Chapter 120: Chapter 116: Innate First Acupoint
Since Zhu Ju became an Inner Sect disciple, Ning Ruxue’s status as his "agent" had also risen accordingly.
The frequent transactions she handled allowed her to earn a tidy profit, making her life more and more comfortable.
In just a few short months, she had become radiant.
"Yellow Millet?"
Ning Ruxue thought for a moment before nodding.
"I’ve heard people mention it. Some disciples from the Celestial Sword and Flying Phoenix lineages specialize in growing it for the Dao Foundation Elders to consume."
"Oh!" Zhu Ju’s eyes lit up.
"Can we get our hands on some?"
"Well..." Ning Ruxue looked troubled.
"Senior Brother, that stuff is reserved for the Dao Foundation Elders. Unless one of them grants it to us, how could we dare get involved?"
"Even the senior brothers who grow the Yellow Millet probably wouldn’t dare to hoard any for themselves."
’The thing is, while it’s expensive, it’s not very useful for Innate Qi Refiners unless they’re cultivating a Divine Soul Secret Technique.
Such people are a minority, after all.’
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but glance at Zhu Ju. ’Calming Incense, Yellow Millet—they were all beneficial to the Divine Soul.’
’Senior Brother Zhu is, in all likelihood, cultivating a Divine Soul Secret Technique!’
"So there’s no way, then?" Zhu Ju frowned.
"Not necessarily," Ning Ruxue said after a moment’s thought.
"The Marketplace might have some for sale."
"Then buy it." Zhu Ju breathed a sigh of relief.
"Price is no object."
"Yes." Ning Ruxue lowered her head in assent, hesitating for a moment before speaking.
"Senior Brother, there’s something... I’m not sure if I should bring it up."
"Speak!"
"Did you receive your Spirit Stone allowance for last month?"
"I did."
Zhu Ju was taken aback and asked,
"You didn’t get yours?"
"No." Ning Ruxue shook her head gently.
"Most of the Outer Sect disciples didn’t receive theirs. I asked around. A while ago, some Tribulation Cultivators attacked the mine and made off with a large amount of Iron Evil Stone. It caused our lineage’s income to plummet, so they had to suspend the Monthly Allowance."
Zhu Ju’s expression sank slightly.
’The Ten Thousand Mountains don’t have any particularly famous Major Immortal Sects, just mostly independent and rogue cultivators. But the Bright Void Sect is one of the Righteous Sects.’
’What kind of Tribulation Cultivators would be so bold as to pick a fight with an Immortal Sect?’
Taking a deep breath, he asked slowly,
"Has the Sect taken action?"
"An Inspector came and conducted a brief investigation, but they didn’t find the real culprit," Ning Ruxue said.
"It seems Senior Sister Pei doesn’t want people from the other two lineages interfering in our affairs."
"Also..."
"Several Outer Sect disciples have met with mishaps near the Marketplace recently. I suspect someone is specifically targeting the Dragon Head Lineage."
Zhu Ju’s expression turned pensive.
’The situation is dire!’
’The Bright Void Sect is already in decline, and the Dragon Head Lineage has no Dao Foundation Elder overseeing it. I’m afraid we’ve been targeted for a long time.’
’It’s only natural.’
’A precious mine!’
’A Golden Core Inheritance!’
’With such treasures currently in the hands of just a few Innate Qi Refiners, how could it not attract the covetous eyes of others?’
’If not for the Bright Void Sect backing us, Dragon Head Peak would have probably been plundered clean long ago.’
"No need to worry."
As an Inner Sect disciple of the Dragon Head Lineage and a stakeholder in its interests, Zhu Ju naturally defended his own Sect.
He said,
"Senior Brother Zhong Wen has already entered seclusion to break through to the Dao Foundation Realm. He took a Foundation Establishment Pill, so his chances of success are very high."
"Once he breaks through, these petty thieves will be nothing to worry about."
"Yes," Ning Ruxue replied.
"Even so, you should still be careful," Zhu Ju said.
"Don’t go to the Marketplace so frequently for now. It would be best to go with a Core Disciple, or have someone else pick things up for you."
"Safety first."
"Yes." Ning Ruxue’s beautiful eyes twinkled as she smiled.
"Are you worried about me, Senior Brother?"
...
「Two months later. In the Quiet Chamber.」
"OPEN!"
Following the low shout, the Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy above the courtyard suddenly grew agitated, surging wildly inward.
It was as if an invisible mouth was devouring it ravenously.
Inside the room, Zhu Ju’s hair flew about and his robes whipped wildly. The aura around him climbed relentlessly until it suddenly coalesced.
SHIIING!
The dim Quiet Chamber suddenly lit up.
The source of the light was none other than Zhu Ju’s right eye. His eye was like a bright pearl, a single star.
It shone with a brilliant radiance!
The Innate First Acupoint.
Opened!
As his right Eye Acupoint opened, the True Qi in his body surged in an instant, and his Earth Evil True Body advanced another step.
It was almost showing signs of reaching Minor Success in the True Body.
Even his Divine Soul Power had increased by thirty percent.
