C10 Charisma Points Increase Sharply

Four adversaries, armed with two Immortal Swords and two daggers, proved the adage true: an inch longer is an inch stronger, an inch shorter is an inch riskier. The daggers' tips whizzed perilously close to Ning Xiaofan, each pass potentially fatal, their coordination impeccable.

As time flew by, the attackers grew bolder, sending a shiver down Ning Xiaofan's spine. They had chosen a spot rarely traversed, making each strike lethal. With increasing tension, Ning Xiaofan found himself on the defensive, with no chance to counterattack.

"Xiaofan, I'm back! Attack!"

The guy had guts, that's for sure.

Ning Xiaofan caught sight of Fanh Yichen charging towards the fray, wielding the Immortal Spirit Sword, a cloth tied around his head, another clenched between his teeth. His body seemed to shed its excess weight with every determined step.

This was the stance of a man fighting for his life, but to Ning Xiaofan, it looked more like a man rushing to his death.

"Fatty, you shouldn't have come back."

"We're brothers. If we're to die, we'll die together."

Yes, we are brothers.

They could fend off the onslaught, but dodging was another story. The momentary distraction upon Yichen's arrival was all it took for Wang Chan's sword to find its mark.

You're not my brother; you're the enemy sent to kill me.

"Ding! Golden Spirit Shield activated, consuming 1 Cultivation Point."

"Xiaofan, watch out!"

Startled, Fanh Yichen's Spirit Sword clattered to the ground. He saw Ning Xiaofan still standing, his body aglow with a mystical light, and hope sparked in his eyes. He scooped up the Immortal Sword and dashed forward.

Damn, I'm out of Cultivation Points! Do I have a death wish? The last point gone, not a single chance left!

Sigh, fight!

The Golden Spirit Shield shimmered as Ning Xiaofan, eyes blazing red, faced down the four assailants.

No more running. If Fanh Yichen joined him, it would only increase the burden. The only option was to strike back, and fast.

The last Cultivation Point was spent.

Without killing those four, when time ran out, both Fanh Yichen and I would be facing certain death. I had no choice but to strike!

The item that was supposed to save my life was gone, just like that. Ning Xiaofan was seething with rage. To buy something only to have it stolen right from under you—it was infuriating.

He shimmered with spiritual light, gripping the Heart Questioning Sword tightly. Spiritual energy roiled within him, his eyes blazing red as he let out a thunderous roar.

"Yichen, stay back."

Fanh Yichen, startled by Ning Xiaofan's transformation, stood panting a few yards away. "Okay... let me catch my breath before I speak."

But before Fanh Yichen could finish, Ning Xiaofan was struck by three blows—two swords and a saber.

"Xiaofan, no!"

Fanh Yichen's sword clattered to the ground once more. As his eyes slowly reopened, he saw Ning Xiaofan unharmed, protected by an incredibly powerful light shield.

With three resounding clangs, Ning Xiaofan was suddenly beside one of his assailants, a sinister smile playing on his lips as he struck down his foe.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master, for vanquishing an evildoer. Your Merit Points have increased by 1."

"Ding! Congratulations, Master, you have earned 1 Charm Point."

The Heart Questioning Sword pierced directly into an enemy's back, sending them crashing to the ground. The Merit Points were the enemy's downfall, while the Charm Points were a testament to Fanh Yichen's admiration. Not bad, profits were made!

In the span of half a breath, the Heart Questioning Sword found its next mark in another's throat.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master, for slaying another villain. You've accrued a significant amount of Merit Points. You have gained 1 Merit Point."

"Ding! Congratulations, Master. You have earned 1 Charm Point."

"Xiaofan, you're incredible!"

Fanh Yichen held back, recognizing that Ning Xiaofan was far more formidable than their adversaries.

After two clangs, the Golden Spirit Shield flickered twice. Ning Xiaofan retreated half a step before leaping forward to strike again, driving his sword straight into an opponent's heart. The Heart Questioning Sword lived up to its name, without a doubt.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master, on vanquishing the villain. You've been awarded an immeasurable amount of Merit Points."

"Ding! Congratulations, Master, on acquiring 1 Charm Point."

"You, you're not a Worker Disciple. Which sect do you belong to? Who sent you?"

