Chapter 334 - Breakthrough to the Immortal Realm
Once all of the sculptures were accessed, Gongyi Tianheng suddenly retracted his hand, and stood calmly inside this palace hall.
After that, he abruptly stretched out a palm. His fingers formed claws, and his fingertips surged with a b.l.o.o.d.y light. He pivoted his body, raised his arm, and slashed a dozen or so blood marks out of thin air! Immediately following that, there were blasts of razor-sharp wind. Countless b.l.o.o.d.y lights weaved together to form a net, and every beam of b.l.o.o.d.y light bore an incomparably sharp power. It resounded with the screeching of the shattered void!
Tianheng’s figure shifted. His palms formed talons, and the marks he carved out began to crisscross. The crashing qi energies carried a faint, b.l.o.o.d.y stench, and unleashed peals of crackling sounds.
As for the inundation of b.l.o.o.d.y lights, it gave a strange type of feeling. With one look, a person’s heart would quiver in fear.
Gu Zuo watched for a while, and couldn’t help discharging his psychic power. Following which, he discovered that his big brother was using three types of claw techniques in quick succession. The moves were becoming more and more precise and formidable. As for these claw techniques, every time they were exerted, Gu Zuo also recognized that they were almost exactly the same as the stances of those sculptures.
He instantly realized that it wasn’t pointless for his big brother to touch these sculptures…
Not long after, Tianheng’s movements became smooth and flowing. Gradually, those clawing winds converged, which brought about subtle changes. The blood mark slashes transformed from those disarrayed cross-hatchings into structured patterns, and were even more mysterious. Indiscernibly, the moves fell into line with him.
Gu Zuo understood that Tianheng was using his powerful IQ to conduct modifications on <> — In the past, there were many instances when Tianheng learned other martial skills, and did just this. Afterwards, whatever that was altered became even mightier. Even a martial skill’s product grade would improve.
Gu Zuo didn’t expect that Tianheng could conduct a revision in such a short period of time for the claw technique of a heaven-ranked ultimate knowledge’s derivative martial discipline. This was something that had been housed by Ten Ultimates Sect’s Blood Transformation Palace Hall. It could be seen that his big brother’s power of understanding might’ve improved again.
Eventually, Tianheng stopped attacking. The b.l.o.o.d.y light on his fingertips immediately disappeared, and he stood with his hands clasped behind his back. After pondering for a short moment, it seemed he had gained insights into many things. His eyes flickered with an obscure light as he quietly digested this experience.
Following that, he came to Gu Zuo’s side.
Gu Zuo blinked his eyes: “Big brother, you’re done learning?”
Tianheng faintly nodded his head: “I’m done.”
Gu Zuo praised: “Big brother learns really fast!” Soon after, he was a bit curious, and pointed at the sculptures, “Big brother, you touched those statues just a while ago. What are their uses? I could see what appeared to be the engraved claw technique. Do you have to touch it with your hand to experience it? But why do you need to touch it?”
Tianheng was accustomed to explaining for him: “This Path Comprehending Pavilion is strange, but those capable of entering this place can practice and train with the martial skills in every side hall. Once disciples refine their learning of a martial skill, and develop an extremely unique trait, the hall will automatically undergo a change. It will mold a sculpture to record that exquisite trait or uniqueness. Anyone in the future who goes to read this rare book can place their hands on a sculpture’s forehead to see a comprehensive performance of the person depicted by the carved statue training with the martial skill. From this, one can gain some insight.”
Gu Zuo understood: “It both honors a disciple’s abilities and benefits those who come after?”
Tianheng nodded his head: “There are very few who can leave behind a sculpture in the halls. After so many years throughout Ten Ultimates Sect’s history, only twenty-something sculptures exist in this martial skill’s side hall. Among them, those who developed an exquisite first form of the claw technique number fifteen. For the second form, there are seven. And there’s only three for the third form. In addition, there have been numerous magnificent talents in Ten Ultimates Sect. It has prospered generation after generation, but the situation is still like this. It can be seen how difficult it is to leave behind a sculpture.”
Gu Zuo nodded his head: “It’s wonderful that one generation can pa.s.s things along to the next. Everyone who comes later can appreciate the elegance and grace of their predecessors. With each generation’s acc.u.mulations, the foundations of every martial skill become even more robust… It’s no surprise that Ten Ultimates Sect can turn into such a veteran silver-ranked organization.”
