Chapter 275: Chapter 275: Trust
Shen Hao didn’t really care since the Xuanqing Guard didn’t have any rules about turning in their personal loot—he could do whatever he wanted with these things.
"Sure, you lot from Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute do business too?"
"Nonsense. If we didn’t, how would we eat? Wear clothes? Use stuff? You think we all get to sit comfy with the Court covering our backs like you guys? Resources aren’t easy to come by. I’m out here on a mission, you know—most of what I haul back gets confiscated as tribute."
No one knew just how much loot Nie Yun had grabbed from the Sword Emperor’s Tomb this time—even after handing in the bulk of it, what was left would still be beyond most people’s imagination.
"Can I exchange it for elixirs or cultivation techniques?"
Actually, Shen Hao still had a fair number of elixirs, but lately with his push towards Gathering Spirit Realm Fourth Layer, his consumption skyrocketed. He wanted to restock a bit. As for cultivation techniques, the Great Five Elements True Qi Talisman was just too inefficient, so he was thinking of changing that too. Just wasn’t sure if the stuff he had would be enough.
"Elixirs are doable, but if you want them in bulk, you’ll have to settle for ordinary stuff like Great Nourishing Pills. Still want them?"
Great Nourishing Pills were considered ordinary elixirs in Nie Yun’s eyes?!
Shen Hao nodded—he had absolutely no complaints about accepting "ordinary" elixirs like that.
"Cultivation techniques are a bit more complicated, though. Tell me, which one are you currently practicing?"
"I’m cultivating the Great Five Elements True Qi Talisman," Shen Hao replied.
"Huh? You’re still practicing the Great Five Elements True Qi Talisman?" Nie Yun’s hand, holding the wine, shook as he looked over, shocked. Who would’ve guessed that by now, Shen Hao had reached Gathering Spirit Realm Third Layer yet was still using the most basic cultivation technique. He couldn’t help but wonder, if Shen swapped to a high-tier technique, maybe his cultivation would be even stronger by now.
Of course, Nie Yun didn’t know that Shen Hao’s current progress had nothing to do with his talent. It was all thanks to that Black Beast Tattoo cheating the system for him.
"Haha, Nie, you probably don’t know—within the Xuanqing Guard, most cultivation techniques are just Yellow Level. The Profound Level options all conflict with the magic I’m practicing; as for Earth Level, you can only find it outside, but those things don’t just pop up, and they’re nearly impossible to buy. Besides, as far as cultivation’s concerned, I feel my progress has been decent, so I haven’t spent energy hunting for another technique. That’s why I’m still using the Great Five Elements True Qi Talisman."
Nie Yun curled his lip—seemed pretty normal to him. The Jingjiu Dynasty might not lack in cultivation resources, but it certainly couldn’t compare to the collections of major sects when it came to cultivation techniques. With Shen Hao’s little Hundred Households rank, getting access to top-tier techniques was out of the question.
Try buying one on the market? Cultivation techniques above Earth Level are hard to get even with mountains of cash.
"So you really reached Gathering Spirit Realm Third Layer just with the Great Five Elements True Qi Talisman?"
"What’s there to make up? It’s true." Shen Hao was genuinely puzzled.
Nie Yun laughed. "If you’ve been using the Great Five Elements True Qi Talisman all this time, then actually there’s no need to rush getting a new technique. If you were going to swap, you’d have done it after Qi Refining Realm Fifth Layer. Changing now just isn’t worth it."
"What do you mean?"
"You ever hear the origin story of the Great Five Elements True Qi Talisman?"
"I’ve heard—first ever Human Race cultivation technique, brought out from the Special Land."
"Exactly. The Great Five Elements True Qi Talisman is the most basic yet most reliable cultivation technique, suitable for all cultivators. But its efficiency at utilizing True Qi isn’t great. Still, it does have a direct high-tier sequel, namely the Great Five Elements Technique.
If you’re going to swap techniques, consider the Great Five Elements Technique. At this point, it’s your best bet; you won’t waste all the years you spent on the Great Five Elements True Qi Talisman, and it’ll fit perfectly."
Shen Hao: "The Great Five Elements Technique?" He’d never heard of this one before.
"Yep, that’s the one. It’s got a prestigious background—if you have the time, check it out yourself. Too long a story to get into now.
However, your cultivation’s a bit short of the requirement. You’ll need to reach Gathering Spirit Realm Fourth Layer, enter the Middle Stage of the God-Gathering Realm, then you can practice it."
"Nie, what level is the Great Five Elements Technique?"
"Earth Level."
"With these materials, can we exchange for it?"
"A little short. But my reputation should cover the gap. Although, we’ll need to go through the Dharma Hall’s channel for this. Fastest, you’re looking at about two weeks."
"I can wait."
Though he hadn’t known Nie Yun for long, Shen Hao trusted him quite a bit. He handed the materials straight over, not remotely worried about getting scammed.
Nie Yun didn’t stand on ceremony—he stowed the goods away, along with the dozens of jars of Wuliangye in the courtyard, not shy about taking anything.
After the two of them drained a couple jars each, they headed off. Shen Hao had to stay and wrap up loose ends, while Nie Yun needed to rush back to Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute to report in. He’d already fallen behind his two companions who went ahead.
"Shen, this is where we part ways. Half a month from now, I’ll come find you at the Xuanqing Guard Thousand Households Station in Fengri City—my treat for drinks then."
"Alright, see you then!"
"I’m off!"
Bowing in farewell, Nie Yun took his leave.
Shen Hao didn’t bother to see him out. There might not be phones or the Internet in this world, but with teleportation arrays around, goodbyes never felt too sentimental.
Every time Shen Hao glanced at the massive territory of the Jingjiu Dynasty on a map, it made his scalp tingle. He really felt that teleportation arrays were the backbone of the Jingjiu Dynasty’s rule. Still wondered who invented them, but even the Library didn’t have a definitive answer.
Must be top secret, huh?
Thinking of the word "secret," Shen Hao instinctively glanced down past the eaves of the house. The fishpond behind the mansion had now become priority number one for the Xuanqing Guard’s cleanup operation.
The embankment around the pond had already been dug up, leaving only a hole in the middle.
Inside the hole was a blob of pitch-black mist, blocking the way. It wasn’t an array, didn’t seem solid, but prevented anything from entering. Even perception techniques couldn’t get through. In Nie Yun’s words: the Sword Emperor’s Tomb had sealed itself up; as for when it might reopen, that was pure luck.
This kind of thing wasn’t uncommon. All over the Jingjiu Dynasty, these opportunity-laden places opened and closed at random—no one knew when fortune would come.
Maybe it opens again tomorrow? Or maybe you’ll have to wait a millennium for the next time?
So with these unpredictable, perpetually dangerous locations, the Xuanqing Guard’s usual routine was: investigate first, then cordon off the area, finally set up checkpoints and keep it sealed.
The tightest restrictions come right after an incident. As time goes on, it gradually loosens.
Right now, the manpower surrounding the outskirts of Caiyuan Village was mainly from the Thousand Households Station. But the inside of Caiyuan Village was now left to the local Black Banner Battalion, who’d been rescued in Tu Kui City and regained some strength. That was Tang Qingyuan’s decision, after taking Shen Hao’s opinion into account. After all, you can’t have the Black Banner Battalion do absolutely nothing in the aftermath, right? That’d look bad, and sound even worse.
Shen Hao was mulling things over when a sudden thought struck him. He hopped down from the roof, hands clasped behind his back, and walked toward the sealed tomb passageway...
