Chapter 160: Old Huang's Revival
Inside the cave mansion of the Initial Foundation Building Stage, Lin Yi had been cultivating for several days to replenish the spiritual liquid in his empty
Dantian.
He had thought several times that it was nearly full, but this newly-formed light golden Dantian seemed to be elastic, constantly expanding.
Besides, the spiritual liquid that entered the Dantian now bore a hint of gold. At this moment, the Dantian seemed like a golden ocean, incredibly beautiful. The thunder and lightning absorbed through cultivating the Five Thunder Spells reappeared with the formation of his Dantian, roaming amidst the golden ocean like thunder dragons.
Based on older generations' cultivation time after breaking through the Foundation Establishment, the Dantian within his body was more than twice that of an ordinary cultivator.
This meant that his stamina would be remarkably durable. Even if he was constantly pursued, the spiritual liquid within him could last for a considerable length of time.
Moreover, he had yet to discover the unique uses of this light golden spiritual liquid, yet he speculated that it would be able to display more significant power compared to cultivators of the same realm.
Lin Yi couldn't help but marvel; the Creation Method was genuinely mysterious. It appeared ordinary but contained profound secrets.
After replenishing his Dantian, he released a trace of spiritual power while wearing the 'Petty Survivor' title and discovered that it didn't turn light gold but retained the color of ordinary spiritual energy. This relieved him.
Now that he had broken through the foundation, the aura emanating from his spiritual power had also been promoted to the Qi Refining Eighth Stage.
What a pity that he still hadn't obtained the title for the next phase after breaking through the foundation. It seemed he still needed to strive a bit more.
He wondered how the 'Path of Survivor' title would upgrade. Hopefully, it wasn't still like a curse word.
After stabilizing his cultivation levels, Lin Yi exited the cultivation cave mansion. At the entrance, he found himself surrounded by people, their eyes fixed on him.
He tensed, wondering if news of his successful Foundation Establishment had spread.
People around the cultivation cave mansion inspected Lin Yi with Spirit Wood Technique, shook their heads and thought, 'Just Qi Refining Eighth Stage, it definitely wasn't this youngster.'
"Hey, junior brother, hurry up and come out, don't block the door." Some people seeing him standing at the door and not moving urged him.
Lin Yi quickly left the entrance and went to the cave manager to settle the fee. Curiously, he asked,
"Senior brother, what happened? Why are there so many people gathered?"
The cultivator in charge of leasing the cave mansions chuckled,
"Little junior brother, congratulations on breaking through to the Eighth Layer."
"You were cultivating inside, so naturally you wouldn't know. A few days ago, someone's cultivation caused an abnormality, and the spiritual energy around Tian Yun City gathered here like crazy, even resulting in a whirlpool."
Saying this, that cultivator shook his head, his face full of confusion,
"However, after such a long time, no one has felt any aura of Breaking through the Foundation Establishment. It's indeed strange."
Lin Yi immediately understood. When he had broken through the Foundation Establishment, the Creation Method had automatically circulated, crazily absorbing spiritual energy and turning it into a droplet of golden liquid.
He didn't expect it to cause such an anomaly outside. It showed just how much spiritual energy he had absorbed.
"So that's how it is. Maybe one of the senior brothers had an insight into the profound truths." Lin Yi said enviously on his face. He was also somewhat relieved that he didn't break through in the Jin Qiao Peak Cave Mansion or outside the Liu Yun Sect.
If he had broken through in the Jin Qiao Peak Cave Mansion, the anomaly would certainly have attracted many disciples, revealing his cultivation level.
If he had broken through outside of the Liu Yun Sect where there was little spiritual energy, then when the Creation Method automatically circulated, it wouldn't have been able to absorb enough spiritual energy to condense into the golden liquid. Everything was a matter of destiny.
The cultivator nodded in agreement,
"I think so too, I guess they're still in the midst of comprehension."
Afterward, he took back Lin Yi's Cave Mansion Token, calculated the fees,
"You cultivated for ten days, prepaid for eight days. You just have to pay for two more days' costs, a total of six hundred Spirit Stones."
"Thank you, senior brother." Lin Yi took out six hundred Spirit Stones from his Storage Bag and handed them over.
Just as he was about to leave the cave mansion, suddenly a mysterious aura emanating profound truths spread from the cultivation cave mansion.
This should be the aura of someone breaking through the foundation, a nascent Dao, symbolizing a closer communion with heaven and earth.
When he broke through, he seemed to have sensed an aura emitted from his body, but it was hidden by 'Petty Survivor,' so no one could sense it.
Some Foundation Building cultivators felt this aura and smiled,
"Here it comes, here it comes, they finally broke through. He caused such a massive anomaly and only now has he broken through. This junior brother definitely has Golden Core potential."
However, some people expressed envy, jealousy, and resentment.
Lin Yi looked in the direction of the cultivation cave mansion, his face also expressing envy. He finally slipped away. Luckily, there was someone else to take the blame. Still, it was an excellent faux pas.
Although revealing his true cultivation levels and the mysteries of the Creation Method might attract special attention from the sect's higher-ups, maybe even giving him a lot of cultivation resources.
Nevertheless, he would also have to bear many risks. Many people, including some Golden Core Real Persons, would probably be keen to find out why he, a cultivator with lower-grade spiritual roots, could cultivate so quickly and comprehend the mysteries of the Creation Method..
Chapter 161: Old Huang's Momentary Revival 2
This was the ruthless Cultivation World, not the blissful Huaxia. Once magic beyond the ordinary was displayed, there was a high chance of being dissected and studied.
