Chapter 274: Chapter 272: 10-Fold Gift
’If I were still at Feiyue Lake, it would take two hundred and forty years to reach the Mid-Stage Core Formation... But now that I’ve moved to a Tier Three Top-Grade spiritual land and with my Spiritual Root talent further enhanced, one hundred and eighty years will be enough.’
The deeper his Cultivation grew, the more he could appreciate the effects of his Pill Discussion Talent.
Every step Bai Zichen now took in his Cultivation was an instinctive move, a subconscious process of making the most rational decisions.
’There’s no way I can reach the Late-Stage Core Formation before the Blood God True Man returns to Liang Country. I might as well focus my energy on the Five Crystal Permanent Casting Body... In a crisis, it could at least let me survive two more hits from a Nascent Soul True Monarch before I die, giving me a glimmer of hope for survival.’
After spending a few more days consolidating his Mid-Stage Core Formation cultivation, he finally stepped out of his courtyard and summoned Tong Huan.
"I see that everything on Celestial Thunder Cliff is now well-established and orderly... You’ve done a good job. From now on, you will have to shoulder even more responsibility."
Bai Zichen had assessed Tong Huan’s cultivation progress and Swordsmanship, and could only conclude that while his disciple was diligent, he was a far cry from being able to inherit his master’s mantle.
If he continued on his current path, he would likely end up like most Sect Elders—stagnating in the Early-Stage Foundation Establishment Realm, with no real prospects to speak of.
It would be better for him to take on more administrative duties. As for his Cultivation, it would be more reliable to depend on me, his master, to grant him some Elixirs in the future.
"I am unworthy of your praise, Master. With the help of my senior and junior martial brothers, I merely coordinated our efforts. I didn’t do much myself."
Tong Huan dared not take the credit and went on to report what Liang Yu had requested during his visit a few days prior.
"Senior Brother Pei... has passed away? The people I once knew are gone, one by one. Time is truly without mercy!"
Bai Zichen recalled how Pei Dongyong had been the one to process his entry into the Sect, and had even gifted him a Flying Spiritual Artifact after he reached Foundation Establishment.
’On the path of the Great Dao, it is so rare to find a fellow cultivator who will support you and walk with you to the very end... You look back, and all your old friends have turned to dust, leaving you to walk the path alone.’
As the friends and relatives from one’s humble beginnings all passed away, one’s feelings for those who remained would inevitably grow more distant.
This was why many High-Tier Cultivators became increasingly cold and indifferent toward their fellow sect members, and even their own descendants.
"Give this to that True Disciple. Keep an eye on him. If he struggles with Foundation Establishment, you may offer him some appropriate assistance... Every debt of kindness is fated to be repaid."
Bai Zichen took the Colorful Cloud Robe from his storage pouch. He caressed it fondly for a moment, then sent it flying down from the high platform.
Along with it, a Top-Grade Spirit Stone also landed in Tong Huan’s hand.
"Give this to him as well. His grandfather once gifted me a Spiritual Artifact; I am merely repaying the favor tenfold."
"You are most generous and loyal, Master. If Elder Pei could see this from the great beyond, he would be pleased."
Tong Huan carefully stored the Flying Spiritual Artifact and the Top-Grade Spirit Stone, thinking to himself, ’What a lucky fellow.’
His master was a man who valued old ties. This gift would drastically increase the Pei Family descendant’s chances of reaching Foundation Establishment. Combined with his own savings, he could probably exchange for two Foundation Establishment Pills now.
If he successfully reached Foundation Establishment, his grandfather’s legacy would ensure his path would be much smoother than others.
"Master, a friend of mine went missing several years ago while searching for the Dragon and Snake Gang Sha. His fate is still unknown... The location where he disappeared isn’t far from Feiyue Lake. When you have a spare moment, would you be able to take a look?"
Tong Huan mustered his courage and explained Songx Lian’s situation in full.
"A Soul Lamp that flickers in and out of existence?"
Bai Zichen took the map from Tong Huan’s hand, his interest piqued by the situation he described.
The man had gotten into trouble on a Sect mission for the Dragon and Snake Gang Sha, which, as it happened, was tangentially related to him. He was the one who had instructed the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall to post the mission in the first place.
At the time, he needed to upgrade his Seven-Quartet Profound Bead, a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact, so he had Sect Disciples help him collect various types of Gang Sha.
