Chapter 278: Chapter 276: 5-Crystal Eternal Cast Body
Spring gave way to autumn, and the years flew by.
In these four years, the world was in a state of flux, and many major events occurred in the Cultivation Realm.
First, the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect found a Tier Four Spirit Pill that could regenerate severed limbs, allowing Supreme Elder Fang Tiancheng to fully restore his body.
However, after making a single appearance, Fang Tiancheng disappeared along with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, the Gold-Devouring Earth Dragon Beast. The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect did not take this opportunity to aggressively seize territory from the Demon Path Sects.
It was rumored that Master Fang had found a clue to advancing his Lifebound Spiritual Beast’s tier and had eagerly gone off to investigate.
As for the Holy Lotus Sect, it was only known that Saint Heir Qu Yang’s cultivation had progressed by leaps and bounds, and arrangements were already being made for him to enter the next Lotus Secret Realm.
The Ghost Spirit Sect, on the other hand, gave up significant benefits to bring the Joyful Union Sect to their side to jointly garrison the Hejian Sect’s territory.
But in all those years, neither the Ghost Spirit Sect disciples nor the Joyful Union Sect cultivators had taken a single step across the border into Black Mountain County.
The Qingfeng Sect enjoyed four years of stable development. On the Lake Heart Island, Zhou Suqing manifested the Core Formation phenomenon, successfully anchoring her Divine Sense, and became the Sect’s fourth Core Formation True Man.
When the news spread, it still made the jaws of countless Sect Cultivators drop.
News that Zhou Suqing was a Core Formation Seed had spread throughout the Sect many years ago. This was evident from the way the few Core Formation Ancestors treated her.
But because her past combat record was so cringeworthy, everyone still had doubts about whether she could pass the Core Formation trial.
Even when Zhou Suqing reached the final step of Foundation Establishment Perfection, over seventy percent of the Elders were not optimistic about her succeeding at Core Formation, believing that her major flaws in combat surely indicated a flaw in her mental state.
No one expected that, just like her placid temperament, her Core Formation phenomenon would cause no ripples at all. She had formed her Core without alerting more than a few people, as countless streams of nature’s spiritual energy surged into her.
Regardless, Zhou Suqing was now a Core Formation True Man.
No matter how astonished or shocked those Elders were, they could only compose themselves and obediently address her as Ancestor Zhou.
Zhou Suqing continued to use the Lake Heart Island as her Spirit Land. At the same time, due to her Realm’s advancement, her Array Dao also rapidly broke through, and she became a Tier Three Array Master.
When this news reached the outside world, the various sects could only sigh that the Qingfeng Sect’s fortunes had turned. In recent years, Core Formation True Men had been emerging one after another.
The number was almost equal to the total from the previous several hundred years.
Among other news, the only other major event was Han Qing finally breaking through to Late-Stage Foundation Establishment and formally taking over as the Pill Hall Master.
As for the Law Enforcement Hall, they promoted Long Long to Vice Hall Master, intending to groom her as a successor.
On Celestial Thunder Cliff, the most conspicuous feature was always the vast Bamboo Sea, and crucially, its scale was still expanding every year.
The Bai Clan Members lived within it. Although they didn’t enjoy the same treatment as Qingfeng Sect Disciples, the Spiritual Qi conditions and cultivation environment were far superior to those in their own clan.
At the very least, they had many Qingfeng Sect Disciples to interact and compare notes with, and at the end of the year, they could even ask the Ancestor a question.
In just a few years, several clan members had already reached Late-Stage Qi Refining.
As for the reward set by Ancestor Bai, five people had already obtained it. Five stalks of Spiritual Bamboo had mutated, becoming Tier Two Sacred Sound Bamboo.
The Bai Clan Members who received the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object each made their own choices. Some exchanged it for other resources to speed up their cultivation, while others hid it away for their own future use.
In any case, it gave the rest of the clan members hope.
In just a few short years, the number of mutated Spiritual Bamboos had already surpassed the total number from the Bai Clan’s entire past.
One could imagine that the number of clan members who could cultivate Sacred Sound Bamboo would only increase in the future.
And according to the leading Elder, Bai Xiran, everyone had to cherish this current phase.
