As he walked out of the Soul Hall, the faintly chilling Qi chanism instantly disappeared from his Divine Sense.
Ji An couldn’t help but turn back, his gaze lifting, taking another look at the plaque of the hall.
"Did you feel a bit uncomfortable just now?"
Ye Changqing noticed his action and stopped.
"I always feel a cold aura lingering."
"The strands of Qi chanism drawn from our bodies contain a bit of Essence Soul; soul quality is of Yin nature. A few soul lamps are fine, but the sect has nearly a thousand Foundation Establishnt cultivators, and so many soul lamps gathered in the hall create a unique domain.
The human body is of Yang nature, so of course, when within, you can sense the opposing Qi chanism."
Ye Changqing explained a few words and moved forward again. After returning to the Diligence Hall, he brought out several sets of clothing:
"Second-class disciples enjoy treatnt including two Golden Silk Cloud Pattern Robes, two everyday outfits, three sets each of inner garnts, hairpins, shoes, and socks.
The robes are woven with Tier One Upper Grade Spiritual Silk mixed with Windmill Copper, refined into golden threads, embedded with twelve layers of Dharma Prohibition. They are very light and offer good defense, most importantly, we don’t need to control them with Divine Sense.
By the way, what Cultivation Technique does the junior brother plan to choose?"
"I will choose the pills that match your Cultivation Technique, though you can choose other types of pills.
You should know, different techniques result in different nature of magical power; if cultivating a Fire Elent Technique but choosing a Water Elent Attribute pill, it’s purely giving oneself a hard ti, the pain after consuming it aside, refinent will also hardly improve rit."
Ji An clasped his hands and replied: "According to the master’s advice, I chose Evergreen Wood Skill."
"Evergreen Wood Skill is good, comparable to taking a Tier Two Upper Grade Lifespan Extension Pill.
Ah, only when nearing the end of lifespan, one more deeply appreciates the advantage of a long life."
Ye Changqing sighed, finding two fist-sized cyan jade bottles:
"These are Cyan Spirit Pills, best paired with Evergreen Wood Skill.
Foundation Establishnt disciples enjoying Second-class treatnt receive 24 pills annually; to get more, contribution points are needed for purchase."
With that, he pulled out a jade slip and handed it over:
"It details all levels of treatnt and obligations for Foundation Establishnt cultivators of the sect. If one fails to fulfill them for three consecutive years without a valid reason, their treatnt is reduced.
Previously, new Foundation Establishnt cultivators weren’t assigned tasks for three years, giving ample ti to stabilize their realm and adapt to the environnt.
However, this changed a few years back; junior brother now only has one year of free ti, afterwards report the chosen sect tasks."
Ji An held the jade slip to his forehead and skimd through it, focusing on the Second-class treatnt and the belongings he received, nodding slightly:
"Thank you, senior brother. I still need to go to the Inheritance Hall to select my cultivation technique, and I’ll visit in a few days to choose a grotto mansion."
"Take care, junior brother."
...
Walking down a path lined with verdant bamboo, Ji An found the entrance to the Inheritance Hall, which was a stone cave.
On his way, he sensed passing through three layers of Dharma Prohibition; without the identity jade token, he wouldn’t have been able to reach here.
Cultivation techniques are fundantal for any power’s legacy, so such tight security is unsurprising, whether for the power or the cultivator.
Above the cave entrance, the stone was etched with the characters ’Inheritance Hall’, colored with Vermilion, blood-red.
Stepping on moss-covered stone steps, Ji An entered the Inheritance Hall.
He was t by a lean old man of celestial deanor leaning over a desk, which was laden with jade slips, and a cup of Spirit Tea emitting curling mist and a faint fragrance.
The old man’s Qi chanism was profound like a vast sea, creating intense pressure.
Daylight spilled from above, forming golden patches on the ground.
The surrounding stone walls had niches cut into them, holding jade slips that glimred with various Spirit Lights, protected by a faint Spirit Light outside.