Even within the Liu Yun Sect, under the protection of Gold Sword Zen Ren, one's life may be worry-free, but once outside the sect, it would be like a sheep entering a pack of wolves, attracting a lot of attention.
In comparison, the Path of Survivor was much more comfortable, not attracting anyone's attention. Being able to deceive others at will was quite good.
Returning to the Jin Qiao Peak Cave Mansion, Qiu Sheng Hai was still taking care of the medicine field. When he saw Lin Yi return, a glint flashed through his eyes and a strange color appeared on his face, he gave a respectful salute.
"Congratulations, Junior Brother Lin, no, now I should call you Brother Lin for breaking through to the Eighth Realm. You are only one step away from building the foundation."
"Brother Qiu, stop joking with me, I cannot bear to be called senior brother." Lin Yi waved his hand. If we were to look at it, disciples in the Qi Refinement Realm should call him uncle master.
Qiu Sheng Hai chuckled, he didn't joke further and instead asked,
"I seem to have heard that in the cultivation cave mansion of Tian Yun City something unusual has happened. Do you know anything about it, Junior Brother Lin?"
Lin Yi shook his head,
"I was cultivating at that time and didn't see it. I only heard that the surrounding spiritual energy madly gathered towards the cultivation mansion. It should be a senior brother who has comprehended the Great Dao."
"When I left the cave mansion and returned, I suddenly felt a surge of energy breaking through the foundation. I wonder if it was also the senior brother who triggered the anomaly."
"Oh, then I have to join the excitement. Being able to trigger a heavenly phenomenon is not something the average person can do. Junior Brother Lin, I take my leave now." The curiosity was written all over Qiu Sheng Hail s face. He gave a bow to Lin Yi and prepared to leave.
Lin Yi immediately handed over the costs for taking care of the medicine field during this period to Qiu Sheng Hai,
"Brother Qiu, you have worked hard these days, take care."
Qiu Sheng Hai waved his hand and smiled,
"It was not hard at all, I have practiced caring for Spirit Grass and also earned Spirit Stones, killing two birds with one stone."
"You have broken into the Eighth Realm, you should prepare well. I've heard
That the contention for the quotas for the Secret Realm is about to end. The
Farming Spells you have been practicing for so long will finally come in
Handy."
Lin Yi nodded his head, watching Qiu Sheng Hai leave. Now that he had broken through the foundation, fulfilling his initial plan, he indeed had to prepare to enter the Secret Realm.
During the previous years of cultivation, not only did his high-level Farming Spells reach the Great Perfect Level, but the high-order Thunder System Spell: Five Thunders Curse also reached the Great Perfect Level.
In the future, he would try to combine the Five Thunders Curse with the Farming Spells. While it was raining, he could also release Thunder and Lightning.
Although it was better to directly release Thunder and Lightning, one could never have too many ways to deceive others. One might never know when it might come in handy.
Of course, the most important thing now was to learn the Sword Control Technique and buy a regular Flying Sword first.
Having a Flying Sword made-to-order was not something that could be achieved in the blink of an eye. Lin Yi thought he would refine the Sword Control Technique to proficiency or great success first and then ask someone to forge a Flying Sword suitable for him.
He immediately flew to the Scripture Hall of Golden Sword Peak on a Flying Boat, ready to learn the Sword Control Technique. In the previous two years of cultivation, he also took the time to complete some merit tasks and had accumulated more than two thousand merit points.
Being at the level of Qi Refining Tenth Layer completely allows him to be dominant under Foundation Building. However, he still chose some tasks where the targets were in the sixth or seventh layer of Qi Refinement modestly. And the most tasks he took on were related to the evil cults in the demonic path.
His Five Thunders Curse was the nemesis of these guys, and killing such people could gain him a lot of Virtue Points.
When Lin Yi arrived at the Scripture Palace, the Scripture Elder had been replaced. He had heard that these elders rotated once a year, moving between the Scripture Palaces of the Eleven Peaks of Golden Pill.
It was estimated that it would be a few years before he saw Elder Liu, who was selling the Technique of Transforming Cloud into Wind, again.
After learning of Lin Yi's intention, the Scripture Elder kindly reminded him, "The Sword Control Technique can only be practiced by the Foundation Building cultivator, and it requires one thousand five hundred merit points.
"You are now at the Qi Refining Eighth Stage, studying it now is a bit early, storing it in your mind could be somewhat wasteful, it's better to use merits in enhancing strength."
Lin Yi saluted the Scripture Elder, "Thank you for reminding me, Elder.
However, I have learned all the spells I should learn, I still want to learn the Sword Control Technique first. Every day when I feel the Sword Control
Technique sealed in my mind, I will have more motivation to strive towards
The realm of building the foundation."
If the Sword Control Technique could be bought in Qing Yun City, he would not have come to the Scripture Palace. The reason is that this essential Sword Control Technique in the Foundation Building Realm can only be learned in sects.
If the Loose Cultivator in the Foundation Building Realm want to learn it, they could only join the Sect. This was probably the agreement reached by the sects in the Heng Yuan Cultivation World, with the aim of attracting talents.
"It does seem to make some sense since you've already decided, then we'll deduct the merit points." The Scripture Elder didn't waste any more time and directly deducted fifteen hundred merit points. He then took out the jade slip of the Sword Control Technique and handed it over to Lin Yi.
The jade slip that contains the Sword Control Technique was similar to the jade slip of the Creation Method. The spiritual power inside the jade stone was very dense.
