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

Zhang Yun strode toward the barely breathing elder. Ripping off the man's hood revealed a gaunt face etched with cruel lines. "Recognize him?"

Xu Ming's fists trembled. "Lin Clan's Seventh Elder. The others were their Third and Sixth Elders."

Nodding, Zhang Yun raised the tracking mirror. "Explain the Lin Clan's reach."

"They rule Nan Yun City," Xu Ming spat. "Patriarch Lin Tian-dong is a Nascent Soul cultivator. Nine Golden Core elders, plus hidden reserves. Their strength… rivals our sect."

Zhang Yun's eyes narrowed. The Lin Clan's might exceeded rumors. But why target a disciple?

The story unfolded like a blood-soaked scroll.

Xu Ming, scion of the Xu Merchant House. A prodigy who awakened a Heavenly Dragon Spiritual Root at fifteen. Lin Shi's calculated friendship. The betrayal during a spar—ambush, stolen root, parents slaughtered buying his escape.

"...they left them hanging from the city gates," Xu Ming finished hoarsely. Moonlight glinted off tear tracks.

Wu Xiaopang gripped his senior brother's sleeve, silent.

"South Vault Pavilion's role?" Zhang Yun's blade-like focus returned.

Xu Ming blinked. "Their Nan Yun branch collaborates with the Lins."

Click.

Pieces aligned—South Vault's sudden sponsorship, the tracking mirror,'s suspicious cooperation. A viper's nest of collusion.

Zhang Yun's finger jabbed the Seventh Elder's forehead. Spiritual energy jolted the man awake.

"Speak."

The elder's scream died as two severed heads rolled into view—Third and Sixth Elders' lifeless stares accusing him.

"Who leaked Xu Ming's whereabouts?"

The dagger entered thigh flesh with a wet schlikt. Spiritual blades churned inside the wound.

"**AAAAGH!**​ Tenth… Tenth Elder Meng Zhong! His disciple Nie Zhi informed us!"

Zhang Yun twisted the blade. "Why involve South Vault?"

"Co-conspirators!" The elder babbled through foaming lips. "They provided the bracelets!'s patriarch agreed to host—augh!"

The confession spilled—a web of greed. Meng Zhong's vendetta, South Vault's profit motive,南山宗's ambition.

When the dagger finally silenced the elder, dawn tinged the horizon.

Xu Ming stared at the corpse. "Master, I…"

"We'll raze them." Zhang Yun cleansed the blade on dead leaves. "Root and branch."

Ding!

The training bracelet lit up: [Second Trial: Hunt 10 Qi Refining Sixth-Level beasts. Reward: 30 points.]

"Time to reclaim our ranking." Zhang Yun kicked dirt over coagulating blood. "The hunt continues."