Once the Seeking Truth Ship was fully refined and he could activate it at will, Bai Zichen’s trips between the Mountain Gate and Feiyue Lake were practically instantaneous.
Last month, he had spent some time on Hanxiu Peak, the Bai Clan’s territory. Apart from refining the Seeking Truth Ship, he had also taken the time to guide the younger members of the Bai Family.
However, forget about finding a peerless genius; there wasn’t even a single member on par with Bai Ling, someone who could be a pillar for the family.
The few so-called Foundation Establishment Seeds within the clan were a far cry from the likes of Bai Ling and Bai Wei in their day.
’In the end, the pool of candidates is too limited. We can only select Immortal Seedlings from the Bai Clan’s mortal population, so the probability of a genius emerging is far too low... So be it. If I have to, I’ll just spend more resources to push Ziying and Ziyu into Foundation Establishment. As for the others, they’ll have to rely on their own destiny.’
The Qingfeng Sect had established an ironclad rule forbidding Cultivation Families from recruiting Immortal Seedlings who were not blood relatives. This rule severely restricted every clan’s rate of development.
It would be one thing if the mortal population could rapidly expand elsewhere, but in the Black Mountain Range, arable land was limited, and most of it consisted of Spirit Lands.
This left very little room for mortal expansion.
If Bai Zichen’s grand ambition came to fruition and he truly conquered ten Spirit Veins, not only would the Qingfeng Sect have enough Spirit Land for its disciples to use, but the vacated, low-grade Spirit Lands could also be used to grow Mortal Rice, feeding countless people.
Before long, the mortal population of the Black Mountain area would rise sharply, and the number of new Immortal Seedlings would increase in kind.
’The Naihe Sect truly lives up to its name as a Nascent Soul Major Sect. Judging from the secret cultivation techniques that came from the Inheritance Stele, it might have even been a Super Sect that once produced a Divinity Transformation Great Power... The Desolate God Stealing Sun Technique, the Divine Casting Technique, and the True Enlightenment Sword Technique I acquired on my second visit—any one of these would be considered a legacy Secret Technique even in a Nascent Soul Major Sect.’ Looking back now, the legacies of the Naihe Sect were all extraordinary, far surpassing those of the Qingfeng Sect.
’This sect originated from an extremely remote and desolate land, far from the inland Five Domains. It had little contact with the inland Cultivation Realm, separated by a Sea of Suffering that stretched for millions of miles.’
’I really have no idea how the Five Mountains True Man managed to obtain the Naihe Sect’s Inheritance Stele back then.’
’However, in terms of sheer power, our sect’s Five Crystal Glaze Body cultivation technique is in no way inferior to the Naihe Sect’s legacies—it might even surpass them. It’s just not well-known because it’s so incredibly difficult to practice... The Daoist Classic Cantongqi, which the founding ancestor also brought back from across the Outer Sea, ought to be just as miraculously profound.’
He had already used his authority as a Core Formation True Man to transcribe the complete Daoist Classic Cantongqi and the entire Fire Dragon Returning Essence Scripture.
Unfortunately, the Inheritance Stele in the Five Mountains Temple had reached its limit and shattered into countless fragments, making it impossible for any more young disciples to receive its legacy.
Of the legacies obtained afterward, almost none were worthy of his notice.
However, one Inner Sect Disciple had obtained a complete Tier Four Refiner’s inheritance and was accepted by Dai Hui as an Inner Chamber Disciple.
Having comprehended two forms of Sword Intent before the Sword Mark Jade Disc in the Sword Tomb Secret Realm, Bai Zichen had already assimilated most of the True Enlightenment Sword Technique.
Only the last few swordsmanship styles of the True Enlightenment Sword Technique remained, representing concepts he had never encountered before, and thus they still existed unassimilated in his Sea of Consciousness.
Bai Zichen planned to master them completely before the war of expansion.
He wanted to see just how much his combat prowess would increase from the legendary state of Sword Heart Clarity and the True Enlightenment Sword Technique, which was said to be able to deconstruct any sword technique in the world.
However, judging by its prerequisite state, Heart Like a Bright Mirror, he knew this realm would grant a massive boost to his grasp of a battle’s flow and his ability to find the perfect opportunity for victory.
’Nine Illusions Sword Technique, Sword Light Forms Shadow, Sword Light Illusion... It uses a Flying Sword to create illusions, trapping an opponent within an Illusion Realm.’
