Innate Immortal Seed

Chapter 248: Chapter 246: Choosing Treasures from the Secret Hall

”This moonlight... I assume it’s the Tier Four Moon Xuan Sword that Junior Brother Bai obtained from the Tianhe Sword Sect?”

The gentle breeze scattered, revealing Wei Dao with a look of curiosity and envy.

When he was breaking through to the Core Formation Stage, he had taken a large advance on his Contribution Points from the Sect to ensure his success.

In addition to the Clear Spirit Jade Marrow, he had also used two of the few Secret Treasures from the Secret Hall that aid in Core Formation, both of which were incredibly valuable.

Although he was now a revered Core Formation Ancestor, he had only just finished paying off his debts. He was currently using two Mid-Grade Magical Treasures he had selected from the Secret Hall.

He had planned to forge a Lifebound Magical Treasure that suited him based on the Pill Discussion, but his finances were tight. He was still a million miles away from gathering all the necessary Spiritual Materials.

”A Tier Four Flying Sword choosing its own master... such a miraculous event is unheard of. Junior Brother Bai, you are truly blessed with great fortune. Sooner or later, our Sect will flourish in your and Brother Ge’s hands.”

”It’s just luck. For now, I can only use it for short-distance travel. It’s not suitable for actual combat, so I still need to find another Magical Treasure.”

Bai Zichen followed Wei Dao and, at the entrance to the Secret Hall, saw a cultivator whose aura was so faint that it had almost escaped his notice.

”Wuu Shouyang greets Ancestor Wei and Ancestor Bai.”

This cultivator had plain features and wore a gray Daoist Robe. He sat motionlessly at the entrance like a stone, his face devoid of any expression.

”I’ve brought Junior Brother Bai to receive his gift for reaching Core Formation. Shouyang, you may open the Secret Hall.”

Wei Dao explained to the man.

”As the Ancestor commands.”

Wuu Shouyang turned and placed his hand on the great door of the Secret Hall. Countless complex patterns appeared on its surface, and his Magical Power filled them inch by inch, awakening them. With a soft CLICK, the Secret Hall slowly swung open.

”Wuu Shouyang’s lineage is passed down to a single heir each generation. They rarely interact with outsiders, so not many in the Sect know of his existence...”

Wei Dao, knowing this was Bai Zichen’s first time here, began to explain.

”They cultivate the Treasure Absorption Techniques, a Cultivation Technique the founding ancestor chanced upon in a Secret Realm. This technique is highly unusual. It doesn’t have high requirements for a cultivator’s Spiritual Root talent, and one’s cultivation speed is related to the quantity and grade of the Treasures in their environment... If you were to place your Moon Xuan Sword in the Secret Hall, Junior Brother, Wuu Shouyang could probably break through to the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment within ten years.”

”This Cultivation Technique excels at Qi Concealment and Form Concealment. The deeper one’s cultivation, the more one resembles a Magical Treasure.”

Walking down the long corridor, Bai Zichen said with surprise, ”To think such a Cultivation Technique exists. The Cultivation Realm is truly full of wonders.”

’Since it doesn’t require a high-quality Spiritual Root, reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage should be effortless in the environment of the Secret Hall.’

’They would just need to select disciples with a sound temperament and loyalty to the Sect.’

After passing through the corridor, a circular repository came into view, filled with numerous Treasures arranged by category.

”Over here are the Magical Treasures, here are the various Spiritual Materials, and over there are a few single-use Secret Treasures... Junior Brother Bai, feel free to look around. You can pick any three items you find useful.”

Wei Dao had been to the Secret Hall many times, so he knew his way around.

Bai Zichen’s gaze swept over to the Magical Treasures. Each one was encased in a seven-colored halo, floating silently in the air.

Seeing there were no Flying Swords, he lost interest and turned his attention to the Spiritual Materials area.

’A Three-Thousand-Year-Old Peach Wood Heart, a Tier Three Top-Grade Spiritual Material. Ghost Souls cannot approach it... This could be used to refine a Tier Three Peach Wood Sword, but unfortunately, I don’t have the corresponding Sword Refining Secret Method.’

He immediately thought of the pair of Peach Wood Swords he used during the Qi Refining Stage. Following the same principle, Flying Swords refined from this type of Spiritual Material were not known for their sharpness or killing power; they were specialized for Soul-Cutting and Demon-Suppressing.