— Merely, it was obvious that the claw technique his big brother used just now had been exquisite. Why wasn’t a sculpture made? This definitely wasn’t because his big brother’s level of achievement was insufficient. Could it be that it was because Tianheng had altered the claw technique, and it was too different from the original? As a result, it didn’t stimulate the creation of a sculpture?
En, this was actually a possibility.
However, Gu Zuo didn’t bring this up. He only asked: “Has big brother already mastered this martial skill?”
Tianheng smiled and said: “That’s right. Ah Zuo, follow me to the second floor. There should be another derivative martial skill like this one that’ll let me broaden my studies.”
Gu Zuo naturally didn’t object, and promptly stood up: “I’ll keep big brother company.”
Tianheng put an arm around Gu Zuo, and the smile on his face became even more gentle and soft.
Shortly thereafter, the two went to the stairwell on the side, and reached the Path Comprehending Pavilion’s second floor. Similarly, there were sculptures and countless side halls. As before, Tianheng paid his respects in front of a statue, and asked for guidance to the location of the derivative martial skill. A side hall appeared, and opened itself to the two people.
Gu Zuo looked around, and saw that the interior composition of this side hall wasn’t any different from the one on the first floor. He reckoned that the martial skill would still be at the human rank. Only, this one was switched to a leg technique. There were also only nineteen sculptures inside this side hall.
Nevertheless, one person sat down and meditated, and another person trained. As he had done many times in the past, Gu Zuo watched Tianheng swiftly familiarize himself with this martial skill. Then, he rapidly exerted and improved upon it. Finally, he thoroughly mastered this martial skill and its post-modified version. The powerful efficiency of his high IQ would cause people to double-take.
Once Tianheng became proficient in this skill, a new sculpture still didn’t appear inside the side hall. After that, he took Gu Zuo along, and continued upwards to study the third floor’s derivative martial skill.
The third floor had a body technique, the fourth floor had a finger technique, the fifth floor had a punching technique, the sixth floor had a palm technique, the seventh floor…
They traveled from one floor to another. In the wake of Tianheng becoming more and more adept at using numerous derivative martial skills, he rehea.r.s.ed everything he learned from each floor earlier, and gradually blended them together. Tianheng’s entire body seemed to emit a b.l.o.o.d.y light. Occasionally, whenever he struck with a Blood Palm, the qi emissions it contained were especially terrifying!
With the eyesight of a pharmacist, Gu Zuo could tell that the Blood Palms now were much more profound than the previous ones. Compared to the present Blood Palm, the ones before were simple, crude, and unfit for observation.
During this brief period of time, Tianheng made great progress. It wasn’t known how much his strength had improved.
At this time, Tianheng opened his mouth and said: “Ah Zuo, come with me. Let’s leave this floor.”
Gu Zuo was a bit confused: “Big brother isn’t going to keep learning?”
It was clear that no bottlenecks had been encountered.
Tianheng slowly voiced a reply: “Getting up to here is good enough. Although I’m proficient in what I previously learned, that doesn’t necessarily mean that I’ve gained a thorough grasp of the principles contained within them. Therefore, I still need to reflect on things to integrate everything into the ultimate knowledge I create. Right now, already half a day has pa.s.sed. This time, I’ll accompany Ah Zuo to the other side of the Path Comprehending Pavilion where the pharmacist techniques are kept.”
However, after walking out of the side hall, Tianheng didn’t bring Gu Zuo downstairs. Instead, he pulled Gu Zuo into his arms, and continued to the next floor. And this floor was already the thirtieth floor — As it turned out, the medicine refining body cultivation methods and some materials and information that pharmacists needed were all on the thirtieth floor and above!
When Gu Zuo stood on the thirtieth floor, he found that the situation here had already undergone changes.
No longer was there a gigantic, blood-red statue in the front like the floors below. Rather, there was a small palace hall with large doors opened on the left and right.
The qi emissions wafting from the left door were pure and mild, and the ones from the right were swift and fierce — There was no need for doubts. The methods for the path of spirituality should be through the left door.