Tempted by the high reward of Contribution Points, the disciples had nearly completed the collection, with only two types of Gang Sha remaining. After its Refinement, the Seven-Quartet Profound Bead could be upgraded into a Low-Grade Magical Treasure.
However, from his current perspective, a mere Low-Grade Magical Treasure was no longer worth his notice.
After all, he could defeat an ordinary Core Formation True Man, whether they had a Magical Treasure or not.
And if he encountered an overwhelmingly powerful opponent like the Blood God True Man, having one more or less Top-Grade Magical Treasure—let alone a Low-Grade one—wouldn’t change the outcome of the battle.
He believed the same was true for Master Ge Cang, which was why he rarely deployed Magical Treasures when fighting.
Of course, Bai Zichen at least had his Flying Sword to fight with. Master Ge Cang was even more extreme, fighting only with Divine Thunder and his physical body.
"A dangerous place like that, only four to five hundred miles from Feiyue Lake... I have to go back in a few days to pick up Genggeng anyway. I’ll take a look on the way."
Hearing that a Tier Two Peak Demon Beast also roamed the area, Bai Zichen decided it was worth his time.
Whether or not he could rescue Songx Lian was secondary; his main goal was to deal with that Demon Beast.
Otherwise, if it were left to roam freely, it would pose a danger to any disciples from Feiyue Lake who ventured out.
"Also, Senior Brother Lu has been requesting an audience. Would you be willing to spare some time to see him?"
Tong Huan spoke cautiously. He wouldn’t have passed on such a message for just anyone, but this was an old member of the White Jade Tower, and Lu Songx had been a mentor to him in his youth.
"Lu Songx... Let him in."
Bai Zichen’s mind was still elsewhere, pondering where the best place to situate the Holy Beast Essence Blood would be.
It needed to be a place that the Bai Clan Members had a legitimate reason to pass through, yet also hidden enough to avoid discovery.
’Still, it’d be more reliable to keep the Holy Beast Essence Blood right under my nose. I can just put it away whenever I leave Celestial Thunder Cliff... With the strength of my Divine Sense, it’s impossible for anyone to approach the Holy Beast Essence Blood without alerting me. If I weren’t trying to push the effects of the Wood God Skill to its absolute limit and cause the Thunder Sound Bamboo to mutate in a short time, I would only need to activate the Essence Blood once, without needing to place it outside for an extended period.’
While he was lost in thought, Lu Songx had already bowed and stated the purpose of his visit.
"You wish to request that Cultivation Technique, to see if it can speed up your cultivation?"
Bai Zichen glanced at Lu Songx. He was at Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, with abundant Magical Power and a solid foundation. Considering the age at which he’d reached Foundation Establishment and his natural talent, his progress was already remarkably fast.
After all, Lu Songx only had Four Spirit Root Talent.
Normally, even if someone like him managed to reach Foundation Establishment through a stroke of luck, it would be impossible to advance a minor realm in just over twenty years.
It could only be that the Seven Luminaries Spiritual Body, aside from locking his qi, blood, and Magical Power at their peak state, preventing decline with age, had also secretly improved his innate talent.
"I promised to pass this Cultivation Technique on to you once you reached Foundation Establishment. I have been remiss... However, if you are hoping to achieve a breakthrough with it, I’m afraid that’s highly unlikely."
As a legacy treasure on par with the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo and the Supreme Qingwei Sword Box, Bai Zichen naturally hadn’t ignored the Cultivation Technique he had obtained from the Ancient Secret Realm all these years.
It was just that the Cultivation Conditions for this Body Refining Technique, the Nine Heavens Bone Forging Techniques, were simply too demanding. Even he had been unable to meet them, and thus had yet to begin practicing it.
"This scroll, the Sun Element Copper Bone, has the lowest cultivation requirements of the entire technique. You can examine it and see if it is of any use to you."
With a wave of his hand, Bai Zichen directly transmitted the contents of one scroll of the Nine Heavens Bone Forging Techniques into Lu Songx’s mind via his Divine Sense.
The Nine Heavens Bone Forging Techniques was divided into seven scrolls, each detailing how to refine one of seven specific bones into an Immortal Bone, granting all sorts of incredible Divine Techniques.
