Innate Immortal Seed

Chapter 244: Chapter 242: Refinement of a Magical Treasure

”Ancestor Bai, I will immediately move my belongings and the array hub off the island and vacate Lake Heart Island...”

Lake Heart Island, the core Spirit Land of Feiyue Lake, was originally the lair of that Flood Dragon.

After the Qingfeng Sect slayed the beast and seized the lake in the reclamation war, they renovated it. Ancestor Yangg personally laid down a Tier Three Spirit Gathering Array, raising the Spiritual Qi here to the peak of Tier Three.

Later, after Ancestor Yangg passed away, Zhou Suqing, as his successor in the Dao of arrays, inherited Lake Heart Island.

But now that Bai Zichen had become a Core Formation True Man, it would be inappropriate for her to continue occupying Feiyue Lake’s finest Spirit Land, so she immediately offered to withdraw.

”There’s no need. Everything here can remain as it is... Before long, I will open up my own Spirit Vein and establish a separate residence.”

Bai Zichen waved his hand. ’I definitely need to find the best Spirit Land, as it will affect my future cultivation speed.’

’But there’s no need to take one from my sect brothers. The depths of Black Mountain are full of Tier Three Spirit Veins.’

”Ancestor Bai, before I left, Master instructed me to ask: when do you plan to hold your Golden Core Ceremony?”

Wei Chuming had only returned to the Sect a few years ago, and the two had never interacted, so he asked with great caution.

”Senior Brother Wei didn’t hold a grand ceremony when he achieved Core Formation, so there’s no need for mine either. Besides, our sect has few true allies... Making the Five Elements Sect travel thousands of miles would be too much of a hassle. Go back and tell the two senior brothers that I need a few years to familiarize myself with my new realm. I will return to the Mountain Gate to pay my respects after that.”

Regardless of the era, Core Formation Cultivators were the backbone of the Cultivation Realm.

After the Near Ancient period, they were even granted the title of True Man, a position of great prestige.

A single Core Formation True Man was enough to sustain a Sect for several hundred years and could elevate a Cultivation Family to the status of a Distinguished County Family.

It was a tradition in the Northern Domain Cultivation Realm for every newly-advanced Core Formation True Man to hold a Golden Core Ceremony and invite guests from all corners.

It was both a display of strength and an opportunity to receive a host of congratulatory gifts.

Of course, at the end of the ceremony, the new Core Formation True Man would give a lecture, expounding on their Core Formation experience as a way of giving back to the guests.

In the current Cultivation Realm, where Nascent Soul True Monarchs were the highest apparent combat power but rarely made an appearance, Core Formation True Men were already considered top-tier experts.

Thus, Core Formation experience became increasingly valued, and it was unavoidable that people would hoard their knowledge.

The lectures at Golden Core Ceremonies were basically just empty platitudes and common knowledge.

No Core Formation Cultivator would ever truly and openly share their personal insights and experiences to teach the masses.

When Wei Dao achieved Core Formation, the outside world was in turmoil, so he didn’t hold a grand Golden Core Ceremony.

Since they had both achieved Core Formation around the same time, Bai Zichen didn’t want people to think there was some distinction in importance between them, so he simply canceled his.

Besides, the Qingfeng Sect had no allies in the Liang Country Cultivation Realm. Any who came would just be putting on a show, and he had no desire to waste his time on that.

”Also, I’m not that old. There’s no need for the ’Ancestor’ honorific...”

The thought of being called ’Ancestor’ by a group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were over a hundred years old always felt strange to Bai Zichen, who was only in his sixties and among the youngest of Core Formation True Men.

”Just call me Senior Uncle.”

”Ancestor, we will naturally obey your decree... But in our Core Formation Sect, we venerate Core Formation True Men. If everyone addresses you as Senior Uncle, it won’t be enough to show proper respect. Moreover, it’s not a title the Qi Refining Disciples can use.”

Wei Chuming had managed to hide his identity and infiltrate a mid-level position in the Ghost Spirit Sect; his ability to adapt and read people was beyond doubt.

After returning to the Sect, he became Gu Xisheng’s right-hand man and had been maneuvering to take charge of a hall.

”What if we drop the ’Old’ from the title? The disciples could call you ’Ancestor Bai’.”

