Cultivation is just so scientific!

Chapter 422: Chapter 257: The Ancestor_2

“The teachings of the grandmaster are deeply etched in my heart,” Li Shiming bowed and responded.

He ceased the “Demon Shadow Buddha Form Technique,” and his aura returned to its normal state.

“Master, during my recent outing, I acquired Third Grade Spirit Tea from Ji Hongbo’s storage bracelet. I was originally at the peak of Mid-stage Foundation Establishment; after drinking the Third Grade Spirit Tea, I directly advanced to Late-stage Foundation Establishment. I dare not conceal this from Master!” He then turned and bowed to explain to Elder Su.

“I told you he is one deeply blessed,” Elder Su, upon hearing this news, had a beaming smile and turned to speak to the Fan Ancestor.

“Indeed a deep blessing, Ji Hongbo is Little Ji’s son, right? When did Little Ji become so generous as to give Third Grade Spirit Tea to his son?” Fan Ancestor pondered and asked.

“I calculated the time; it was precisely around the triennial distribution of the Third Grade Spirit Tea. It seems Ji Hongbo collected it on behalf of Elder Ji but hadn’t yet given it to his elder, and he went after Shiming!” Elder Su laughed heartily.

Elder Ji always opposed him, and though he retaliated, it was only in terms of interests within the sect, with little impact on Elder Ji’s personal resources.

A Golden Core Elder receives a portion of Third Grade Spirit Tea every three years depending on their status within the sect.

This bit of Third Grade Spirit Tea is intended for hosting honored guests, especially for influential Golden Core Elders like them, highlighting the significance they place on a particular Golden Core cultivator.

This is an unspoken rule, having Third Grade Spirit Tea for reception signifies their intent to draw closer and show favor to a certain Golden Core cultivator.

But Elder Ji, lacking three years’ supply of Third Grade Spirit Tea, means he won’t be able to use it to entertain guests during this period, which is a difficult situation to explain and could affect Elder Ji’s relationships with some old friends.

“Now that Shiming has reached Late-stage Foundation Establishment, send a message asking Little Ji to yield a portion of the resources for Golden Core advancement. If he doesn’t agree, I will personally go and find his master, Old Zuo!” Fan Ancestor waved his hand decisively.

Internal competition among the sect’s factions was acceptable, but becoming entangled with sect cultivators and attacks outside the sect were serious matters.

Even though Ji Hongbo was crippled, as a father, Elder Ji must bear the consequences.

Elder Zuo and Fan Ancestor, both Nascent Soul Ancestors of Shushan Sect, usually observed the competition among the juniors from above and did not interfere.

But since Elder Ji’s side attacked Li Shiming, it was no longer just a factional competition, but something that affected the sect’s interests.

Li Shiming is a True Inheritor of Alchemy, just look at why Qianye Temple sent Zhi Kong Arhat—it was because Li Shiming stopped producing Spirit Pills for Qianye Temple.

This shows, even though Li Shiming is not yet an Alchemy Master, his influence is already significant.

Having such a True Inheritor of Alchemy in Shushan Sect, yet being attacked by fellow sect cultivators, is something no faction in the entire sect will forgive without a satisfactory compensation.

And Elder Zuo’s lineage has not yet distributed the resources for Golden Core development over the past decade, unlike Fan Ancestor’s lineage, which had long been designated for Li Shiming’s senior sister, Ye Jingxian.

They initially thought about leveraging Elder Ma’s side for resources for Golden Core advancement, but since the disciple is Elder Su’s, being only a registered disciple on the other side, having Elder Ma provide resources for Golden Core development to Li Shiming would also be embarrassing for Elder Su.

“Shiming, why don’t you thank your grandmaster quickly!” Elder Su, with a smile on his face, gestured to Li Shiming.

“Thank you, Grandmaster!” Li Shiming certainly recognized this as a good thing, already having a set of resources for Golden Core development, yet who would refuse more?

The Golden Core development resources of Senluo Sect, compared to those of Shushan Sect, not only differ in knowledge but even Vessel Protecting Pill, Soul Stabilizing Pill, Resurrection Pill, and Mountain-breaking Pill, bearing the same names and effects, use different Spiritual Medicines in each sect.