The Ancestor had only set up this extra reward to encourage everyone to support the clan, but it would be canceled someday in the future.
They had to seize this opportunity, cultivate diligently, and earnestly use the Wood God Skill to cultivate the Spiritual Bamboo, so as not to disappoint the Ancestor’s expectations.
...
Rays of Five Crystal Spiritual Light continuously shot from the heavens and earth, converging into a figure sitting cross-legged in cultivation within a thatched cottage.
Over these four years, every Visualization caused Bai Zichen’s body to transform a little more into Five Crystal Divine Iron.
By now, he no longer needed to deliberately circulate his Body Refining Technique; a five-crystal luster flowed over him naturally.
Within his Sea of Consciousness, countless motes of Five Crystal Divine Iron gathered together, forming a mountain.
’Five Crystal Permanent Casting Body, complete!’
It took four years, not a day more, not a day less.
Bai Zichen felt the giant mountain of Five Crystal Divine Iron in his Sea of Consciousness form and hold steady, and knew he had finally mastered the basics of the third level of this Body Refining Technique, the Five Crystal Permanent Casting Body.
’Once I reach Great Success, my physique will be comparable to a Defensive Magical Treasure, and my every move will possess the Divine Power of Ten Thousand Jins... At this rate, if I can really cultivate to the fifth level, the Earth-Shattering and Shifting Mountains and Inverting Seas described in the technique might not be impossible. It truly follows the path of proving the Dao through strength.’
To cultivate the Five Crystal Permanent Casting Body to Great Success would require another eight years.
Fortunately, he had prepared for this long ago. Not long after reaching Core Formation, he had considered this matter when selecting a Treasure in the Secret Hall.
The Five-Eyed Blood Bodhi, a Supreme Treasure in the eyes of Body Refining Cultivators.
As a mutated Bodhi Seed, it was shaped like a Blood Pearl, and its surface had five markings that looked like pupils.
Having someone refine it into a Body Refining Elixir could save ten years of arduous cultivation in one fell swoop.
Even if consumed directly, it would have seventy percent of the effect.
Bai Zichen calculated the time it would take to travel to and from the Danxia Sect and for the Opening the Furnace and Refining Pills, not to mention whether they would even be willing. He decided to just swallow it directly.
The moment the Five-Eyed Blood Bodhi entered his mouth, it was like biting into a fresh, juicy fruit. The juice exploded, and the pulp was sweet and succulent.
Immediately, five streams of heat surged through his body, rapidly advancing the Realm of his Five Crystal Permanent Casting Body.
A few days later, he had completely absorbed the effects of the Five-Eyed Blood Bodhi.
For him, this was equivalent to seven years of arduous Body Refining. Only one year remained before his Five Crystal Permanent Casting Body would reach Great Success.
’It’s a shame I don’t have any more Body Refining Elixirs like the Five-Eyed Blood Bodhi on hand. Otherwise, I could cultivate the Glazed Fire Divine Body to completion in one go and add another trump card...’
A message from Gu Xisheng arrived, prompting Bai Zichen to pause his Body Refining progress. He walked out of his courtyard and received the visitors in a side hall.
"Junior Martial Uncle Bai, this boy has presented a Sword Refining Secret Technique. I have already had Senior Brother Dai look at it, and it is undoubtedly Tier Three... I know how much importance you place on a Tier Three Sword Refining Secret Technique, so I simply brought him over myself."
Gu Xisheng was the esteemed Sect Leader. For a matter like escorting someone, he could have easily found any Elder to do it without wasting any time.
He had come in person mainly to make an impression on Ancestor Bai.
Besides, it was Sect Leader Gu who had pushed past all objections to issue the sect mission with a hefty contribution reward for this Sword Refining Secret Technique.
Now that it had finally borne fruit, how could Gu Xisheng’s contribution be recognized if he didn’t personally accompany the boy?
"Not bad. I appreciate the thought."
Bai Zichen took the Jade Scroll presented by Tong Huan. Recorded inside was a Sword Refining Secret Technique for a sword named the Cyan Dragon Sea Roaring Sword.
With his insight, he could tell with a single glance that the contents were genuine—it was an authentic Tier Three Sword Refining Secret Technique.