’Seven Emotions Swordsmanship... This swordsmanship stirs the emotions, causing an opponent’s Heart Demons to run rampant until they lose self-control... It follows the path of the Heart Sword, which is exceptionally rare.’
’Heavenly Inquiry Sword Technique... It poses nine questions to the heavens, using one’s conviction as the blade... The stronger the user’s conviction, the greater the power. It’s a swordsmanship whose upper limit isn’t constrained by one’s Cultivation.’
’Hundred Poison Sword Gu... A truly ingenious technique, a wondrous fusion of Gu Insects and swordsmanship... It integrates several specific Gu Insects into the Sword Light. Some are as fine as hairs and can infiltrate an enemy’s body without a sound. Some feed on the Five Metals Spirit, granting the Sword Light the ability to damage an opponent’s Flying Sword. Others are venomous, filling the Sword Light with a toxic mist that could poison even a Core Formation True Man before they realize it.’
These four swordsmanship styles represented four different paths of development.
Bai Zichen didn’t need to master all of them. As long as he integrated their principles, he would have no fear if he encountered them in the future, as he would know how to counter them.
’The True Enlightenment Sword Technique can be broken down into dozens of top-tier swordsmanship styles. Take these four, for example. If someone was willing, they could specialize in any one of them and develop it to an extremely profound degree...’
Everyone’s circumstances were different. Bai Zichen didn’t lack cultivation techniques; he lacked time.
While one might call him a Sword Cultivator, he wasn’t so passionate about the sword as to be single-minded. It just so happened that the legacies he had obtained and the Flying Swords in his possession were all of the highest caliber.
Combined with his own relatively high talent for the Sword Dao, it was only natural that he focused most of his energy there.
...
Illusory Sword Light, layered like mountain peaks, appeared like mist and smoke, seeming both real and ethereal.
Within his Sea of Consciousness, a myriad of Sword Lights surged, clustering together like a field of flowers before bursting into full bloom.
In the blink of an eye, they all vanished, leaving only a single, sharp Sword Light that crisscrossed the space, its killing intent staggering.
Bai Zichen let out a soft cry, and sword gleams erupted from his entire body, transforming the Quiet Chamber into an ocean of Sword Light.
The next moment, all the items in the Quiet Chamber that had been pierced by the sword gleams were left completely unscathed.
Only the Willow Leaf Sword floated silently before him, its form fading like a shadow.
After six months, he had finally achieved proficiency in the Nine Illusions Sword Technique.
’I possess the Taibai Sword Sect’s True Understanding of Sword Dao. With such a high-level perspective, I don’t need to meticulously practice these swordsmanship styles until I reach the Refined and Masterful realm of a grandmaster... I just need to extract their essence, integrate it into my own Sword Dao Realm, and be able to apply it at will.’
Bai Zichen put away the Willow Leaf Sword and noticed two new messages on his Identity Token.
He glanced at them and was about to reply, but decided to make the trip in person instead.
He summoned the Seeking Truth Ship. A white rainbow streaked across the sky and vanished in an instant.
After becoming a Core Formation True Man, his Identity Token had been reforged, a process that consumed several precious Tier Three Spiritual Materials.
Aside from granting him the authority to freely pass through all of the Qingfeng Sect’s arrays and Forbidden restrictions, its most important new feature was a communication function.
By using Spiritual Materials extracted from the same piece of the Essence of the Fallen Mother, the tokens of the three Core Formation Ancestors could communicate with one another.
Within a thousand miles, text would appear instantly.
Within a hundred thousand miles, a message would slowly materialize, taking no more than three days.
Unfortunately, the piece of the Essence of the Fallen Mother was only a few pounds, barely enough to modify the Core Formation Ancestors’ tokens, so it couldn’t be extended to the Elder-level members.
The white rainbow came to a sudden halt mid-flight and veered to chase after a brightly-colored peacock. A clear beam of Sword Light shot out, multiplying into a thousand strands that instantly ensnared the Tier Two Mid Grade Demon Beast.
No matter how the peacock struggled within, firing its tail feathers like sharp arrows, they all vanished into the ocean of Sword Light like clay oxen entering the sea, dissipating without a trace.
Without resorting to any other techniques and by merely maintaining the Illusion Sword Light, after one hour, the five-colored peacock collapsed from exhaustion. It cooed twice, its will to resist completely gone.