Feeling the immense power in his Physical Body and the surging Innate True Qi within, Zhu Ju couldn’t help but clench his fists.
’One Acupoint?’
’No!’
’Right now, I should be considered equivalent to an Innate Qi Refiner who has opened Two Acupoints. And with the second limit of the Ghost God Limit...’
’If I were to face that Huang Er now, I wouldn’t need a sneak attack to heavily injure him. I’m confident I could kill him in a direct fight within ten moves.’
’I wonder what the outcome would be against Cao Xiong?’
Thinking of this, he gently shook his head.
Cao Xiong was an Innate who had broken Three Acupoints. That part didn’t matter; the second limit of the Ghost God Limit was enough to bridge the gap between them.
But Cao Xiong’s Earth Evil True Body had already reached Minor Success, and his Physical Body was so formidable he could tear through metal as if it were paper.
Nourished by Innate True Qi, his regenerative abilities were also terrifying.
’To kill him, I’d need a Top-Grade Treasure Saber.’
’Otherwise, it would be very difficult to win.’
Of course, if Zhu Ju could also cultivate his Earth Evil True Body to the Minor Success Realm, he could rely on brute force to break through Cao Xiong’s defenses.
’Minor Success?’
’Opening the second Acupoint should be enough.’
Composing himself, he looked around.
The Quiet Chamber was dim, but in his eyes, it was as bright as day. He could even see every speck of dust on the floor.
The Eye Acupoint governs eyesight.
Pushing open the door, everything in the world became transparent and clear, as if a nearsighted person had just put on the right pair of glasses.
Sharp!
Sharper than ever before!
It wasn’t just sharp, it was incredibly detailed.
Zhu Ju could clearly see a flying insect a hundred meters away, even the fine hairs on its body.
He could even perceive the amplitude of its wing beats and the afterimages they left.
"Terrifying!"
He sighed softly and murmured to himself,
"No wonder they say Innate Qi Refiners are no longer Mortal. With such terrifying vision, I can probably see as well as a goshawk."
"If all Nine Acupoints were opened, I wonder what that would be like?"
"Hmm..."
Stroking his chin, Zhu Ju muttered,
"Mages in the Magic World may have astonishing Sensing Power, but Innate Qi Refiners are just as impressive after Acupoint Breaking."
He strolled into the kitchen, took out a jade box, and scooped two taels of Yellow Millet from it into a bowl.
After adding water and steaming it, a faint, fresh fragrance wafted to his nose.
The grains of rice were crystal clear. They were soft, chewy, and sweet in his mouth, and wisps of warm energy streamed straight to his head.
With every bite he swallowed, his Divine Soul Power increased slightly.
"Yellow Millet is truly worthy of its price of one Spirit Stone per tael. Its effects are countless times stronger than Calming Incense."
Calming Incense was mainly for calming the spirit.
Its enhancement to Divine Soul Power was never strong to begin with, and after he advanced to Mage, it became almost useless.
Yellow Millet was different. Its name came from the idiom "a dream of yellow millet." One bowl was comparable to ten days of quiet cultivation.
If he could eat three bowls of Yellow Millet a day, Zhu Ju couldn’t imagine how fast his Magic Cultivation would increase.
"A pity!"
"This stuff is expensive and rare."
"I’ve heard that the places where Yellow Millet is grown must be Spiritual Lands. It has to be irrigated with Spiritual Water, cultivated with great care, and can only be harvested once a year, with a very small yield."
Only after licking the bowl clean did Zhu Ju reluctantly put it down.
*
*
*
「Magic World.」
Zhu Ju once again arrived at the Tomb Immortal’s "shop."
Tonight, besides his acquaintance the Tomb Immortal, there was another figure in the tomb, wrapped up tightly from head to toe.
"Fellow Daoist."
The Tomb Immortal cupped his hands.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on becoming a Mage!"
"You’re too kind," Zhu Ju said with a faint smile.
"It’s all thanks to your guidance."
"Haha..." The Tomb Immortal laughed heartily and gestured.
"Let me make an introduction. This is another one of my regular customers. She heard that you have Xing Suanzi’s legacy and specifically sought me out to arrange a meeting with you."
"Oh!" Zhu Ju understood, his gaze shifting to the person opposite him.
"And how should I address this Fellow Daoist?"
"Miaoran," a hoarse, aged female voice replied.
"You may call this old woman Miaoran."
’Miaoran?’
’Another name for an exquisite painting.’
’It seems she’s another character like Xing Suanzi, proficient in the arts of Skin Painting and Puppet Creation. No wonder she’s interested in his belongings.’
’However, although she calls herself "this old woman," her scent is that of a young person, carrying a youthful freshness completely different from the decaying smell of the elderly.’
’This wasn’t some magical trick. It was an Innate Qi Refiner’s unique perception of another’s Physical Body and Qi Blood. The Magic of this world could hide Divine Soul fluctuations, but it couldn’t conceal the senses of the Physical Body.’
Zhu Ju understood but didn’t expose her.
He had already copied Xing Suanzi’s things, so he naturally didn’t mind selling the originals. He took them out one by one.
The *Scroll of Three Details*, *Skin Technique*, *Puppet Creation*...