Lin Yi put the Scripture Jade Slip on his forehead and ignited it with Spiritual Power. Instantly, the knowledge about the Sword Control Technique was transferred into his mind.
After the transmission was completed, Lin Yi pretended as if he hadn't seen a thing. He handed the jade slip back, expressed his gratitude, and then left the Scripture Palace..
Chapter 162: Old Huang's Rallying (3)
Upon returning to the Jin Qiao Peak Cave Mansion, Lin Yi began to comprehend the Sword Control Technique. In reality, it was an upgraded version of the Object Manipulation Spell which could only be used within the range of sight.
The Sword Control Technique was different. It allowed one to infuse their Divine Sense into the sword, killing people invisibly from hundreds or thousands of miles away, and even unleash swordsmanship.
Of course, such a long distance also posed risks. If the flying sword was intercepted halfway and forcibly erased, it could also cause some damage to oneself.
Since he had already cultivated the Object Manipulation Spell to the Great
Perfection Realm, Lin Yi did not encounter much difficulty in understanding the Sword Control Technique. After a few days, he could control things around him with it.
However, since these things were not Spiritual Artifacts, he couldn't imbue his
Divine Sense into them. It was time to go to Qing Yun City and buy a real flying sword to cultivate with. This would also provide an opportunity to check on Old Huang.
As he prepared to depart, a Sound Transmission Talisman flew over. He caught it, activated it, his facial expression involuntarily changed. Sighing deeply, he resigned himself to the inevitable finally, it had come.
Lin Yi drove his flying boat, taking Zhi Ling to the Outer Sect Sinong Hall. He had left several Sound Transmission Talismans with the Cultivator overlooking Old Huang, instructing him to notify himself in case of an emergency.
The reason for the sudden transmission was that Old Huang had reached the end of his life, his oil lamp was burned out. He had been sleeping for several days at a time, yet today he was unusually alert, his spirits unexpectedly high. Feeling that this was the phenomenon of deathbed vitality, the Cultivator swiftly notified him.
When he arrived at the residence where Old Huang lived, he heard his loud voice,
"The old man wants a drink, go and buy some wine immediately. I've never felt so good before. I could even go to the Fairy Joy Pavilion one more time."
Hearing these words, Lin Yi t s heart sank. It was indeed a sign of deathbed vitality. Ordinary people were often excessively excited in such conditions, let alone cultivators.
All ot their abilities were concentrated to sustain this short period ot time. Nothing could stop them, not even a trip for a drink at the Fairy Joy Pavilion or running from the Outer Sect to Qing Yun City.
Lin Yi slowly stepped into the room, smiling, "Old Huang, you seem quite spirited today. You're even thinking of visiting the Fairy Joy Pavilion. You old lecher.'
"Hahaha, Little Lin. You're here. Hey, you've broken through again.
Congratulations! Maybe you really could take me to the heavens."
Old Huang saw Lin Yi's figure, immediately laughing out loud. After using the Spirit Wood Technique to examine him, a joyful expression appeared on his face, and he congratulated him with a fist and palm salute.
"Good. In a few more years, I should be able to take you to the heavens," Lin Yi said laughingly.
The Outer Sect Spirit Farmer looking after Old Huang had a surprised look on his face, congratulating Lin Yi as well. As a Spirit Farmer, he naturally heard of Lin Yi's exploits.
From being an Outer Sect Spirit Farmer to entering the Inner Sect, Lin Yi was only at Qi Refining Level Four back then. Now, after just over six years, he had already reached the Qi Refining Eighth Stage. It was unimaginable.
Old Huang motioned to get off the bed,
"Let's go. We're not waiting years. Let's go to the Fairy Joy Pavilion today. l, the old man, am treating you."
The Cultivator by the side wanted to stop him, but was held back by a wave from Lin Yi,
"Good, let's go to the Fairy Joy Pavilion."
Old Huang surely knew the state of his body well. He didn't want to end his life at home, causing others to grieve. As a friend, Lin Yi naturally had to fulfill his wishes..
Chapter 163: Good Hand in Gou
"Hahaha, Little Lin understands me, once you're in the fairyland, you're like being drunk in a dream, I wonder if Xiao Qing is still around," Old Huang laughed out loud and went poetic.
Lin Yi couldn't help but smile. The first half of the line made sense, but what did the second half mean? He clapped his hands and admired, "Great poetry!
Let's go."
"No need to help me, I feel full of strength." Old Huang waved his hand and his lean body managed to stand on its own.
However, to Lin Yi, Old Huang was like a flickering candle, burning intensely with his life energy, making the flame look brighter.
As Old Huang walked towards the door, Lin Yi spoke to the cultivator,
"Little Lin, what are you saying, hurry up." By this time, Old Huang had reached the door and was urging him on.
"Coming, look at how anxious you are." He quickly walked over, complaining in irritation.
"Hehe, after all, it's been several years since I last saw my little sister Xiao Qing." Old Huangs face displayed a familiar expression of anticipation.
Looking at Old Huangs smile, Lin Yi almost burst out laughing. At the door, he summoned his flying Boat, brought Old Huang aboard and headed straight for Qing Yun City.
Arriving at Qing Yun City Gate, he landed the flying Boat, supporting Old Huangs body as they walked forward. After several years, the guard at the gate had been replaced. He exhibited his Inner Sect Disciple Identity Plaque and went straight inside.
Old Huang was extremely excited, his steps seemed more agile. Soon, they arrived at the tavern known as Fairy Dream Pavilion.