Without the slightest hesitation, Gu Zuo walked towards the left. This time around, it was Tianheng’s turn to stay by his side.
The two reached the main hall on the left, and what they saw directly ahead was a young lady in white robes. Her complexion was quiet and elegant, there was a pure and holy air surrounding her countenance, and everything was vivid and lifelike — That’s right. She was also a statue. Merely, she was just like a real person at first glance.
Gu Zuo was a bit curious: “Big brother, do you know who this statue is depicting?”
Tianheng looked at the statue, and said: “Her specific name isn’t known, but this person’s legends are actually quite ancient.”
Gu Zuo was interested: “What legends?”
Tianheng saw that his gaze was shining slightly, and couldn’t help smiling: “I’ve heard that this predecessor was born out of poverty, but she later had a fortuitous encounter. Her strength advanced by leaps and bounds until she finally became a sacred-level pharmacist. The medicine refining skills in her possession were greatly admired by the people of the world. Her nature was virtuous, and when she travelled the land and met countless people, regardless of whether they were martial artists, pharmacists, or ordinary people, she treated everyone equally. It was only a pity that, while her medicine refining capabilities were phenomenal and her internal qi had reached the Greater Emperor Realm, she ultimately perished for some reason…”
He continued: “Later generations honor her skills and respect her nature by addressing her as the Sacred Medicine Greater Emperor. The pharmacists of the world treat her as a founder. In Ten Ultimates Sect, the sculpture in the Spiritual Path Comprehending Pavilion is also modeled after her.”
Some respect also arose within Gu Zuo’s mind.
Being capable of making all pharmacists honor her as a founder, this senior who had the appearance of a young lady was truly amazing! Unfortunately, she didn’t live to the age a Greater Emperor ought to have lived. Otherwise, perhaps she could’ve achieved even greater heights.
After admiring this statue, Gu Zuo took a step forward to observe the proper etiquette: “This younger generation wishes to deepen his shallow understanding of the path of spirituality. Would this senior please give this one directions?”
On the statue, a faint, white light flickered before disappearing. After that, a hall on the side shook before its doors opened.
Gu Zuo reflexively extended a hand to pull Tianheng along, and they stepped into that side hall together. Soon after, Gu Zuo noticed the layout of the inside of this hall was completely different from the martial artist halls. Not only was there no statues, but instead of a single book, there was an entire cabinet of books on that pedestal.
This surprised him. He got closer, and raised a hand to take the book. Then, he turned his head, and looked at Tianheng: “Big brother, come see this.”
Tianheng walked over, and lowered his head to read it.
On that book was clearly written: <>.
It was phrased just like so.
Gu Zuo quickly opened the book. It stated:
[Those on the path of spirituality cultivate psychic powers. At first, one only has a vague sense of this power. After gaining an understanding, condense it. Transform this qi into a whirlpool, gather this whirlpool into a core, nurture this core as a seed, and the core will break open to give birth to a spirit…]
From these brief, few sentences, numerous realms of the spiritual path were clearly explained. Compared to the information Gu Zuo obtained from the system, it was even more clear and detailed.
To put it simply, the realms of the path of spirituality were divided into five layers.
The first layer was the Qi Psyche Realm. The second layer was the Coalescing Psyche Realm. The third layer was the Core Psyche Realm. The fourth layer was the Nurturing Psyche Realm. The fifth layer was the Spirit Psyche Realm.
And these five realms shared a huge relationship with the rank of the pharmacist. For instance, the most important thing was that, even if a pharmacist from the lower realms could push themselves into refining a medicinal pill of a higher rank with sufficiently strong talent, it would require a pharmacist to reach the Spirit Psyche Realm to refine an earth-level pill. Otherwise, no matter how high their realm, no matter how abundant their internal qi, it wouldn’t work.
In Gu Zuo’s case, with his current Core Psyche Realm, he could refine profound-level medicinal pills suitable for the Celestial Realm with some difficulty. If he could stabilize himself and refine a few more types of pills, he could be barely rated as a profound-level pharmacist. However, once his psychic power made another breakthrough, regardless of how infinitesimally close he came to the Spirit Psyche Realm, so long as he remained in the Nurturing Psyche Realm, it would basically be impossible for him to refine earth-level pills — This also made him realize that his most important goal right now was to get his psychic power to break through to the Nurturing Psyche Realm!