...and a long, jet-black whip.
"Fellow Daoist."
Zhu Ju began.
"I must say this beforehand: because of Xing Suanzi’s self-detonation before his death, the contents of the books are damaged. It was not my doing."
"I know." Miaoran nodded. Under the watch of the Tomb Immortal, she flipped through a few pages and then fell into deep thought.
A moment later.
She took out several items.
"The Soul-Shaking Drum. It’s shaped like a pellet drum. This item was refined from the skin of a Mage and can stun another’s Soul. A gentle shake can make a child lose their senses and follow you. This old woman obtained it after killing an Evil Dao Magician."
"The Nuo God Mask. An item used in ancient rituals. It contains the Essence Spirit of an unusual being. Wearing it can greatly increase one’s Divine Soul Power, but there is a risk of losing oneself to it."
"The Evil-Breaking Mirror. It can release a light of pure yang, capable of vanquishing evil and killing enemies."
"..."
"Not interested, Fellow Daoist?"
"It’s not that," Zhu Ju sighed lightly.
"It’s just that I’m looking for something with more destructive power. Magical Artifacts, Magic, materials—any of those would be fine."
"I understand." Miaoran nodded and took out another item.
"The Ghost-Calling Spell!"
"This spell can seize souls and summon Yin Souls and vengeful ghosts to kill your enemies. Cultivated to a deep level, even a Mage would find it difficult to resist."
Disappointment showed in Zhu Ju’s eyes.
"This isn’t good enough either?" Miaoran’s voice was laced with surprise, and even a bit of exasperation. Her voice turned sharp and shrill.
"Are you toying with me, Fellow Daoist?!"
"It really isn’t," Zhu Ju said.
"Do you have anything else?"
The items she’d presented weren’t bad. They would be incredibly effective against Mortals or even Magicians. But to him, they were useless.
He had plenty of ways to deal with Mortals and Magicians.
But against Innates...
...even the Yin Souls and vengeful ghosts summoned by the Ghost-Calling Spell couldn’t withstand a gentle blast of Innate Evil Qi.
In the end, it just wasn’t very useful.
He had only dabbled in Xing Suanzi’s Skin Painting Technique without delving deep into it, and he had little interest in similar Methods.
"You..." Seeing that Zhu Ju’s expression remained unchanged, Miaoran suppressed her anger and finally took out one last item.
"This item is called the Ten Thousand Swords Map. It comes from the legendary Sword Sect. It is said that a Sword Control Method is hidden within this map."
"Of course!"
"You can also activate it with your Divine Soul. When you do, ten thousand swords will fly forth. Until your Magical Power is depleted, even a Great Mage would have to avoid its edge."
It was a scroll, nearly six feet long when unrolled. On it were painted over a thousand Flying Swords of various sizes.
The swords had a Spiritual Light and could be activated by one’s Divine Soul.
However, the Spiritual Light was already dim, meaning it probably couldn’t be used many more times.
"It can be used three more times," Miaoran said.
"Three uses of a technique at the level of a Great Mage is undeniably powerful. And that’s not to mention the legendary Sword Control Method it contains."
Zhu Ju studied the painting before him, lost in thought.
"The Ten Thousand Swords Map?" he asked slowly.
"It’s from the Sword Sect? Where is the Sword Sect?"
"The Sword Sect was destroyed five hundred years ago. It’s normal that you wouldn’t know of it," the Tomb Immortal said from the side.
"Five hundred years ago, the Sword Sect’s reputation was no less than that of the Celestial Capital Sect today. The power of Sword Cultivators was well known. But later, several of the Sword Sect’s True Men all became Fallen Demons, which led to the destruction of the sect and catastrophic losses among its disciples, until it finally perished completely."
"However, if you trace the lineage of the top Sword Heroes in the world, most of them originate from the Sword Sect."
’Fallen Demons?’
’Destroyed?’
’Why does that sound so familiar?’
A look of surprise crossed Zhu Ju’s face as he slowly nodded.
"I see!"
"Huh?"
Just as Zhu Ju was about to agree to the trade, the Tomb Immortal’s ears twitched, and he suddenly spoke up.
"Wait here a moment, you two. I’ll be right back."
With that, his body shot out of the tomb like a Spiritual Monkey. A moment later, he returned, much to their confusion.
"Something big has happened!"
The Tomb Immortal’s voice was filled with excitement.
"The Bamboo Mountain Temple was raising Parasitic Demon Bees and committing evil deeds! The General of Yidu has dispatched troops to attack them."
"The Bamboo Mountain Temple was raising Demons?" Miaoran’s voice was filled with surprise.
"A sacred place of the Buddhist Sect..."
"But why are you so excited?"
"You don’t understand." The Tomb Immortal’s eyes glinted.
"The Bamboo Mountain Temple has stood for three hundred years and is widely renowned. The donations from high officials and nobles each year are immeasurable. It’s said that every single Great Buddha statue in the Thousand Buddha Hall is cast from pure gold."
"A three-hundred-year-old Buddhist Temple... who knows how much Treasure it holds? If it falls this time, I’m afraid the Ghost Market is going to be bustling for a long, long time!"