From being an Outer Sect Spirit Farmer to where they were now, years had passed. The Fairy Dream Pavilion was still standing tall like an evergreen tree.
Throughout these years, there had never been any news about the Fairy Dream Pavilion extracting cultivators' cultivation levels. It seems they had good control, and only swindled a few people at a time.
Moreover, it was a consensual act. Even if the higher-ups in the Liu Yun Sect knew about it, they couldn't intervene. After all, if a man couldn't control himself, who was to blame?
It was already late afternoon, nearing evening. More cultivators started to pass by, and the female cultivators at the door swayed their bodies, exuding a unique charm that was different from ordinary people.
Seeing Lin Yi walking with a lean old man, the female cultivators were stunned. The old man was as skinny as if he had been possessed by Evil Spirits, yet he still wanted to visit the Fairy Dream Pavilion.
However, after scanning Lin Yi's cultivation level with the Spirit Wood Technique, their faces immediately showed delight. Qi Refining Eighth Stage was a big deal.
As long as there were enough Spirit Stones, they wouldn't mind accompanying not only an old man possessed by evil spirits, but even a skeleton.
"Hehe, little Sister Xiao Qing, I didn't expect you to still be here, still enjoying wearing purple dresses," Old Huang warmly greeted a mature woman wearing
A purple dress.
The woman in the purple dress looked at Old Huang carefully and exclaimed with surprise,
"Are you… Big Brother Huang, you are still alive… I mean, it's been years, but you're still as handsome as ever."
Upon hearing the woman's words, the onlookers nearly choked. All this for Spirit Stones?
"Ah, I'm not as good as I used to be. But Little Sister Xiao Qing, you've become even more beautiful. It makes me want to eat you up," Old Huang sighed, looking at the woman in the purple dress with a grin on his face.
Not just the onlookers, even Lin Yi, who was listening nearby, felt disgusted. He didn't expect Old Huang to be this gross, he suddenly felt regret.
"Big Brother Huang, you can't have me here. Let's go inside," The woman in the purple dress didn't want to continue flirting with an evil-spirit-possessed old man in public as it might affect her business.
Old Huang walked into the Fairy Dream Pavilion, coughed and said, "Little
Sister Xiao Qing, since I'm a regular customer, could I get a discount?"
Lin Yi couldn't help but laugh. Where was the big spender who said he would take care of everything? He waved his hand,
"I'd like a private room, and call in some of your famous girls, let's arrange food and drinks."
"Cough, Little Lin, I feel bad for making you pay. Xiao Qing, you should come too." Old Huang covered his cough and said awkwardly.
"This way please, brothers," The woman in the purple dress said with a bright smile on her face.
Upstairs in the private suite, a group of beautiful female cultivators sat at the table, drinking and flirting with Old Huang. Lin Yi had to admire their dedication, even if it was driven by Spirit Stones.
While sitting idly by, Lin Yi reminisced about his Outer Sect Spirit Farmer days when an amazing portrait caught his eye, It's surprising how time flies.
He remembered the first time he and Old Huang visited the Fairy Dream Pavilion. They witnessed a performance by Flower Fairy, Suon Xian Zi. Using that performance, he managed to promote his rune-making skills to the Great Achievement Realm and even drew Suon Xian Zi!s attention.
Latterly, Suon Xian Zi invited herself to meet up with him, through Old Huang. Of course, he declined. If he had accepted, he might have been drained by now. Those days seemed like yesterday…
Just as he was lost in thought, Old Huang, who had been vivacious, suddenly lost his vitality. The life in his eyes faded, as if he was about to fall asleep any moment.
Seeing this, the female cultivators' faces changed.. He couldn't possibly expire from excitement, could he?
Chapter 164: Good Player in Difficult Situation 2
Lin Yi waved his hand, "You guys go ahead; we'd like to stay here by ourselves for a bit.'
After these women cultivators left, Old Huang suddenly laughed. He said weakly,
"Little Lin, I want to thank you for fulfilling my last wish. Even if l, Old Huang, have to die, 1 can't die a coward in my home."
"Cough, Old Huang, it would be better if you died at home. If you died at this Xian Delight Pavilion, I would have to compensate them." Lin Yi coughed and spoke.
Old Huang couldn't help but laugh,
"Purf, you, you're just as thrifty as me. You won't even let me peacefully die."
Then he said quietly,
"Thank you. I was able to enjoy myself a bit before my death. Let's go."
Lin Yi gently nodded, activated the Wind Transformation Technique to support Old Huangs body and left Xian Delight Pavilion.
As they left, Old Huang couldn't help but wave farewell to the girl in the purple dress, "Little Sister Xiao Qing, I'll come to find you in my next life."
The girl in the purple dress trembled, and her whole body didn't feel right.
After leaving Qing Yun City, Lin Yi drove a flying boat with Old Huang towards the Outer Sect. On the way, Old Huang took out a storage symbol and laughingly said, "Little Lin, it's not much, but you keep it. Consider it a gift from this old friend.'
Lin Yi didn't refuse but instead placed the storage symbol into his own storage bag.
Back home, the cultivator already prepared everything. He even bought a coffin.
At this point, Old Huang was hanging by a thread. Lin Yi placed him inside the coffin,
"Little Lin, when… when you reach Foundation Establishment, don't forget to tell me."
"Don't worry, once the grass on your grave reaches one meter, I'll ascend." Lin Yi said with a smile.