Bai Zichen gave a noncommittal wave, then his body melted into the moonlight and vanished, returning to White Jade Tower.

’As long as it’s not ’Ancestor,’ a title that makes me sound old, I’m fine with it.’

”Senior Brother Wei, shall we return to the Mountain Gate together and report this to the two Ancestors?”

Wei Chuming said to Qi Yue, and only after seeing him nod did he turn to Zhou Suqing and say, ”Senior Sister Zhou, since Ancestor Bai does not wish to hold a Golden Core Ceremony, we’ll have to trouble you to keep a close eye on things here at Feiyue Lake. Please don’t let any tactless people disturb Ancestor Bai’s peace.”

Bai Zichen hadn’t announced his attempt at Core Formation, but the world-shaking phenomenon it created had long ago drawn the attention of every cultivator in Feiyue Lake.

The final scene, where the nature’s spiritual energy for dozens of miles around flocked to one spot like birds to a forest or waves to the sea, made everyone understand that Feiyue Lake had a new Core Formation True Man.

Within the sect, only a few people had any hope of achieving Core Formation. After ruling out Zhou Suqing, it didn’t take long for them to land on Bai Zichen.

Wei Chuming was afraid that some disciple, lost in wishful thinking, would try to ride on coattails and beg to be taken as a disciple by a Core Formation True Man, thereby disturbing Bai Zichen.

”Don’t worry, I know what to do.”

Zhou Suqing nodded slightly, deciding she would adjust the array and activate its internal restrictions as soon as she got back.

A Tier Three Array was connected to the Earth Vein. Drawing on spiritual energy and creating internal restricted zones were simple matters; they just hadn’t been used before.

She just needed to activate two restrictions near White Jade Tower and grant access to authorized individuals. This would turn White Jade Tower into a forbidden area, preventing outsiders from entering and disturbing Ancestor Bai’s secluded cultivation.

Seeing that several Elders were already approaching, hoping to inquire and make connections, Wei Chuming cupped his hands in a farewell gesture and left Feiyue Lake with Qi Yue.

...

Bai Zichen sat cross-legged in his Quiet Chamber. He opened his mouth, and a bronze mirror flew out, landing in his palm.

As it was already a partially refined, damaged Magical Treasure, there was no need to refine it again. He simply circulated his True Essence through it once and blew a mouthful of Pill Qi onto its surface.

A Spirit Light flared from the Nine Yang Divine Fire Mirror, and it instantly recovered from being a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact to the rank of a Low-Grade Magical Treasure.

However, it was missing its most crucial core. Only the function of the Divine Capturing Treasure Mirror remained, rendering it useless in combat.

’It’s changed a bit after recovering to a Low-Grade Magical Treasure. The Divine Capturing Treasure Mirror no longer requires a person’s Essence Blood; I just need to shine it on a target to reveal their Human Meridian Map... But it’s still only effective on those below the Core Formation Stage.’

This Magical Treasure, a Supreme Treasure from the Celestial Principle Sect’s Transmission Hall lineage, was traditionally wielded by the Preaching Elder. For a large sect, it was indeed incredibly useful.

Top-tier geniuses had no need for the Divine Capturing Treasure Mirror, but for the vast majority of ordinary disciples, having such a method to guide them and help them avoid missteps in their early cultivation was invaluable.

Even if they went astray, they could be corrected in time.

It was of immense benefit to a sect’s development.

’It’s one thing for me to take the time to guide a couple batches of disciples, but I don’t have the time to do it constantly... This Magical Treasure is still missing a wisp of Innate Nine Yang True Flame. If I can find it and add it in, I can reignite the Divine Fire, and it might even return to its peak as a Top-Grade Magical Treasure.’

The Nine Yang Divine Fire Mirror, after all, had already birthed a hint of spirituality. If it hadn’t been damaged, it would have had a high chance of ascending to become a Spiritual Treasure.

Even if it wasn’t very useful to Bai Zichen, he still had to search for the Innate Nine Yang True Flame if the opportunity arose.

After all, even a Nascent Soul Major Sect would not turn down another Spiritual Treasure.