After that, there was some information that Gu Zuo previously knew about.
Pharmacists were a very special group of people. To become a martial artist, it mainly depended on whether their apt.i.tudes were sufficient and whether they could persevere through cultivation — That’s right. Even if it was an ordinary person, so long as they wanted to learn, they could make an attempt. As for the requirement to be a pharmacist, there had to be medicinal beads inside their palms. The biggest functions of a medicinal bead were to sort through medicinal properties and to link with one’s internal qi. It was even somewhat related to the management of psychic power. No matter how much one strived, a person without medicinal beads couldn’t become a pharmacist! This was an ironclad rule!
If a pharmacist wanted to cultivate, they would have to walk along two paths simultaneously. First of all, they would have to acc.u.mulate internal qi just like martial artists. From the lower ranks to the higher ranks, internal qi was divided into true qi, profound qi, vital qi, and so forth. These were collectively known as the internal qi realms, and the realms of psychic power were called the spiritual path realms. To improve, one needed a cultivation method. If one wanted to allow their own psychic power to possess special abilities, then that person had to absorb medicinal qi of certain attributes.
Reading up to here, Gu Zuo’s eyes lit up.
Medicinal qi!
When Gu Zuo cultivated, half of the medicinal qi would be taken into his bone pearls to merge with his true qi. The other half would fly into his Tianfu Acupoint to merge with his psychic power. During his time on the Peripheral Continents, he never heard of the cultivation matters of the path of spirituality. Thus, he had been covering it up in fear of a problem arising due to a moment of carelessness. At this time, he finally set aside his worries.
Tianheng read this, and then saw Gu Zuo happily smiling at him. He cupped his fingers against Gu Zuo’s cheek: “Ah Zuo, keep reading.”
Gu Zuo hastily nodded. His mood was cheerful as he continued to broaden his understanding of the path of spirituality.
Speaking of this medicinal qi, whenever pills were refined, the overflowing pill fragrance would contain medicinal qi. However, medicinal qi was light and insubstantial, so it was difficult to capture. If a medicinal pill wasn’t refined successfully, it would cause damage and impurities to the medicinal qi. Thus, one needed a very good cultivation method to draw in the medicinal qi for absorption. It was said that only the refinement of the highest three grades would guarantee intact medicinal qi. In addition, only twelfth grade flawless pills could ensure that the medicinal qi would be both intact and free of impurities…
Although, just as a martial artist’s body cultivation method could be divided into inner cultivation methods and martial skills, a pharmacist’s body cultivation method could also be divided into inner cultivation methods and spiritual skills. However, the special point was that the inner cultivation methods of pharmacists were very complex, and could be divided further into internal qi cultivation methods and spiritual path cultivation methods. Internal qi cultivation methods required the strengthening of internal qi and the absorption of medicinal qi. Among these, one half would be fused with true qi, and the other half would enter the Tianfu Acupoint and fuse with one’s psychic power. Meanwhile, spiritual path cultivation methods dealt with increasing and tempering psychic powers.
Often times, spiritual path cultivation methods already contained spiritual skills. Take for example the <> that Gu Zuo learned, which simultaneously improved Gu Zuo’s spiritual path realm, and gave rise to the silver awls, silver needles, as well as the following Spirit Transforming Chapter. All of these were spiritual skills.
Much of the essence of cultivation on the path of spirituality was jumbled together, and it wasn’t as clear as it was for martial artists. But generally speaking, it was just that the mix of medicinal qi, internal qi, and psychic power made things quite complicated. It would cause many unusual variations. But in actuality, the overall boundaries were distinct.
It was because it was like this that an entire system of cultivation could form.
Gu Zuo released a long sigh, and felt like his brain was swelling a little bit.
Fortunately, he had a basic understanding of many matters related to cultivation of the spiritual path.
After that, the topic returned to the issue of attributes.
A martial artist’s const.i.tution possessed its own attribute. A pharmacist’s const.i.tution also had its own attribute. If someone with a single-attribute const.i.tution studied the correct path, then that person would advance faster than many others on the pathway of that attribute. Of course, the attributes of the vast majority were jumbled combinations, and there weren’t even somewhat strong ones among these jumbled attributes. At this time, so long as a person chose the attribute they favored the most, and selected cultivation methods, martial skills, or spiritual skills of the same attribute, then this single attribute of theirs would be continuously magnified. When this favored attribute suppressed the other attributes, it would finally be considered a success.