Zhi Ling also emerged from its pocket, gently pat Old Huangs palm, and squeaked a few times.
"Little guy, thank you." Old Huang stretched his arm with difficulty to stroke Zhi Ling.
Then his breath weakened, his palm dropped and with a smile on his face, he passed away.
Lin Yi shook his head sighing. Old Huang eventually left this world before the opening of the Dan God Secret Realm.
If Old Huang had been more cautious, more careful, had not entered the secret realm before being capable enough, perhaps he wouldn't have been hurt and got stuck at Qi Refining Level Four.
He reached Qi Refining Level Four decades ago. Old Huang did not have a weak talent for cultivation. Perhaps, in the end, he could have established a
Foundation.
But there's no
"if" in life, just as there's no antidote for regret.
This is why even though Lin Yi has the Golden Finger and his cultivation level previously reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer, he's still developing cautiously. There is always a higher mountain, and a stronger person. Unless he is completely dominant, he would not put himself in any danger.
"Host has been constantly cautious and careful, not venturing into dangers, gained insights of the Path of Survivor, the title [Petty Survivor] has been upgraded to [Elite Survivor]. Do you want to replace automatically?"
Lin Yi looked at the pop-up window and couldn't help but smile. Even in his death, Old Huang indirectly helped him to get the next stage title of the Path of Survivor.
But this [Elite Survivor] isn't really something nice, even more presumptuous than [Petty Survivor].
He didn't check the effect of the title right now and didn't select 'replace'. Once Old Huangs funeral is over, he will see what new effects will appear with the next title in the Path of Survivor.
The following day, some of Old Huang's friends came to mourn him, which included some stewards and assistants from Sinong Palace and Spiritual Field Manager Meng Wei Min from Zone B.
Even Aunt Liu Mei Niang, who had initially introduced the blind date, came over.
More than six years have passed, the once charming Aunt Liu now looked a bit aged. After seeing Lin Yi, she respectfully bowed and called him Brother Lin.
Lin Yi returned the salute with a calm face. He didn't accept any funeral gifts for Huang De Shengs funeral. He didn't care about such small amount of money.
The cultivators who came to pay their respects were all filled with astonishment when they saw that Lin Yi's cultivation had reached the eighth stage of Qi Refinement.
Especially the Spirit Farmers from area C, some couldn't believe that a cultivator who was once at the third or fourth stage of Qi Refinement, has now reached the eighth stage after just over six years in the Inner Sect; this truly fills people with envy, jealousy, and hate.
Some of them are still stuck around the fourth stage and haven't broken through even after several years.
On the last day, Zhou Yun Feng, the Lord of Sinong Palace, also came to take a look and patted Lin Yi on the shoulder.
After resting for three days, on the fourth day, Lin Yi and the others carried the coffin to a nearby forest and buried it in the ground. This was the burial place for many Spirit Farmers.
After erecting the tombstone, he poured two jugs of wine on the grave, then returned to the Inner Sect of Liu Yun Sect.
On the way back to the Inner Sect, Lin Yi heard some discussions among the Inner Sect Disciples. It seemed that the results of the Secret Realm quota contest were out. Liu Yun Sect had the highest total points and won fifteen quotas.
It seems that the one person who won the most points in the contest was a disciple from the Golden Sword Lineage. As for how many of the fifteen quotas they will receive, they did not know.
A smile appeared on Lin Yi's face. It was not surprising. After all, the most outstanding disciples of Gold Sword Zen Ren were quite reliable in terms of combat power.
Based on previous analyses, the Golden Sword Lineage would get at least five quotas at minimum. However, these five quotas wouldn't likely be entirely filled from the cultivators who tend to the Spirit Grass.
After all, there are also Spiritual Medicine gardens and Alchemy rooms in the
Dan God Secret Realm, not just the Cave Mansion. Though the Cave Mansion has the greatest opportunity, it has only been opened once or twice in a thousand years. Few people were able to enter.
Including the Golden Sword Lineage, the Liu Yun Sect would not place all their bets on the Cave Mansion. There will certainly be cultivators with strong combat abilities and those who understand alchemy involved.
From this perspective, for the five quotas, it is estimated that only two people who know about nurturing Spirit Grass and Spirit Medicine will be selected.
Upon returning to the Jin Qiao Peak Cave Mansion, Lin Yi hadn't had time to check the effects of his title when he saw a golden sword appear in the sky, followed by the words of Gold Sword Zen Ren,
"Disciples of Golden Sword Lineage, gather at Golden Sword Peak within a quarter of an hour."
Lin Yi gave a shake of his head, then briefly checked the effects of his title before showing an excited expression on his face.
Just as he had guessed, once the Surviving Daoist's title had been upgraded, a new effect appeared, and it was very useful.
After skimming through, he drove a Flying Boat towards Golden Sword Peak.
At this time, the disciples of the Golden Sword Lineage arrived rather quickly. After all, over five years have passed, and the quotas for the second opening of the Dan God Secret Realm would finally be determined.
Some of them had worked hard for five or six years practicing farming techniques, just for this opportunity. The Dan God Secret Realm Cave Mansion was truly an opportunity that could change one's fate.
Once in the Cave Mansion, whether receiving the inheritance of the Dan God or other treasures, becoming a Daozi of Liu Yun Sect would be an easy matter.
When Lin Yi arrived at Golden Sword Peak, he still stood in the most remote corner as usual. He was still wearing the title of [Petty Survivor]. Even after the title was upgraded, this newcomer-like title still remained.