’Taiyi Primordial Gold, Taibai Essence, Red Fire True Copper... There are quite a few good things in the Secret Hall. These are all Spiritual Materials that can be used to refine a Tier Three Flying Sword. If I took them to the Tianhe Sword Sect, there’s a chance I could have a Tier Three Flying Sword refined.’

Back when Bai Zichen was wandering around Sword City, he had visited several Sword Refining Shops.

He had spoken for a while with the owner of one shop that dared to accept commissions for refining Tier Three Flying Swords. The owner possessed a Sword Refining Secret Method passed down from his ancestors.

The list of required Five Metals Spiritual Materials they had given him included these very items.

”Geng Metal Spirit!”

Bai Zichen’s eyes lit up when he saw the last item. Geng Metal Spirit was a Tier Three Top-Grade Spiritual Material. While it couldn’t be used as the main material for Sword Refinement, it could be added to any Five Metals Flying Sword.

As a supplementary material, it increased the Flying Sword’s hardness and sharpness.

It was one of the most beloved Sword Refining Materials among Sword Cultivators, with an extremely wide range of applications.

The piece of Geng Metal Spirit before him, weighing no more than a few ounces, was just enough for two Flying Swords. It radiated a brilliant golden light.

”Senior Brother Wei, I’ll take this as my first item.”

Bai Zichen pointed, making his decision without much hesitation.

Even if he couldn’t use a Spiritual Material like Geng Metal Spirit right now, it would definitely be useful whenever he refined a new Tier Three Flying Sword in the future. And the more he had, the better.

”Alright. Junior Brother Bai, you can take it directly.”

Wei Dao wasn’t surprised by this. In terms of value, Geng Metal Spirit didn’t even rank in the top ten among all the Spiritual Materials in the Secret Hall.

But in the eyes of a Sword Cultivator, it was a priceless treasure. Such a choice was to be expected.

Bai Zichen reached for the Geng Metal Spirit. The seven-colored halo of light produced a resilient resistance, making his hand feel as if it were sinking into a mire.

He channeled his True Essence, melting a five-fingered imprint into the halo, and was finally able to retrieve the Geng Metal Spirit.

Although some of the remaining Spiritual Materials were tempting, none were urgently needed, nor were they a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like the Geng Metal Spirit. His desire to pick them was not strong.

”Senior Brother Wei, are there no Spirit Pills in the Secret Hall?”

Bai Zichen turned and voiced his question.

”Even if stored in Spiritual Artifact-Level Jade Bottles and sealed with Talismans, ordinary Spirit Pills can only maintain their medicinal efficacy for a hundred years at most. They’re difficult to store... Besides, we usually consume any ordinary Tier Three Elixirs directly. They never make it into the Secret Hall.”

Wei Dao smiled faintly, as if he had seen through Bai Zichen’s thoughts.

”Three hundred years ago, the Secret Hall did contain a Tier Four Low Grade Heavenly One Spirit Pill. It could greatly increase the Spiritual Wisdom of a Tier Three Demon Beast, allowing it to shed its Transverse Bone prematurely, speak human language, and break through the barrier to becoming a Transformed Great Demon... Later, a Core Formation True Man from the Shen Country sought to purchase this pill from us, offering a Tribulation Crossing Pill and a Top-Grade Magical Treasure in exchange.”

”As it turned out, that Core Formation True Man was ambushed not long after leaving our Mountain Gate. He was nearly captured within a few moves... He had to throw out the Heavenly One Spirit Pill to escape back to the sect. But he didn’t last many years, eventually passing away from his severe injuries.”

”Could it be that the cultivator from Shen Country set him up, wanting the Spirit Pill without a proper trade?”

”The sect elders initially thought so too, but later, the corpse of the Core Formation True Man from Shen Country was discovered at the agreed-upon trading spot... His entire body was burned to a crisp, leaving no complete corpse. It was then we understood that someone else had been targeting both of us.”

It was an old story from hundreds of years ago. Wei Dao had only brought it up because they were on the topic of Elixirs, and he didn’t elaborate further.