Just like how const.i.tutions had attributes, so too did medicinal ingredients. Naturally, the pills that were refined also had attributes, and the medicinal qi emitted by these pills would possess the same attribute.
Regardless of whether it was the attributes of const.i.tutions, medicinal pills, or medicinal qi, everything complemented one another.
As an example, consider if there was a certain pharmacist who had a fire attribute const.i.tution, and he refined fire attribute medicinal pills. The fire attribute pills would overflow with medicinal qi that was predisposed towards fire. The pharmacist would absorb this type of medicinal qi for cultivation, which would allow his own internal qi and psychic power to favor the fire attribute. Internal qi and psychic power with the fire attribute would be capable of boosting the pill success rate of fire attribute medicinal pills, which created a positive feedback loop.
As time pa.s.sed, this would be a pharmacist who was an expert at refining fire attribute medicinal pills.
At this point, one needed to talk about the two realms that followed the Core Psyche Realm: The Nurturing Psyche Realm and the Spirit Psyche Realm.
As the name implied, the Nurturing Psyche Realm nourished one’s spirit.
And what kind of spirit was being nurtured? It was the Spiritual Embodiment.
In other words, after achieving the Core Psyche Realm, the spiritual core within the Tianfu Acupoint would continuously increase in size. Gradually nurtured within it would be the sound of a heartbeat. This was proof that something new was being born — This thing was a qualitative change in one’s psychic power, and it was a.n.a.logous to the existence of a pharmacist’s avatar.
It was known as the “spirit body”.
It could be said that the spirit body represented a pharmacist’s inner self. It could also be said that it was the incarnation or embodiment of a pharmacist’s psychic power. Usually, it was closely aligned with a pharmacist’s nature. Its abilities were also dependent on the pharmacist or were based on the pharmacist’s greatest wish.
Its form could be human, but most often it took the shape of beasts, birds, plants, or objects. Some could even be pill cauldrons, jade panpipes, or bladed weapons… A spirit body could take the form of all sorts of things. It was difficult to predict.
Whether or not a spirit body was powerful depended on how st.u.r.dy a pharmacist’s foundations, and how condensed their psychic powers, were. One shouldn’t focus on how Gu Zuo was only at the Core Psyche Realm right now. In actuality, it was hardest to advance from the Coalescing Psyche Realm to the Core Psyche Realm. On the contrary, from the Core Psyche Realm to the Nurturing Psyche Realm, one only needed an opportunity to begin nurturing their spirit.
However, the process of nurturing the spirit to the hatching of the spirit body was comparatively long. If one wanted to make it break out of its sh.e.l.l as quickly as possible, it depended on how the pharmacist nourished it.
Gu Zuo was deeply interested in this topic, but when he thought about these profound mysteries, his mood couldn’t help becoming a little subtle.
When Tianheng saw Gu Zuo’s reddened complexion and strange expression, he laughed and asked: “What’s wrong, Ah Zuo?”
Gu Zuo collected himself, and replied with exasperation: “Big brother, it seems that an egg is growing inside my Tianfu Acupoint. Later on, I need to start incubating it…”
Tianheng: “…” He was at a loss for words. Immediately following which, he ruffled Gu Zuo’s hair, “Ah Zuo’s way of thinking is truly…”
Then, Tianheng recalled what he recently learned, and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It was the situation that emerged when a martial artist was at the Immortal Realm. As a matter of fact, if it really was like that, the martial artists who broke through to the Immortal Realm were very alike…
After cracking a joke, Gu Zuo tossed this strange thought to the side, unaware of Tianheng’s musings.
He had finished reading this book. Immediately following this, he looked through all of the other books here. The subject matter of these books went into greater detail. Things such as attributes, medicinal pill product grades, and some general knowledge related to the spiritual path. In addition, with regards to Ten Ultimates Sect, the introductions to inner cultivation methods, spiritual skills, and other such things in the field of the spiritual path were thorough and exhaustive.