This scroll, the Sun Element Copper Bone, required a Cultivator to be at the Core Formation Realm and to place their Divine Sense within their core. They would then refine the frontal bone of their skull, making them fearless of Celestial Fire and raising the toughness of their physical body to a whole new level.
The Cultivation Realm was just the most basic requirement. It also called for thirteen types of rare Spiritual Materials, the majority of which he had never even heard of.
The Cultivation Conditions for the other six scrolls of the Nine Heavens Bone Forging Techniques were even more outrageous, each more demanding than the last, causing him to sigh in despair.
One could only say that, as expected of a legacy Supreme Treasure on par with the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo and the Supreme Qingwei Sword Box, its starting requirements were just as lofty.
The Nine Heavens Bone Forging Techniques might be more powerful and hold more potential than the Five Crystal Glaze Body.
But for now, the Five Crystal Glaze Body was a much better fit for Bai Zichen.
"I see. I was being delusional."
The cultivation method for the Sun Element Copper Bone appeared in Lu Songx’s mind. After reading through it once, his heart turned to dead ashes.
"Don’t be too disappointed. The Seven Luminaries Spiritual Body has never been seen before; it might hold other wonders... You work here on Celestial Thunder Cliff. In addition to the standard stipend you receive as a Sect Elder, I will personally grant you an additional subsidy. You will not lack for resources to exchange for Elixirs."
For Bai Zichen to offer such words of comfort was, given his current status, a truly rare gesture.
This was an old acquaintance from his Qi Refining Stage days, and he had even obtained two of his Supreme Treasures thanks to Lu Songx. It was only natural that he would treat him differently.
"Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle Bai. I will work hard and not bring shame to the name of the White Jade Tower."
Hearing Lu Songx call him "Junior Martial Uncle Bai," an address so different from what others used, sent a wave of nostalgia over Bai Zichen, as if he were back at the moment he had first arrived at Feiyue Lake.
Back then, Su Lie, Peng Jinhua, Cai Heng, and his whole retinue of disciples were there, building the White Jade Tower and cultivating the Spirit Fields together.
Now, only Lu Songx had reached Foundation Establishment and could still follow in his footsteps.
’Just what is the difference between an Acquired Spirit Body and a natural one...?’
An idea struck Bai Zichen. He summoned the Nine Yang Divine Fire Mirror and shone it on Lu Songx.
He discovered that Lu Songx’s Human Meridian Map was different from that of other Cultivators. Seven points of unusual brilliance shone from his seven major Acupoints.
This seven-colored brilliance both locked in his True Essence, preventing it from leaking, and simultaneously seeped throughout his entire body.
He could clearly see that when his Liquid Magical Power came into contact with this flowing light, it grew a fraction stronger and more condensed.
Even at his current Realm, Bai Zichen could not fathom the mysteries of this body modification technique passed down from Ancient Times.
All he could say was that this Acquired Seven Luminaries Spiritual Body was by no means simple; it had to rank among the very best of all Spirit Bodies.
Don’t let Lu Songx’s advanced age be deceiving; as long as he had sufficient Cultivation Resources, his future prospects were far greater than Tong Huan’s.
「The next day」
A white rainbow shot from the peak of Celestial Thunder Cliff, arriving over Feiyue Lake in less than an hour.
"Oh, you’re already awake!"
The moment Bai Zichen landed, Genggeng pounced toward him, leaping over ten feet in a single bound.
Having successfully advanced to become a Tier Two Low-Grade Spirit Beast, Genggeng’s size hadn’t changed, but its agility had clearly increased significantly.
Its fur was softer and shinier, but other than that, it didn’t seem very different.
In a flash, Genggeng climbed onto Bai Zichen’s arm and shook it forcefully, as if it sensed its master’s thoughts and was trying to convey a vague emotion in response.
The gist of it was that Genggeng could now sense the presence of treasures from very, very far away, so it had definitely changed after all.
’It seems Genggeng is much more intelligent than other Tier Two Spirit Beasts, almost on par with a Tier Three Spirit Beast...’
This level of emotional nuance and the ability to convey it was simply not something a newly advanced Tier Two Spirit Beast should be capable of.
It could only be that the other bloodline hidden within Genggeng, while robbing it of its ferocious combat abilities, had endowed it with powerful treasure-seeking instincts and a rare Spiritual Wisdom.
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