Wang Chan's face paled; today's robbery had hit a snag, and not just a snag but a steel wall. Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator might not manage to kill someone like Ning Xiaofan, whose attacks were utterly ineffective. Wang Chan was desperate to flee.

He darted towards the direction of the Sky Burning Valley sect, but after only a couple of steps, a wall slammed down, pinning Wang Chan to the ground.

Ning Xiaofan materialized in front of Wang Chan, the Heart Questioning Sword in his hand as cold as frost.

"Ah!"

A single scream marked the end of Wang Chan's life.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master, on the righteous slaying of a villain. You've been awarded another Merit Point."

Four more Cultivation Points. That made ten in total, which could be exchanged, right?

"System, I'd like to exchange for Cultivation Points. Is that possible?"

"Master, it is possible. Ten Merit Points can be exchanged for 1 Cultivation Point. Would you like to proceed?"

"Exchange."

Cultivation Points were the key to survival. Without them, wasn't he as good as defenseless?

At last, he had reclaimed them. Ning Xiaofan breathed a sigh of relief.

He quickly gathered the storage spaces from several bodies, extracted the Dissolving Powder, and disposed of the five individuals. He stashed the storage spaces securely and, grabbing Fanh Yichen, made a beeline for the Worker Disciples' quarters in the Spirit Herb Garden.

"Xiaofan, you took down four people? Since when did you become so powerful?"

While running, Ning Xiaofan briefed Fanh Yichen: "We need to get back to our place fast. We'll just say we never left, and vouch for each other."

"Okay, I'll follow your lead."

"Thanks, Yichen."

"We're brothers; no thanks needed."

Ning Xiaofan wasn't just expressing gratitude for the help or the loyalty; he was thanking Fanh Yichen for risking his life for him. Knowing that coming or not would both lead to death, Yichen came anyway.

It was a sacrifice made to save a friend, and in his heart, Ning Xiaofan knew that Fanh Yichen was his brother for life.

On a distant mountaintop, an elder shook his head again, "This young one has become quite adept at killing. How intriguing."

Ning Xiaofan and Fanh Yichen hurried back to the Spirit Herb Garden via a narrow path, washing off the blood that had stained them.

They returned to their rooms as quietly as shadows. Fanh Yichen was seized by fear, not of the sect's interrogation, but of the near-death experience he'd just endured. It wouldn't have been worth it for anyone else, but for Ning Xiaofan, it was.

Fanh Yichen and Ning Xiaofan's friendship dated back to their childhood. At ten, Yichen was assigned to the worker's quarters. He was the one who brought Xiaofan his meals, the one who provided life-saving medicine, the one who was always there – he was the one.

Back in his courtyard, Ning Xiaofan took out the Array Compass, arranging it and the Array Flags as the manual instructed.

He placed a Spirit Stone on the compass, which cracked, its Spiritual Energy dissipating for lack of strength.

The Array Compass and Flags flickered as two more Spirit Stones were added, reactivating the array.

The backyard, a mere thirty square meters, didn't require a vast Illusion Array. Ultimately, five Spirit Stones were used to stabilize it.

Ning Xiaofan manipulated the Illusion Array, transforming the backyard into a forest edged with lush bamboo.

The array was successfully activated.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master, on successfully activating the array for the first time and earning 1 Skill Point."

A Skill Point for this too? No other reward for a first-time activation? Perhaps the feature was too minor, or maybe it was just a glitch in the Immortal Cultivation System!

He waved the Array Flag, watching the clouds shift overhead, and thought to himself, "This is quite fascinating!"

After Ning Xiaofan finished tending to his tasks, he checked on the Spirit Herbs and the Spirit Fields in the backyard. The medicinal herbs showed little change, seemingly having gained a few more years of potency.

This sight made him ponder whether he should collect some ginseng seeds tomorrow. After all, a century-old ginseng fetched a handsome price!

With such a treasure trove of land, he had no worries about cultivating hundred-year ginseng!

The Spirit Herbs in the wheat field had shot up impressively. By tomorrow, they would be ready for another harvest.

The sight of the wheat field reminded him that Fanh Yichen, from the house across, hadn't eaten yet. With a swift motion, Ning Xiaofan found himself standing at Yichen's door.