However, he might not need it in the future. He wondered if the system had the function to recycle titles.
A quarter of an hour later, almost the entire Golden Sword Plaza was filled. Apart from the disciples who were out, the rest of the disciples had all gathered in the square.
The figure of Gold Sword Zen Ren emerged from the golden sword, and said calmly:
"Firstly, I have an announcement to make. Wei Ling Yun, a disciple of my Golden Sword Lineage, represented Liu Yun Sect in the contest for the Secret Realm quotas, and placed first in points. From today onwards, he will be included in the Taozi Sequence of Liu Yun Sect, and all resources will be given priority to him…"
The scene immediately erupted in applause. Under the spell of Gold Sword Zen Ren, a disciple dressed in Golden Sword attire slowly rose into the air, bowed his fist to the crowd.
This person had a calm expression and a sharp gaze, seemingly similar to Li Yuan Qing, both sharing the likeness of a sword.
"Our Liu Yun Sect took first place in this Secret Realm quota contest and received fifteen quotas to enter the Secret Realm. Since it has fully opened this time, every quota is crucial."
"Because Wei Ling Yun ranked first in points, my Golden Sword Lineage will receive five quotas…"
At this point, the crowd was excited, but they all repressed this excitement. Despite the seemingly small amount of five quotas, many people believe that they are qualified to get it.
Lin Yi showed a smile, just as he had predicted. Five quotas, next up should be the announcement of distribution of the five quotas..
Chapter 165: New Effects of The Path of Survivor Title 1
"Due to the restrictions laid out by the Ten Major Sects, those who participate in the battle for dominance will not be allowed to enter the Secret Realm. Therefore, Wei Ling Yun will not be included on the competition list…"
Upon hearing these words, Lin Yi couldn't help but smirk. It was a cunning move to exclude the top combat powers of the leading sects. This would greatly increase the chances for disciples from other sects within the Secret Realm.
A candidate like Wei Ling Yun who is a direct disciple of Gold Sword Zen Ren and ranks first in points, has a strong combat power. If he were to enter the Secret Realm, it is likely that even two disciples at the Large Completion of Qi Refining from other sects would not be his match.
Gold Sword Zen Ren turned to the crowd and said slowly,
"The entire Secret Realm of the Dan God will be opened this time. The competition within the realm will be extremely fierce. As such, those below the Qi Refining Eighth Stage are ineligible to participate. The allocation of the five spots will be as follows: two combat disciples, one Alchemy disciple, and two Farming disciples. "
Lin Yi felt somewhat relieved, thanking his lucky stars that the additional layer of Realm Concealment granted by [Elite Survivor] would only take effect after the next breakthrough. Otherwise, if he were to switch to the Qi Refining Seventh Stage, he would be in a tricky situation.
The allocation of the five spots was roughly in line with his own guess. After all, the primary focus is on the Cave Mansion.
Many disciples nearby were visibly delighted. After all, they had been practicing their Farming Practice for years, and now there were two spots available for them, which significantly increased their chances.
"The Combat Disciples will be selected via in-house fighting contests, the
Alchemy Disciple will be tested on their alchemy ability, and the Farming Disciples will be tested on their Farming Practice and ability to nurture Spirit Grass," Gold Sword Zen Ren explained.
"Starting today, you may voluntarily register at the Affair Hall of Golden Sword Peak. You may choose one of the three options, and you cannot register repeatedly. The trials will start in a month," Gold Sword Zen Ren explained the methods of securing a spot, and then sternly cautioned,
"Finally, let me give one word of advice. The journey to the Secret Realm of Dan God will be perilously dangerous. Disciples of the Golden Sword Lineage must approach it with appropriate caution." With a flash of golden light, he disappeared into the sky.
At that point, Zhou Yun Feng, levitating in the air on his Flying Sword, chuckled and said, 'As the master said, you have all probably heard by now. Moreover, you should all know that you will be randomly assigned locations upon entering the Secret Realm."
"One might end up in dangerous territories, or be surrounded by deadly enemies of the Liu Yun Sect. Hence, those who lack sufficient combat and self-protection capabilities should consider this carefully before registering," Zhou Yun Feng finished as he descended. After his words fell, a surge of people flooded the Affair Hall to register, clogging it up entirely. In the end, a registration point had to be set up on the plaza.
Lin Yi, on the other hand, did not rush to register. After all, there was a whole month to do that. The Secret Realm of Dan God could be extremely dangerous for others, but for him, who had already attained the Foundation Establishment Stage, it posed little risk.
The main reason he was confident that he could survive was due to the bonus effect of the title [Burst Out] of the [Survival With Patience Leads to Big
Plans]: when in an enraged state, it can ignore any limiting effects within one Great Realm above his current realm.
When his cultivation was at the Qi Refinement, he could ignore the restrictions of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Now that he had reached the Foundation Establishment level, he could ignore the restrictions of the Golden Core Stage. It's rumored that beside being unmatched in Alchemy Dao, Dan God Zhang Dao Xuan was unparalleled in his Formation skills as well.
As a Test Secret Realm, only those in the Qi Refining stage can enter, so the formations inside probably won't exceed the Foundation Building Realm, and most likely will not reach the Golden Core Stage.
Even if he gets trapped in a formation, as long as the power of the formation doesn't exceed the Golden Core Stage, he can use his rage state to forcefully break free of the control.
Standing in a corner of the plaza, Lin Yi noticed that the Affair Hall had set up three registration points on the plaza, corresponding to the three different abilities. Of those, the majority were registering as Farming Disciples, with the fewest registering as Alchemy Disciples.