Once Gu Zuo was done, he had already formed a base of information in his mind. He also clearly understood what he should display in front of others in the future. In actuality, his inner cultivation method was incredibly special. It granted him comprehensive improvements that weren’t partial to any attributes. However, while pharmacists with balanced attributes existed, his advancements weren’t slow like that of those balanced pharmacists. Moreover, his pill success rate was extremely high. It wasn’t a balance in the attributes that made it difficult for pharmacists to maintain control.
What was worth rejoicing over was that the Central Continent’s level of tolerance towards talent was quite high. It was said that the Central Continent wasn’t lacking in even better things. Right now, he was inside a veteran silver-ranked organization. No matter how great the talents he revealed, he would only be chased by admirers and sycophants. He wouldn’t be subjected to terrifying, covetous eyes — This definitely wasn’t saying that others wouldn’t be jealous of him. It was just that so long as he didn’t involve himself with the Lesser Emperor rank, he basically didn’t have anything to fear.
This undoubtedly relieved much of Gu Zuo’s worries. In the future, he didn’t have to conceal himself excessively. If he needed to hide one or two things, he only had to pretend that he was slightly partial to two attributes.
Gu Zuo shared his thoughts with Tianheng.
Tianheng nodded his head, and praised: “Ah Zuo’s words are reasonable. At the present time, although the system still can’t be exposed, there’s no need to hide your inner cultivation method or spiritual skills. From what I’ve seen of Ten Ultimates Sect’s foundations, it won’t go so far as to make a big fuss over it. On the contrary, since Ah Zuo belongs to me, the greater the talents you reveal, the more they’ll value you.”
When Gu Zuo heard the few words “ Ah Zuo belongs to me”, his heart started beating wildly. However, at this time, he was able to keep his face from reddening and his breath from hitching. Doing his best to hide his bashfulness, he slightly nodded his head: “It’s only natural that I act as big brother’s personal pharmacist.”
Right, he was pure and free of wicked thoughts!
Following that, Tianheng accompanied Gu Zuo to other side halls, and they read through the rare books arranged within those halls.
There were likewise no sculptures. However, among the rare books inside every side hall, quite a few consisted of inner cultivation methods, hand seals, and spiritual skills. For the most part, they formed complete sets of the same attribute. There were some that mentioned other matching styles as well as the side halls where those hand seals and spiritual skills were kept so that pharmacists could explore on their own.
Gu Zuo browsed through a few, and discovered that some really were profound. But ultimately, they weren’t as powerful as the <> he practiced. They also weren’t as strong as the <>. Naturally, he would still study his own materials. There was no need to switch halfway to something else. That would instead negatively affect his own cultivation.
It was unfortunate that the mysterious things inside these ancient records couldn’t be integrated into his own techniques. Merely, during his comprehensions, he realized that his inner cultivation method actually contained these contexts. As a result, he could only say that he had gained some knowledge and experience. Then, he read other methods of action and conduct.
After he finished reading, a long time had pa.s.sed.
Gu Zuo wanted to continue, but he nevertheless put down the ancient record in his hand. He turned around, and said: “Big brother, shall we head back?”
Tianheng smiled: “If Ah Zuo doesn’t want to stop, there’s no harm in looking around a little more.”
Gu Zuo shook his head: “There’s no need. I can’t finish reading everything in the short-term. I’ll go back to refine pills for a few days. After I consolidate, I’ll find an opportunity to make a breakthrough.” Speaking up to here, he hastily asked, “Big brother, how about you? Have you prepared a specific time to break through?”
Tianheng said: “Today, I’ve made many realizations. I’ll go into seclusion to start breaking through.” He murmured to himself, “If I was to give a timeframe… It isn’t likely to be tomorrow. It’ll probably be the day after.”
Gu Zuo promptly stated: “Then, let’s go home right away and make preparations!”
Tianheng smiled, and spoke in a soft voice: “Okay.”
After heading back, under the management of the battle slaves, those servants and retainers handled matters cautiously and conscientiously. Although they couldn’t take care of everything, everything was clear and orderly. They concentrated fully on their work.
Once Gongyi Tianheng looked around, he didn’t make any inquiries. He directly sat on a boulder, which was at the edge of a cliff at the summit. Rays of b.l.o.o.d.y light and reddish-gold light shined across his body one after another. He quickly sank into the deep layers of comprehension.
