious resources are sometimes available.”

Shen Lian sighed inwardly. It seemed that obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill would not be as straightforward as he had hoped. But he couldn’t afford to delay his advancement; without breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, he would remain vulnerable.

“I understand. I’ll take a look at your available Foundation Establishment techniques first,” Shen Lian decided, knowing that securing a suitable technique was the first step toward his goal.

Ling’er nodded and gestured for Shen Lian to follow her deeper into the pavilion, where the most valuable items were displayed. As they walked, Shen Lian’s mind raced with thoughts of his next move, fully aware that every delay in his cultivation could lead to more life-threatening encounters like the one with Wang Hongde.