After all, what the Golden Sword Lineage lacks the least is Combat Disciples. Although Wei Ling Yun was excluded, many disciples felt they wouldn't be able to defeat the strongest senior brothers and sisters.
However, the test for Farming Abilities is not the same. After years of hard cultivation, one definitely has a chance to succeed.
As for Alchemy, it's not an easy skill to learn. You could have some success with a few years of learning Farming practices, but not with Alchemy. You probably couldn't even successfully refine a single pill.
Seeing more and more people queuing up, Lin Yi did not waste any more time on this. He left the Golden Sword Peak and returned to his Cave Mansion on Jin Qiao Peak.
Although the spiritual energy in his current Cave Mansion is not suitable for his cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Stage, there is still more than half a year until the opening of Dan God Secret Realm.
He still has to participate in the trials for the Farming Disciple spot and prepare for the same. Therefore, there is no time to focus on his cultivation. He would have to wait until he returns from the Dan God Secret Realm before he could think about moving to a new Cave Mansion.
Lin Yi opened the Title Panel, examining the effect of [Elite Survivor],
"Hatred value -20%, Presence -20%, Cultivation speed +50%, Realm Concealment +4 (of which +1 concealment effect will kick in after breaking through to the next level) …"
The most important Hatred Value and Presence are increased by 5% with each level. To reach the state of having no Presence at all – 100% concealed, he estimates that he needs to rise to the final title in the Path of Survivor.
He has now thought of what this final title would be, and it is likely to be Immortal Survival. The homophonic translation of this title,
"Dog Sheng", is commonly used in rural areas as a child's nickname, implying the child is easy to raise and unambitious..
Chapter 166: New Effect of the Path of
Survivor Title 2
Next, Lin Yi turned his attention to the effect behind Realm Concealment. It was the new effect obtained after the title upgrade, which he thought was the most useful – displayed in simple words:
"[Virtual identity] +1".
He gazed at the virtual identity, seeing a more detailed explanation,
"The host can construct a virtual character. Once constructed, it cannot be changed. Activating the virtual identity will change the overall appearance to that of the virtual character. The character is restricted to being male."
Another secret of the Path of Survival is to hide one's true face from others. In this way, even if one incurs some karma, it won't affect one's true identity.
He had previously searched for related information in Oing Yun City and Tian Yun City, about face-changing techniques and human- skin masks. However, most of them could only change facial features and were incapable of altering the entire body's appearance.
Now, the title of the Path of Survival solves this issue for him: constructing a virtual character – wasn't this the same as creating a character in the game?
Despite the restriction to male characters, even if there were female characters available, he would not casually undergo a sex change.
This was different from cross-dressing, where only the clothing changes while the original body remained masculine, at most creating the illusion of a fierce maiden. This virtual identity probably allows even the body structure to be changed.
Lin Yi was contemplating what type of character to create; ordinary or extraordinary.
After some thought, he decided to construct a character that appeared intimidating, thus avoiding trouble and leaving a clear impression on others.
If he created an attractive character, he figured it would attract trouble everywhere he went.
A figure immediately popped up in his mind, then he activated the virtual identity function. A panel, identical to the character creation interface in games, appeared before his eyes.
On the panel, Lin Yi noticed an option that automatically generates a character based on the image in his mind. He clicked on this option, getting a prompt to concentrate and imagine the character model.
He focused his thoughts, recalling the desired character, and in an instant, the image in his mind was transformed into a virtual character. However, the hairstyle was automatically changed to long hair, a typical feature of the Cultivation world, which added an air of scholarly elegance to the fierce character.
On this character model, he made some additional changes, to adhere more to the characteristics of the Cultivation World, and finally, he used his thoughts to click and generate the virtual identity.
At this moment, a prompt appeared:
"Are you sure about generating the character? No changes can be made after creation".
Lin Yi carefully examined the character model one more time and, upon finding no issues, chose to create it. A flash of light passed, and the virtual identity was thus established.
Inside the Jin Qiao Peak Cave Mansion, he set up the defensive array and the aura concealment array, officially wore the [Elite Survivor] title, and then switched to the virtual identity.
Instantly, his body shape, including his clothes, underwent a transformation akin to an outfit change in the blink of an eye.
Lin Yi conjured a water mirror using a spell, had a look at himself, and tried uttering a phrase, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
Whether it was his physique, face, voice, or aura, everything had completely transformed, turning him into another person whose every move was filled with dominance.
This character was modeled after a well-known character from a martial arts film, who was the epitome of an overpowering presence, someone not to be trifled with at first glance.
"From henceforth, your name shall be Tian Ba," Lin Yi smiled as he said to his reflection in the mirror. He then planned to use this virtual identity to take the fall for the mishaps that would inevitably occur.
At this moment, Zhi Ling, standing by his side, watched Lin Yi's transformation with a shocked expression, squawking in some panic.
Because her master's familiar aura had changed, it made her feel rather uneasy.
Lin Yi promptly switched back to his real identity, instantly transforming back to his original cautious persona. It led him to marvel at the utility of the virtual identity, which could be switched at will without any cooldown.
Zhi Ling, standing nearby, looked at her master as he suddenly returned to his original form. Her small eyes rounded with surprise, filled with great bewilderment.
"Zhi Ling, stop thinking about it. You won't be able to figure it out." Lin Yi sighed, looking at Zhi Lings bewildered eyes, and patted its little head with a smile.