Because Gu Zuo didn’t feel a.s.sured about Tianheng’s health, he straightforwardly moved his pill cauldron to an area some distance away from the cliff. In this place, he could raise his head to see Tianheng’s performance, which set his mind at ease.
After that, Gu Zuo started refining pills.
Numerous medicinal ingredients appeared around him. He focused himself, and quickly ignited a flame. Cauldron after cauldron of medicinal pills were refined — There were countless types of pills from the human-level to the golden-level. In his hands, it was as if all of them were the easiest things to shape and mold. He could create numerous medicinal pills with no difficulty whatsoever.
This kind of scene couldn’t help but shock those concealed battle slaves guarding on the side.
Normally, the disposition of the wild dog race was hidden. However, when encountering certain matters, it would be exposed.
Feng He also wasn’t an exception. At this moment, his lower back was arched, his slender fingers were lightly pointing forward, and his mouth was mumbling in a low voice:
“Nine pills, nine pills, sixteen pills, three pills, eight pills…”
“A full set, another full set, all of them are full sets of pills?”
“This is a cauldron of flawless pills, that cauldron also has flawless pills. All of them…”
While speaking, his voice became shrill, and his entire body shuddered slightly. His tranquil expression became somewhat strange, then frantic and fierce. In the end, it seemed like he wanted to pounce over, gather those medicinal pills in his hands, and carefully fondle them a few times!
But, Feng He’s nape was immediately clutched by someone else, who pulled him back and kept him restrained.
Soon after, what echoed out was Ao Ying’s steady voice: “Feng He, calm down.”
Feng He’s facial expression changed, and returned to its initial tranquility. He didn’t make a sound.
On the side, Xi Ying sighed and said: “It’s no wonder the young master cares so much about Pharmacist Gu. He isn’t that old, and he can refine this many types of medicinal pills. A lot of the pills are unfamiliar, and even we can’t recognize them. And based on his realm, his spiritual path has already reached the Core Psyche Realm. On the contrary, while his internal qi realm hasn’t caught up, it has reached its limit. He’s able to advance at any moment. Seeing how easily he can refine golden-level pills now, when that time comes, perhaps he’ll become a profound-level pharmacist.”
The ever-taciturn Ao Ying was a man of few words, and also nodded his head: “Just so.”
After Feng He calmed down, his tone of voice was still somewhat strange. However, this was just a characteristic of his race: “It looks like we have exceptionally good luck to be selected by the young master.”
Xi Ying’s expression was dignified: “It’s an honor for many of my hound race’s members to be battle slaves, but there are still those who haven’t been selected yet. Compared to us, they’re only slightly inferior. Perhaps, they’ll cast their support after some discussion. With the young master’s natural disposition, he won’t treat us unfairly. I’ve seen that the Wu Clan is outstanding. Their clan head is resolute, brilliant, and courageous. My race should come to a decision as quickly as possible.”
The battle slaves were different from ordinary servile races. Although they were all servile races initially, because most of the warriors in their racial groups were chosen, these races could autonomously adhere themselves to Ten Ultimates Sect. These racial groups didn’t have to be placed into servant records, regardless of selection. At the same time, if battle slaves believed that a master was worthy, the warriors who frequently appeared within the adherent race could voluntarily choose a master to support instead of joining the sect barracks.
Of course, these kinds of racial groups were adept at fighting. Any random servile race wouldn’t have such qualifications.
Ao Ying and Feng He didn’t speak anymore, but from their slightly flickering gazes, they definitely had this way of thinking. If it was said that the unveiling of Tianheng’s exceptional apt.i.tudes tempted them, then Gu Zuo’s ability to refine flawless pills was another point of attraction.
On the Central Continent, top grade pills were easy to obtain, but flawless pills were hard to seek. Granted that Gu Zuo was still quite young, and the rank of flawless pills was only suitable for Ascendant Realm martial artists and below, it was enough.
After all, every martial artist had to go through the process of cultivating from the lower realms to the higher realms. What’s more, who was to say that Gu Zuo would only be limited to this rank in the future?
Gu Zuo didn’t know anything about these battle slaves’ thoughts.