”As for Elixirs suitable for us Core Formation Cultivators, our Sect currently has no Alchemist capable of refining them. We can only purchase them from the Holy Lotus Sect and the Danxia Sect... The Danxia Sect, in particular, holds a small-scale trade fair every ten years. The invitees are all Core Formation True Men, and a large quantity of suitable Elixirs are made available. If you have the chance in the future, Junior Brother Bai, you should attend once. You will surely gain something.”

”The Danxia Sect? I’ll remember that.”

Bai Zichen nodded. After he had been severely injured by the Youlong Sect cultivators upon leaving Zengguang Immortal City, he had bought Healing Elixirs and rented a Cave Mansion to recover in the Danxia Sect’s Market.

Everything had gone smoothly. He hadn’t encountered any Tribulation Cultivators or greedy Danxia Sect disciples, which had left him with a decent impression of the sect.

The final area, the Treasure Area, held an even more eclectic collection of items.

Many were strange objects whose origins and functions were unknown, but they were clearly extraordinary and had been collected in the Secret Hall all the same.

After looking around for a while, Bai Zichen took a Five-Eyed Blood Bodhi, then walked back to the Magical Treasure area and picked up a Spirit Ship that was pointed at both ends.

”Senior Brother Wei, I’ve finished choosing. We can go now.”

Wei Dao gave the items in his hands a deep look and said, ”Alright. Junior Brother, infuse your True Essence into the empty spaces left behind by these three items. That will serve as proof that you were the one who took them.”

The two left the Secret Hall. Behind them, Wuu Shouyang sat down cross-legged again, seemingly merging as one with the building behind him.

He vanished from Bai Zichen’s Divine Sense, becoming visible only to the naked eye.

’The Concealing Breath Technique of this Cultivation Technique is truly powerful. A Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator almost managed to evade my Divine Sense... A pity the technique itself has too many flaws. It’s not worth cultivating.’

Bai Zichen’s Divine Sense was even a cut above that of a Mid-Stage Core Formation Cultivator.

If he didn’t use his full power, a sweep of his Divine Sense would have just registered Wuu Shouyang as part of the Secret Hall’s structure.

However, the Treasure Absorption Techniques could only be cultivated to the peak of Core Formation Perfection. Furthermore, the nature of the technique required the cultivator to stay near a treasury and never stray far, which was no different from being imprisoned.

Cultivation speed was primarily determined by the grade and quantity of Treasures in the environment; other factors were almost negligible.

This meant that breakthroughs in cultivation were extremely dependent on the stimulation from High-Tier Treasures.

’A cultivator who practices these Treasure Absorption Techniques can barely leave the treasury. It feels like a Cultivation Technique tailor-made for a Treasure Guardian.’

As these thoughts turned in his mind, Bai Zichen returned to Wei Dao’s Cave Mansion. After a bit of small talk, he heard Wei Chuming report from outside that he had found Ancestor Bai’s relatives.

After receiving permission, Wei Chuming led a young boy and girl into the main hall.

”Senior Brother Wei, I won’t disturb you any longer then... I’ll go back to my clan for a bit, then come back to discuss the matter of the pioneering war with you.”

Bai Zichen glanced over. The two gifted-looking children stood below, a timid look on their faces.

The girl was a bit bolder, daring to raise her head slightly and peek around with the corner of her eye, looking innocent and endearing.

A large hand of True Essence grabbed the two children, lifting them up. Once outside the Cave Mansion, he tossed them into his Colorful Cloud Robe and leisurely departed the Mountain Gate.

”Master, is Ancestor Bai interested in starting another pioneering war?”

Wei Chuming stood respectfully for a long moment before asking cautiously.

”Junior Brother Bai is a young genius with great ambitions. He even looks down on Feiyue Lake, wanting a Spirit Vein that is truly his own to establish a Cave Mansion...”

Wei Dao said softly, leaning back in his chair with his eyes slightly closed.

”Isn’t that perfect? The Sect is already short on Spirit Land. Now with another Core Formation True Man presiding, what ordinary Tier Three Demon Beast could possibly stand against us?”

Wei Chuming’s expression was excited, and his voice grew louder.

A pioneering war would inevitably involve slaughter and death, but for someone as ambitious and eager to climb the ranks as Wei Chuming, it was a fast track to success.

As long as he earned great merit, he would have the chance to surpass his rivals and be put in direct charge of a hall.

”I’m just afraid that this Junior Brother Bai’s appetite is too large, and he won’t be satisfied with ordinary Tier Three Demon Beasts...”