The Sword Light returned, capturing the beast alive and pulling it into the Seeking Truth Ship before continuing toward the Mountain Gate.
"Ancestor Bai, my master knew you were coming and is already waiting inside."
As the Seeking Truth Ship landed at the bottom of the valley, Bai Zichen saw Wei Chuming already waiting there respectfully. His posture was ramrod straight; there was no telling how long he had been waiting.
"This five-colored peacock is for you," Bai Zichen said casually. "Whether you raise it or kill it is up to you."
Bai Zichen casually tossed out the peacock, its Demon Power sealed, and strode toward a thatched cottage in the valley.
As they were both Core Formation Cultivators, when not deliberately practicing Qi Concealment, they were like two blazing suns, able to sense each other’s presence from a great distance.
"Thank you for the treasure, Ancestor!"
Wei Chuming bowed deeply in his excitement, so flustered that he even used the wrong form of address.
This type of five-colored peacock was not common in the Black Mountain Range. It was capable of flight, though its speed was somewhat slow.
But its tail feathers could be fired with impressive power, each one equivalent to a full-powered strike from a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Even with a Core Formation Ancestor for a master, a Tier Two Mid Grade Demon Beast was a significant gift for Wei Chuming.
"Junior Brother Bai, you’re too generous with the younger generation."
Wei Dao was seated cross-legged on a cushion woven from coarse straw. He had prepared a new type of tea, one with an aroma Bai Zichen had never encountered before.
"It was just something I caught on the way; it practically ran right into me. Senior Brother Wei, your tea ceremony has achieved a state of profound simplicity. One could say you are Entering the Dao through it."
Bai Zichen said with genuine sincerity after taking the cup and drinking.
"What was so important that you had to come in person, Junior Brother? Couldn’t we have communicated by transmission?"
Wei Dao felt a bit exasperated. This Junior Brother Bai had only reached Core Formation a few years ago. Instead of focusing on consolidating his realm, increasing his Magical Power, or performing the Refinement of his Magical Treasures, he was always running about.
"Brother Ge needs to refine the Acquired Thunder God Pearl. It will take ten years just to form the Magical Treasure’s prototype. This treasure can reduce the might of a Celestial Tribulation by thirty percent and will aid his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm, so of course it takes precedence over everything... But to just wait around all those years would be a waste of time. Why don’t we add Cyan Bull Valley to our expansion targets and conquer it in the meantime?"
Bai Zichen voiced the idea that was on his mind.
Wei Dao’s message had stated that Master Ge Cang had informed him he would be entering a ten-year seclusion to refine the Acquired Thunder God Pearl.
This Magical Treasure also came from the Inheritance Stele. It was one of the Naihe Sect’s Tribulation Crossing Treasures, and every qualified Perfect Core Formation Cultivator had to prepare one.
The Mysterious Celestial Might is unpredictable, and the type of Nascent Soul Celestial Tribulation each cultivator faces is not always the same.
The difference in power between the weakest and strongest tribulations can be twofold.
Therefore, even a heaven-sent genius like Master Ge Cang still needed multiple safeguards when facing the Celestial Tribulation. The Acquired Thunder God Pearl was something he absolutely had to refine.
Wei Dao had agreed to target Celestial Thunder Cliff for expansion, but since Master Ge Cang would be unavailable for ten years, the campaign was naturally scheduled for a decade from now.
But that rate of expansion was too slow, which was why Bai Zichen had come to discuss the matter in person.
"Cyan Bull Valley? Launching two expansion wars within ten years... Junior Brother Bai, isn’t that a bit too hasty?"
Wei Dao was so startled that the Spiritual Spring water he was guiding into the teapot overflowed.
"Not at all, Senior Brother Wei. Think about it carefully... For Celestial Thunder Cliff ten years from now, the three of us just need to make a move, and our Foundation Establishment Cultivators can simply mop up the Tier Two Golden-Winged Thunder Rocs. That campaign will put almost no logistical strain on the Sect. In reality, the only major expansion war we’d be launching is the one for Cyan Bull Valley."
Bai Zichen’s voice was firm as he laid out his reasoning.
"The Demon King in Cyan Bull Valley is pathetically weak and poses no threat. As long as we have Gu Xisheng arrange for logistical support, this battle will be of little difficulty."