It was only because he already gained an ample understanding of information related to the path of spirituality. Right now, he had set aside his worries, and held the intention of breaking through. When he refined medicinal pills, he naturally didn’t hold back.
— At any rate, everyone on the summit was Gu Zuo and Tianheng’s people.
As he continued to refine, Gu Zuo’s mind was immersed within some abstruse realm. All of a sudden, he felt his true qi rush forth. Each of his bone pearls were rotating madly!
All of his meridians ached.
Gu Zuo tightly furrowed his brows. He had unconsciously loosened his hands.
At this moment, he had just refined another of the simplest profound-level pills. Because his true qi had waned too quickly, he had touched upon a certain barrier. This caused his realm to suddenly advance!
The changes within his body were very fast. Gu Zuo’s mood became slightly tense.
Ah, he was about to break through… He was inexperienced.
During his past cultivations, he just continuously generated bone pearls. However, upon reaching the Immortal Realm, he researched that the bone pearls would transform into a qi ocean! This was a process of qualitative change. He absolutely couldn’t treat this lightly!
Gu Zuo remained prudent, and waited for the changes to his bone pearls.
Of course, he didn’t forget to keep operating the introductory chapter of his <>. At most, this writing could allow one to smoothly cultivate to the threshold of the Immortal Realm, but once a person entered the Immortal Realm, they would need the follow-up method.
That said, the system still hadn’t given the follow-up method…
Whatever. He would break through first before returning to this problem.
[Cultivation Mission: Break through to the Immortal Realm.]
[Mission Items: Three wisps of Wondrous Fire, <>]
[Completion Method: Unrestricted.]
[Completion Time: Unrestricted.]
[Failure Penalty: None.]
[Completion Reward: <>]
Gu Zuo: “…”
Speak of the devil. The system truly appeared and disappeared unpredictably.
Gu Zuo’s present consciousness was still considered clear-headed. He easily saw the completion reward, which was the method for further cultivation. He was greatly relieved. But at the same time, Gu Zuo’s expression didn’t turn into a smile. His face had stiffened.
— Why did the mission items include three wisps of Wondrous Fire?
Gu Zuo knew that he would be able to correspondingly utilize Wondrous Fires after breaking through to the Immoral Realm, but he didn’t expect that he needed these things during the breakthrough itself. Could it be that he was going to undergo a special change?
No matter what, after experiencing so many things, Gu Zuo still trusted the system. As a result, although he was somewhat sore, he swiftly took out his own Wondrous Fires.
The Earthen Core Flame was scattered throughout his bone pearls. He didn’t use anything to manage this flame. Meanwhile, he rapidly used his thoughts to take out the wooden token, which was loaded with the Will-O-Wisp Yin Flame, and the candlestick holder, which was loaded with the Violet Bedrock Flame. Both objects were placed by his side.
The next moment, Gu Zuo felt the pain of something being peeled away from inside his meridians!
It was a bone pearl. It had rushed out from his flesh and smashed directly into his dantian!
Immediately follow this, it happened again and again. The seventy-two Earthly Fiend bone pearls raced against each other. All of them dashed out and converged towards one location!
In a region just below his navel, it was as if a great wind was blowing out of the void.
The bone pearls were spinning swiftly and unceasingly. It was like they were also slowly transforming into revolving streams of qi. The streams abruptly whirled and broke through, causing a sudden pain within Gu Zuo’s dantian.
One bone pearl after another was tossed about by the wind and dissipated. However, Gu Zuo knew that they had turned into another type of substance. A s.p.a.ce was opened up in his dantian. Moreover, because he used himself to isolate and reinforce it, the s.p.a.ce transformed into a very steady existence.
Gradually, this s.p.a.ce’s outline became clear, but the framework wasn’t that solid. In Gu Zuo’s flesh, the thirty-six Heavenly Spirit bone pearls dashed out. Like countless shooting stars, they suddenly crashed into the formless qi streams!
In a flash, that s.p.a.ce stabilized.
One hundred and eight bone pearls opened his dantian, and turned into a qi ocean.
He had become an Immortal Realm.
Yet, Gu Zuo’s breakthrough didn’t seem that easy.
From within that newly-formed qi ocean, tongues of flame suddenly drilled out. They were swimming around like strings of silk…
Thanks for the corrections, Charysa.
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