Cultivation thod Area, Magic Area, Beast Taming Area, Artifact Refining Area, Alchemy Area... all labeled clearly.
Each niche had labels, detailed with fine-script information.
Ji An softly cleared his throat, stepped forward, bowed, and said:
"New Foundation Establishnt disciple Ji An, here to choose a cultivation technique."
The old man didn’t move his eyelids, coldly saying:
"I’ve heard, go get it yourself. After selecting, co to to copy the jade slip; place your jade token on the light screen of the niche, the Dharma Prohibition will automatically open."
His words carried an iciness that distanced others.
Ji An didn’t mind, knowing that places like the Inheritance Hall were bound to harbor hidden talents; without proficiency, one couldn’t be entrusted here.
The person before him emanated aura like a sea, more pressuring than his master, likely a Late-stage Chao Origin cultivator.
He first glanced through casually, and then began serious selection.
As a Second-class disciple, besides cultivation techniques, he could also freely choose two Foundation Establishnt tier magic techniques.
Additionally, his knowledge was too narrow, needing expansion, thus he picked all usable jade slips.
When the old man saw dozens of jade slips laid on the table, he finally lifted his gaze, his mouth curving into a faint smile:
"Basic Knowledge Jade Slips don’t require contribution points, they are a perk for sect cultivators, but Magic Technique Jade Slips do need a certain amount of contribution points."
Most of the new Foundation Establishnt disciples are quite poor. Exchanging for a Foundation Establishnt Pill consud a massive amount of Contribution Points; few would choose so many Magic Technique Jade Slips.
He quickly examined what the Jade Slips were, muttering softly:
"The cultivation technique is the Evergreen Wood Skill, Foundation Establishnt Stage magic techniques are Spring Breeze and Rain Skill, Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell, Jade Wood Transformation Skill, Overlapping Waves Technique, Pan Mountain Technique, Bursting Fireball, Golden Light Technique... this is ridiculous, to choose tal Elent techniques with a Wood Elent technique. Give the jade token, let see which idiot sect you belong to!"
The elder was quite furious, if a Late-stage Foundation Establishnt disciple chose techniques conflicting with his cultivation technique, he could understand, as researching such techniques could provide insight into the Cultivation Technique Divine Intent from the opposite perspective. But why would an early-stage Foundation Establishnt disciple do so?
Feeling the fleeting spiritual pressure fluctuation from the other person, Ji An felt as if he were amidst a boundless sea of fire, with his skin burning.
Suppressing the tremor in his heart, he silently thought that being too responsible was sotis not good.
Handing over his Identity Jade Token, he softly explained:
"As a disciple, I excel in planting, so I chose the Evergreen Wood Skill. As for selecting the Golden Light Technique, it’s because I have quite an insight into tal Elent techniques as well."
Ji An activated his magical power, employing the Sharp Gold Technique, and golden Qi glead at his fingertips.
The elder squinted at the golden light lively circling around Ji An’s fingertips, his face’s anger subsiding:
"I see. However, in the future, your magical power will carry the nature of Wood Elent Elental Power, making the activation of tal Elent techniques more consuming."
He pondered for a mont, then slowly spoke:
"Have you ever learned the Golden Armor Technique?"
"Not yet."
Ji An replied, as Upper Stone Turtle had barely absorbed Qian, Dui, Li, among other Spiritual chanisms, so practicing tal Elent and Fire Elent techniques relied solely on his own efforts, and ti did not permit.
"The Golden Light Technique holds trendous potential; if you want to achieve sothing, the Golden Armor Technique should be practiced frequently. It will help in understanding the mystery of the Golden Light Technique. In addition, do not neglect the Sharp Gold Technique either."
The elder took the jade token and placed it on the Spirit Disc, nodding slightly:
"Hmm, you’ll enjoy the treatnt of a second-class disciple, but you need to remove two techniques that consu the most Contribution Points, and deduct 2500 Contribution Points.