"Little Fatty, feeling hungry?" he called out.

Fanh Yichen replied with irritation, "How could I not be? It's way past mealtime. I've been holding out."

Ning Xiaofan gently pushed the door open, and with a flicker of light in his hand, a bag brimming with food materialized.

"Check it out!"

"What's this treasure?"

"Holy smokes, half a bag of Spirit Rice? That's got to be at least forty to fifty kilos!"

Ning Xiaofan handed half to Fanh Yichen, "Go on, get cooking."

With a resigned sigh, Yichen measured out ten kilos of Spirit Rice into a basin. A swift glow from his hands and the husks separated from the grains.

Before long, ten kilos of pristine Spirit Rice lay before them.

"Xiaofan, you, you... see this?"

"What's up?"

"It's Grade Two Spirit Rice, Grade Two!"

"Yep, I'm aware."

"You do realize how valuable this is, right?"

"Sure do. Now get moving with the cooking—I'm starving."

"Right away, right away!"

Fanh Yichen scurried off to prepare the meal.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master! Your Charisma has increased."

Well, I'll be—so that works!

"Hold on, here are a few bottles of medicine pills for you."

Ning Xiaofan was curious to see if directly gifting items could indeed boost his Charisma. If so, that would be incredibly cool.

"You're giving me more medicine pills? Xiaofan, you're truly like a brother to me."

Inside the storage bag were five bottles of Energy Refining Pills—yes, five whole bottles—alongside two stalks of Spirit Herbs: the Snow Drop Flower and Throat Healing Grass, both known for their blood-stopping properties.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master. Your Charisma has skyrocketed."

Could it be true? Charisma could be converted into Cultivation Points? By how much could it increase?

"Master, the surge in Charisma can boost your Charisma by more than five points."

"What are my current point totals?"

"Currently, Master, you have 1 Cultivation Point. Your other points are as follows: 9 Skill Points, 0 Virtue Points, 16 Charisma Points, 9 Cultivation Points, and 0 Reputation Points."

With enough Charisma, he could finally exchange it for Cultivation Points. This was fantastic! Ning Xiaofan was so elated he was on the verge of tears.

"System, make the exchange."

"Affirmative, Master. To exchange for 1 Cultivation Point, 10 Charisma Points will be consumed. The exchange is successful. You now have 2 Cultivation Points."

Having 2 Cultivation Points was a triumph. They could be a lifesaver in dire situations, even more valuable than all the cultivation techniques and skills combined.

No sooner had he completed the exchange than a whirlwind whisked by, and in the blink of an eye, he seemed to vanish—this fellow's speed in the kitchen outpaced even his own in combat.

Shortly thereafter, Fanh Yichen entered, bearing a meal complete with rice and dishes. His small courtyard was abundant with vegetables, but Spirit Rice was a luxury, seldom indulged in due to its cost.

"Today, I'm eager to sample Yichen's culinary skills."

"Xiaofan, this generous gift of Spirit Rice—do you realize how many Spirit Stones it's worth?"

He understood the value of Spirit Stones but refrained from questioning their origin. Today, he saw Ning Xiaofan in a new light.

On a typical day, Ning Xiaofan would spend no less than three hundred Spirit Stones at the market. Where did he get such wealth? He had already gifted him an Immortal Sword, and now this bounty of Spirit Rice, which was even more precious than the sword. This was no ordinary grain; it was Grade Two Spirit Rice!

Rumor had it that the black market was charging ten Spirit Stones for a jin of rice. At such exorbitant prices, who could afford to indulge?

As Fanh Yichen eyed the four appetizing dishes before him, his attention was drawn to the three bowls of rice on the table. He began to devour the rice with fervor, not even pausing to sample the dishes. He polished off the first bowl and immediately reached for the second.

"Mmm, delicious, truly aromatic," he exclaimed after finishing a bowl of rice. This guy, always savoring the last bite.

Ning Xiaofan gave it a try and was instantly taken by the aroma. As the rice hit his palate, it transformed into countless streams of Spiritual Qi, revitalizing his body.

[Ding! Congratulations, Master, your Cultivation Points have increased. Your cultivation level is advancing...]

The four side dishes were also impressive, striking a perfect balance between sweet and sour.

"Yichen, serve up some more rice!"