Wild cultivation begins with wielding the Taiyin talisman.

"Please come in," Chen Mu called out.

Ning Che opened his eyes and looked over as well.

The door opened, and a complete stranger, the mountain guardian, entered, holding a box in front of Ning Che: "Captain Xing, these are the two spirit stones that Captain Hu promised to give you."

Ning Che took the box and saw that it was about the size of a palm and very plain. After opening it, he could see two grayish-white stones lying inside, each only the size of a thumbnail and without much luster.

The delivery person left.

Ning Che stood up and went to Zhao He and Chen Mu: "One for each of you."

Both of them were stunned, but Chen Mu was the first to react and quickly refused, saying, "Brother Xing, this is your prize, how can you share it with us?"

"This is the compensation you deserve."

"I won't!" Zhao He's voice suddenly rose, speaking forcefully as if making a vow: "You go fight the eighth-grade cultivator and get revenge for us. If I take the spirit stones you earned, wouldn't I become a villain!"

The scab at the corner of his mouth was slightly curled up; because he spoke so forcefully, the edge of the scab had cracked, oozing a very faint trace of blood. He reached up and wiped it, leaving a red mark on the back of his hand.

He put his hands behind his back.

Chen Mu also spoke up to persuade him, "He's right, Brother Xing, we really can't accept it. First, you stood up for us, so we can't take any more of your spoils. Second, you need to improve your strength as soon as possible. If one day you become an eighth-grade cultivator or even higher, are you afraid of not getting a few spirit stones? At that time, we'll still use your name as a banner."

Chen Mu said, a smile appearing on his face.

Ning Che smiled, closed the box, and accepted it.

"Alright, I'll do as you say. I'll keep these two spirit stones. Once I reach the eighth rank, I'll get ten for each of you. Then you won't be able to refuse anymore."

"Definitely, definitely." "Of course not." The two nodded in agreement.

Immediately, Ning Che said seriously, "However, I don't think Hu Shan is the kind of person who is so reckless and likes to set rules everywhere. Perhaps there are some hidden reasons behind this. Tell me the whole story in detail."

"This..." Zhao He asked in confusion, "Why did you suddenly think of asking this?"

"I didn't know much about Hu Shan before, but now that I know a little, I've realized this problem. Enough with the nonsense, get to the point."

Ning Che feigned anger and urged him on.

Zhao He and Chen Mu exchanged a glance, and Chen Mu spoke first.

"Brother Xing, this matter actually dates back to much earlier."

He paused, as if considering how to say it: "You don't know yet, do you? Since we entered the camp, our cultivation supplies have been being embezzled, both openly and secretly. Not just once or twice, but every single time."

In addition to the task quota from the Personnel Department, there's also a bowl of spiritual soup every day. That soup needs to be boiled three times, and what's served to us is the third batch, which has almost no medicinal properties left.

Zhao He, being hot-tempered, couldn't contain himself upon hearing the news and immediately started cursing in the canteen. The skinny guy overheard this and came looking for trouble.

Zhao He chimed in, his voice muffled: "It's my fault. I couldn't keep my mouth shut and spoke loudly in the cafeteria. Then, I almost got into a fight with that skinny guy, which dragged Chen Mu into it."

"I won't accept being implicated. Even if it was someone else who forced you to kneel down and apologize, I would have stood up for anyone else," Chen Mu comforted him.

Ning Che did not respond, waiting for them to continue.

"That day in the mess hall, I said, 'The old guys control the resources, the new guys have no chance, and the camp's rules are utter bullshit.' The skinny guy was sitting at the next table, but I didn't see him at the time."

Ning Che looked at him. "What did he say?"

"He didn't say anything, not a word at the time. He stood up with his bowl, and as he walked past me, his shoulder bumped into me. Food spilled all over me." Zhao He's voice lowered:

"He was laughing when he bumped into me. I was very angry, so I argued with him. Chen Mu also came over, but he just left."

Ning Che's brow twitched slightly.

Chen Mu nodded: "I felt something was wrong right away."

"Then what."

"Then the next day, rumors started circulating in the camp. They said that the two of us new recruits were cursing the senior members in the mess hall, that the senior members were controlling resources, and that the camp rules were bullshit. It spread very quickly, and overnight the whole camp knew about it."

Chen Mu paused, recalling, "Some people also said that you taught us these words..."

Ning Che did not respond.

Zhao He gritted his teeth: "We wanted to explain, but no one listened. You know what happened next."

Ning Che thought for a moment, then said to Zhao He, "There's no need to say things out loud. Even if you want to say them, remember to look around next time. You can say these things in the mess hall when I'm around, but you can only say them in the barracks when I'm not here."

Zhao He lowered his head.

Ning Che looked at him: "I hope that one day you can speak the truth loudly at any time without considering the consequences. Until then, you need to improve your strength as much as possible."

"I understand," he replied listlessly.

Ning Che stood up and said, "I left you in the camp for this mission for two reasons: first, because of the arrangements from above, and second, because I thought you could look after each other in the camp. Now it seems that some people's methods are dirtier than I imagined."

I think it's time for our team to get together so we can support each other.

Back in the barracks, Chen Mu was ready to rest, while Zhao He was still cultivating.

Ning Che then asked Chen Mu about the specific methods of using the Yuan Stones. Afterward, he sat on his own bed, opened the wooden box, took out one of the Yuan Stones, held it in his palm, and closed his eyes to sense it.

If moonlight is like a gentle rain falling from the sky, then the Yuan Stone is like a water jug ​​held in your hand, exceptionally thirst-quenching.

With the Frost Blossom Technique activated at full power, the temperature in the barracks seemed to drop, prompting Chen Mu to cover himself with a blanket.

The light outside the window shifted from bright to dim, and then from dim to dawn.

As the first rays of dawn pierced through the window, Ning Che finished his practice, his palm now empty. Only faint traces of fine powder, like ashes, could be seen between the lines of his palm.

Using spirit stones, the speed of cultivation is completely different; the progress of one day can be equivalent to more than ten days! In just one night, the area opened up in his marrow sea has grown larger.

But spending a single spirit stone for one night was truly unbearable for Ning Che.

He opened his eyes. The morning light was faint, shining obliquely on him, bringing a unique warmth.

He carefully put away the last remaining elemental stone, lost in thought.

A familiar gong sound came from outside, and at the same time, a powerful voice echoed throughout the mountains.

"The calamity has been quelled, and all the demonic beasts have been annihilated. Each team should take inventory of its personnel, lift the mountain patrols and martial law, and the entire camp will be reorganized and its members assessed for merit in three days!"

Upon hearing this, Ning Che's gaze sharpened slightly, and he got up and pushed open the door to leave.

Many people came out of the barracks, their faces filled with surprise, looking around and chatting.

High up, a general in full silver armor, dazzling in his presence, was turning and walking into the council hall at the highest point.