“Qianye Temple sent Zhi Kong Arhat over because you were not in the sect, and after the sect negotiated with him on your behalf, they secured an inheritance opportunity for you. Of course, the sect also derived many benefits and will grant you corresponding contribution points as a reward!”

The inheritance opportunity was the Divine Vision inheritance; there was only one chance to accept the inheritance. It’s best to wait until one reaches the Golden Core Stage before accepting the inheritance!” Fan Ancestor said to Li Shiming slowly.

Li Shiming actually understood that, given the relationship between Qianye Temple and Shushan Sect as two of the three major sects of the Righteous Path, it was impossible for them to truly become enemies.

When he heard that he could have a chance to receive the Divine Vision inheritance, he was very pleased.

If he were to negotiate himself, perhaps just a few Spiritual Artifacts or Spiritual Medicines for use during the Foundation Establishment Stage could have sent him away.

Could he really oppose Qianye Temple by his own strength?

His previous threats seemed to imply only that he should not personally engage in alchemy for Qianye Temple, but that actually affected the growth of Qianye Temple; Qianye Temple might indeed completely eliminate him.

“Shiming will follow the sect’s arrangements!” Li Shiming bowed and said.

“Little Ma mentioned that you will definitely become an Alchemy Master, so I have decided to advance some of the privileges, upgrading the Spiritual Vein of your Sword Holding Peak to Golden Core Level, to facilitate your cultivation,” Fan Ancestor said, very pleased with Li Shiming’s understanding, and made his decision with a smile.

Li Shiming expressed his gratitude again.

“By the way, you used one ‘Ten Thousand Miles Escape Talisman.’ Qianye Temple sent over three ‘Buddha Light Thousand-mile Talismans,’ you should take them as well!” Fan Ancestor searched his person, and with a flick of his hand, he threw three talismans to Li Shiming.

Li Shiming had almost forgotten about having used a ‘Ten Thousand Miles Escape Talisman’; getting a chance at the Divine Vision inheritance already felt like a win to him.

Not to mention getting three ‘Buddha Light Thousand-mile Talismans’ as compensation, although these life-saving tactics were actually not that important to him.

It only made him momentarily forget about using up his life-saving trump card; his speed-based life-saving trump card definitely wasn’t the ‘Ten Thousand Miles Escape Talisman,’ but the introductory Divine Skill ‘Step by Step Lotus.’

After leaving Fan Ancestor, Elder Su told Li Shiming to return to Sword Holding Peak, as Lai Fei, the Store Manager from Beishu Trading Company, would soon personally come to visit him.

Unlike the situation with Cai Hong, where he needed Elder Su’s favor just to meet Li Shiming, this Store Manager Lai’s status was extremely high, at least based on the expression Elder Su had when instructing Li Shiming, letting Li Shiming know that the background of Store Manager Lai might not be simple.

Now that Li Shiming had gained a certain status himself, he could independently handle matters related to him.

When Li Shiming returned to his Sword Holding Peak, just as he landed on the peak, he sensed a change in the Spiritual Energy.

Of course, the change in Spiritual Energy at the mountaintop was subtle, but as he entered his cave dwelling, especially when he reached the Cultivation Room, the concentration of Spiritual Energy at the outlet of the Spiritual Vein had already been upgraded to Golden Core Level, same as his master, Elder Su’s place at Heavenly Eye Peak.

The supply of Spiritual Energy in Shushan Sect, though provided through Spiritual Veins, was also controlled by the Sect Formation.

Spiritual Energy is a limited resource; the sect must strictly control the supply of Spiritual Energy, even if the main Spiritual Vein is abundant, not all of it would be diverted into the various cave dwellings.

The main Spiritual Vein cannot be fully utilized, but instead, needs constant maintenance, which requires the Sect Formation and some Spiritual Objects to operate conjointly, while also ensuring the consumption ratio of the main Spiritual Vein.

The Spiritual Energy of Sword Holding Peak was no longer at the expense of his master Elder Su’s Heavenly Eye Peak’s Spiritual Vein; instead, it directly connected to a Spiritual Vein from the main Spiritual Vein, a task accomplished by a Nascent Soul Ancestor through the Sect Formation.

It was probably arranged before Li Shiming returned, but it was officially conveyed to him by Fan Ancestor.

Feeling the Golden Core Stage Spiritual Vein that now belonged to him alone, it marked his position within the sect as parallel to that of a Golden Core cultivator.