Pretty wealthy, huh? Even after the deduction, you still have over five thousand Contribution Points."
"My planting techniques are quite good, helping my master manage the dicinal Garden, and I also rented dozens of acres of Spirit Field, allowing to accumulate this wealth."
Ji An briskly copied the Jade Slips, paid respect to the elder, and left.
...
Leaving Lingxiao Mountain, Ji An rode the grey-feathered sand goose, flying westward for two days, finally arriving at the region where Red Fla Peak is located.
It was noon, with the sun blazing overhead; billowing smoke and clouds were visible from afar.
After half an hour’s journey, Ji An finally glimpsed the full view of Red Fla Peak.
It was a barren, red-brown stone mountain, resembling a truncated cone with a flat top. Golden-red mist surged and boiled out from the summit.
There was no greenery on the mountain itself, but at the foot of the mountain, lush green trees surrounded it, along with a two to thirty-acre dark green Hidden Pool.
As the beast continued to approach, Ji An finally recognized the peak as a volcano.
He drove the sand goose in continuous circles around the mountain, and even though there was a Mountain Protection Array between, he could feel the fierce Spiritual chanism vibrating in the air, with nature’s spiritual energy abnormally turbulent.
As sunset approached, the peak no longer spewed mist, and the wild spiritual energy around gradually beca gentle.
He stopped outside the Magic Array, found a corner to ditate and rest.
The grey-feathered sand goose lay in the grass, occasionally letting out feeble moans; it was exhausted today, and even felt the air it breathed was akin to a smoky stove.
The Spirit-Seeking Rat lay not far from the sand goose, slightly better in condition but still listless.
The sunset was like a furnace, casting gorgeous colors of scarlet gold and purplish red, birds shrieked, and beasts ran around; this land, silent by day, grew lively, bursting with vitality.
He took out the Jade Slip of the Evergreen Wood Skill, pressed it against his forehead, silently reciting every word in his heart, pondering how the cultivation technique should be practiced.
Sun warm, moon cold, one night passed.
A thin mist shrouded the mountain, Ji An’s mind sank into his Dantian, reconnecting with Upper Stone Turtle.
[Spiritual chanism: Kan Spirit 1653.2, Gen Spirit 505.4, Zhen Spirit 16.4, Xun Spirit 70.8, Kun Spirit 1422.5, Qian Spirit 1.7, Dui Spirit 0.1, Li Spirit 0.2]
All the Spiritual chanisms had increased; this was what he gained from staying outside the Mountain Protection Array.
Ji An opened his eyes, looked at the seemingly real, seemingly illusory region hidden in the mist, and marveled at the wonder of divine creation.
Beneath this Land of Blazing Fire and lting Gold, there are Earth and Water veins nurturing thousands of wood Spiritual chanisms, where Five Elents Primordial Qi coexist in harmonious balance.
This is it; to others, this Spirit Vein Node may seem problematic, but to him, it’s a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land several tis better than Ningcui Cliff.
Before long, the morning sun rose, dispelling the mist, and the peak once again erupted with golden-red mist.
The breath of Golden Wind and fierce fire spread from the array, and the gentle nature’s spiritual energy around quickly turned into untad wild horses.
The grey-feathered sand goose emitted a plaintive shriek, indicating that this place was no longer bearable!
The Spirit-Seeking Rat also let out in "squeak squeak" sounds, with its small eyes showing traces of mist.
From now on, you two will have better days, Ji An gathered the Spirit-Seeking Rat, roared, and rode the mount flying away.
In front of the grotto mansion at the foot of the mountain, Chen Xingzhou coldly watched that departing figure, instructed:
"Be on high alert these days. If anyone suspicious approaches the array again, notify imdiately."
Yesterday, he had noticed soone flying around the grand array on a beast, unexpectedly, the other lingered outside all night, clearly harboring an ulterior motive.
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