Furthermore, he already had most of the listed Sword Refining Materials in his storage bag; he only needed to collect two or three more.
"I said that any disciple who presents a Tier Three Sword Refining Secret Technique would receive an additional reward from me, on top of the sect’s reward... What do you want?"
Kneeling two steps behind Gu Xisheng was a frail-looking youth. Judging by his attire, he was merely an Outer Sect Disciple.
It was a mystery what kind of fortuitous encounter had allowed him to obtain such a Tier Three Sword Refining Secret Technique.
"The Sect Leader has already awarded me with enough Contribution Points. This disciple only asks to be accepted under the Ancestor’s tutelage to learn his skills."
Hearing the question, the frail youth kowtowed forcefully, his head hitting the floor with loud THUDS.
"To become my disciple, you must at least be at the Foundation Establishment Realm... You want to learn skills, but doesn’t the Sect teach you?"
Bai Zichen casually set a threshold for accepting disciples. His question made Gu Xisheng, who was standing to the side, break out in a cold sweat.
"The Sect does teach, of course, but my aptitude is poor. At my normal cultivation speed, I fear there is no hope of avenging my father, which is why I thought of taking a shortcut," the frail youth said with a look of shame on his face.
"Junior Martial Uncle Bai, Wang Ling’s father was the Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator, Paper Crane Daoist, who died in a Tier Two Demon Beast attack several years ago... After Paper Crane Daoist’s death, his few disciples made off with his belongings, leaving Wang Ling alone and destitute. That’s why he joined the Sect."
Gu Xisheng spoke up to explain on the frail youth’s behalf. Since the boy had presented a Tier Three Sword Refining Secret Technique, he had to make sure all the facts were clear, lest his good intentions lead to a bad outcome.
"This Sword Refining Secret Technique was something his father obtained in another county when he was young. He never mentioned it to outsiders; only Wang Ling knew of its existence."
’Paper Crane Daoist... I seem to have seen him before, during the reclamation war...’
The somewhat familiar name surfaced, and Bai Zichen quickly recalled a few fragments of memory.
Back when they were reclaiming Feiyue Lake, he had declared his grand ambition to open up Spirit Veins and ensure every Black Mountain Cultivator had a Spirit Land to use. This very Paper Crane Daoist had been there.
He had been very emotional at the time, saying he wanted to follow him.
To think that the next time he heard news of the Paper Crane Daoist, it was that he had died at the hands of a Demon Beast.
"You don’t necessarily have to become my disciple to avenge your father..."
Bai Zichen had intended to find a strand of Profound Frost Gang Sha, only to realize he had given all his Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects to the Bai Clan Members and didn’t have a single one to spare.
He casually took out a Low-Grade Spiritual Artifact he had refined himself and handed it over. Then he said to Gu Xisheng, "In my name, issue a sect mission: any disciple who retrieves the head of the Demon Beast that killed Paper Crane Daoist will be rewarded with three thousand contribution points."
"You can rest assured. I believe you will see that Demon Beast’s head within a few months."
The method for refining a Tier Three Flying Sword was indeed very important to Bai Zichen.
But it was absolutely impossible for him to accept a disciple or act personally for it—it was something that could be accomplished with a few thousand Contribution Points.
It didn’t matter whether the frail youth truly wanted to avenge his father or was just using this as an opportunity to become Ancestor Bai’s disciple and ascend to the heavens in a single step.
Bai Zichen’s actions were impeccable. Other Sect Disciples would only think that Ancestor Bai kept his promises. In the future, if they obtained any Treasures, they would also be willing to hand them over to the Sect and present them to the Ancestor.
The matter of Wang Ling presenting the treasure was just a small interlude, but it caused Bai Zichen’s words—’My disciples must at least be at the Foundation Establishment Realm’—to spread throughout the entire Sect.
He wouldn’t accept anyone below Foundation Establishment, so did that mean Foundation Establishment Cultivators had a chance to become Ancestor Bai’s disciple?
Many Elders thought this way, leading to a huge increase in the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators rushing to Celestial Thunder Cliff recently.
If they couldn’t see Ancestor Bai, they would try to meet with Tong Huan or get acquainted with Bai Xiran through roundabout means.
They hoped that through them, they could appear before Ancestor Bai.
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