A Living Spirit Treasure and an ordinary Magical Treasure were two completely different concepts. If Feiyue Lake had possessed a Spiritual Treasure to anchor its grand array back when the Ghost Spirit Sect invaded Black Mountain, the power of the Three Thousand Six Hundred Rings Water Smoke Array would have been raised by a whole tier.

Even with only Zhou Suqing to command it, there would have been a decent chance of fending off the Ghost Spirit Sect’s Core Formation Cultivators.

If the Spiritual Treasure was compatible with the array, they would have complemented each other, producing unimaginable power.

During the Holy Lotus Sect’s darkest hour, after losing their Nascent Soul True Monarch, they had relied on a Tier Four Array and several Spiritual Treasures to protect their Mountain Gate and preserve their lineage.

Bai Zichen retracted the Nine Yang Divine Fire Mirror back into his Dantian Qi Sea, but it was clear that the ethereal Pill Qi surrounding his Golden Core had thinned considerably.

After a moment of thought, he took the Seven-Quartet Profound Bead out of his storage pouch.

After becoming a Core Formation True Man, the Spiritual Artifacts he used during the Foundation Establishment Stage were mostly useless, even Top-Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

Of all the Spiritual Artifacts on his person, only the Seven-Quartet Profound Bead, with its potential for upgrades, still held value.

’There’s also the Rainbow Feather Robe, which seems to have a mysterious connection to that Tier Four Cyan Simurgh in Black Mountain... As for the rest, those Tier Two Flying Swords I used to rely on to slay enemies will have to be gradually phased out.’

Upgrading the Seven-Quartet Profound Bead was simple enough. He just needed to collect seven types of Gang Sha, refine them into the bead one by one, and it would instantly sublimate to a higher level.

’I don’t have the energy to spend so much effort on a mere Low-Grade Magical Treasure. I’ll have the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall post a sect mission to purchase the remaining types of Gang Sha later... For a Core Formation Cultivator, isn’t this the purpose of a sect? To handle trivial matters that don’t require my personal attention, saving me time.’

However, Bai Zichen had never actually looked into what kind of stipend the Qingfeng Sect provided for a Core Formation Ancestor.

But he figured it would surely be more than enough Contribution Points to issue a few sect missions.

All of that was secondary; the main event was yet to come.

A Core Formation Cultivator could choose a Magical Treasure to form a spiritual link with. Using a method similar to how he had entrusted his Divine Sense during his breakthrough, he could attach a sliver of his Divine Sense to the Magical Treasure.

Through decades, or even centuries, of being nourished by True Essence and Pill Qi, the Divine Sense would completely merge with the Magical Treasure, turning it into a Lifebound Object.

A Lifebound Magical Treasure was not only incredibly powerful but could also be commanded at will, making it much easier to control.

Between two Magical Treasures of the same tier, a Lifebound Object could be more than twice as powerful, yet it would consume less energy to use.

But it also had its drawbacks.

If an ordinary Magical Treasure was destroyed, there would be no collateral damage. But a Lifebound Magical Treasure was linked to one’s heart and spirit; through the connection of Divine Sense, if it was damaged, the cultivator themselves would be Severely Injured.

After obtaining the Moon Xuan Sword, Bai Zichen had for a time considered refining it into his Lifebound Magical Treasure.

A Tier Four Flying Sword as a Lifebound Object, its Sword Light flashing, its power doubled—it would be a massive boost to his combat strength.

Although the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo was once of a higher tier, it would take a long time to restore it to a usable state, let alone raise it to the level of Tier Four.

But after witnessing his own Core Formation phenomenon, he had decisively switched his focus back to the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo.

The fact that it, while only at Tier Three, could still claim a place in his Core Formation phenomenon gave Bai Zichen extremely high expectations for its original grade.

He first spent three months refining the Moon Xuan Sword.

Although this Tier Four Flying Sword was actively cooperating, making the refinement seem almost unnecessary.

But after refining it, it meant he could use his own True Essence to activate the Moon Xuan Sword.

He would no longer be relying entirely on the flying sword’s own Origin Power, where it made no difference whether he, the Sword Master, was present or not.

Only the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo remained. The ball of Thunder Radiance lay quietly before his eyes, showing none of the tyrannical aura that, with but a whiff of its presence, had made all the Tier Four Flying Swords in the Sword Tomb Secret Realm bow in submission.