10,000x Cultivation: I Gain Power by Adopting Training Acolytes

The plaza erupted in an uproar.

Gasps of disbelief rippled through the crowd as all eyes locked onto Zhang Yun. Has this eccentric elder gone mad? A bet of 60,000 spirit stones?!

The Southern Mountain Sect Master blinked in genuine surprise before recovering with a mocking smile. "Elder Zhang's boldness is admirable! The wager stands!"

Sixty thousand stones – an impossible sum for a Foundation Establishment cultivator. But the sect master cared little about Zhang Yun's ability to pay. This was about humiliating the entire Spirit Immortal Sect.

**[Cease this madness!]**​

**[Have you lost your senses?]**​

**[Disgrace us and you'll be stripped of your title!]**​

Furious mental transmissions bombarded Zhang Yun from his fellow elders. He ignored the psychic onslaught until the sect master's icy voice pierced through:

**[Win this, and you keep your position. Lose, and I'll cover the debt – but you'll leave the sect in disgrace.]**​

Zhang Yun gave an almost imperceptible nod. No pressure at all, he thought dryly, catching the Southern Mountain Sect Master's smug gaze. You orchestrated this trap, but we'll see who gets caught.

Rules Announcement​

"The intersect exchange will last three days!" The Southern Mountain Sect Master's voice boomed across the assembly. "Points will be awarded for spirit beast kills and completed missions broadcast through the control stele. A Qi Refining Stage 1 beast grants 1 point, Stage 2 grants 2, and so forth. Rankings will be finalized based on Trial Band totals at the deadline!"

Southern Treasure Pavilion's heir Mu Wenxuan stepped forward with theatrical flair: "Top ten elders will receive prizes! First place claims the Nascent Soul Formation Pill! Second and third earn Fivefold Spirit Gathering Arrays – each worth 10,000 stones! Fourth to tenth receive spirit stone bonuses!"

The crowd buzzed with renewed fervor. Even Spirit Immortal elders forgot their anger momentarily, eyes gleaming at the unprecedented rewards.

Into the Wilds​

Zhang Yun soared above the primordial forest on his sword, Xu Ming and Wu Xiaopang clinging behind him. The Southern Wind Forest stretched endlessly below – a green ocean where thousand-year trees stood like moss-covered skyscrapers.

"It's... overwhelming," Xu Ming whispered, dwarfed by the scale of nature's cathedral.

"Get used to it," Zhang Yun advised. "True cultivation happens far from stone pavilions."

As the starting bell chimed on their Trial Bands, Zhang Yun poured energy into his blade. "Hold tight!"

**SHIIIINK!**​

A poison-tipped arrow streaked from the shadows. Zhang Yun barely conjured a defensive barrier in time.

**CRASH!**​

The deflected projectile sent their sword careening into the canopy. Twisting mid-fall, Zhang Yun absorbed the impact with his back as they smashed through branches.

"Show yourself, coward!" he roared through gritted teeth, golden energy already healing his fractured ribs.

From the dripping foliage emerged a figure clad in viper-scale armor – Southern Mountain's Eighth Elder Qiu Lue, nocking another arrow with a predator's smile. "Let's see how long your luck holds, Eccentric."