After he acquired the Title System, he had thought deeply about where it came from and what its principles were. Could it be from some advanced technological world, or created by a mighty figure who had reached the end of their cultivation journey out of boredom?
However, he soon gave up in frustration. Instead of pondering about the origin of the Title System, it was much better to figure out how to exploit it more effectively.
Next, Lin Yi set up his reserve title bar. He filled it entirely with titles that could increase his speed, including [The Road is at the Feet], [Meaningless Fight and Kill], and the title
"Little Compassion Little Mercy".
He deliberately left a slot open so that, in times of need, he could use [Burst Out] to enter a frenzied state, ridding off all related restrictions.
At this point, he suddenly remembered the linked title of [Newbie], called [No More Pretending, I'm Laying Out My Cards]. Now that the title associated with the Path of Survivor had been upgraded, would this one have changed as well?
So he checked it out and sure enough, the data for this title had also grown: Presence level +20%, extra damage +50%, and Realm Appearance +4.
The difference with the Survivor title was that Realm Appearance +4 did not require breaking through to take effect as it didn't have brackets denoting such. The Title System seemed to adjust according to the actual situation and wasn't rigidly uniform.
Apart from that, he also saw a shared illusionary identity with [Elite Survivor]. This made Lin Yi somewhat disappointed because he had hoped the Laying Out My Cards title would bring another new illusionary identity.
Lin Yi sat in the cave mansion, pondering his next move leading up to the opening of the Dan God Secret Realm. He decided to focus on cultivating the Sword Control Technique, and in his spare time, attempt to upgrade some newbie titles to the next stage.
The first ones were [Newbie] and [Little Farmer], and [Junior Dung Cleaner]. As for Inscriptions and Alchemy Novice titles, he would probably need to create or cultivate higher- grade pills to upgrade them successfully.
At this moment, he suddenly remembered the Storage Symbol that Old Huang gave him. He took it out and checked, finding more than three thousand Spirit Stones inside.
He couldn't help but shake his head and laugh. It turned out that Old Huangs stinginess was just for show. A Qi Refinement Level Four cultivator possessing over three thousand Spirit Stones was a significant fortune.
A Spirit Farmer working the entire year to tend to his crops only yield a few dozen Spirit Stones. It would take decades to accumulate this many Spirit Stones by merely planting in a twenty-acre Lower Spirit Field.
Old Huang frequented the Fairys Pavilion, unlikely accumulating these through Spirit Field cultivation, perhaps he had other businesses such as inscription crafting.
Since his foundation was damaged and he couldn't enhance his cultivation, he had more free time. It was improbable he was just farming.
Lin Yi also found some pieces of paper with notes about the Dan God Secret Realm and a simplistic map that Old Huang had gathered.
At the end, there was a reminder for him not to forget to grab a handful of soil from the grave and take it into the sky after his Foundation Establishment, as a way of fulfilling a long-cherished wish.
He sighed softly, took out the Spirit Stones and put them in his Storage Bag. He planned to use these Spirit Stones to buy a Flying Sword.
Lin Yi flew to Qing Yun City on his Flying Boat. Originally, he planned to buy using Tian Ba r s identity, but upon reconsideration, he decided to keep Tian
Ba r s identity a secret. This illusionary identity could not be used frivolously.
Besides, if something happened within the Dan God Secret Realm, he was planning to use this identity to take the fall. Using it now in Qing Yun City would obviously give him away.
Just buying a Flying Sword didn't necessitate the use of another identity.
Lin Yi then went to the Wan Bao Tower and spent six thousand Spirit Stones. equivalent to sixty Medium Grade Spirit Stones, to buy a Lower- grade Flying Sword. This was the most ordinary Flying Sword. Its power, speed, and the bonding level with the master were all relatively poor.
A Medium Grade Flying Sword would cost at least ten thousand Spirit Stones. As for a High-Grade Flying Sword, they basically only appeared at auctions organized by commerce chambers.
He was only practicing Sword Control Technique right now, so a lower- grade sword was enough. Once he mastered it, he would consider buying or customizing a higher- grade Flying Sword..
Chapter 167: Test for the Secret Realm Quota
After returning to Jin Qiao Peak, Lin Yi came to his cultivation cave mansion, activated the defensive array, and then placed the flying sword in front of him. He gently cut his finger, squeezed out a drop of essence blood, and slowly let it fall onto the flying sword.
The flying sword quickly absorbed the drop of blood, emitting a beam of light as it slightly trembled a few times.
At this moment, Lin Yi also felt a connection with the flying sword. After all, this was a lower- grade flying sword that is considered a spiritual artifact, completely different from a magic artifact.
He released his spiritual power, enacted the Sword Control Technique, and the flying sword slowly flew up, zipping around the cave mansion.
A hint of a smile appeared on Lin Yi's face as he used his spells to control the size of the flying sword, having a great time
Now, he already had the ability to fly with the sword, but his ability was still weak and certainly not as easy to control as a flying boat.
If he wanted to use swordsmanship with the Sword Control Technique, he was at a beginner's level now and couldn't do it yet, he would need to cultivate at least to an intermediate or expert proficiency level.
A few days later, after the peak registration period had passed, Lin Yi drove his flying boat to Golden Sword Peak. There were dozens of people in line, all apparently with the same idea as him.
He quietly walked to the end of the queue. Just then, a man in the queue was looking around.
He didn't notice Lin Yi at first, but after looking again, he confirmed it was him and waved, "Junior Brother Lin, I almost didn't see you just now, are you here to register too?"
Lin Yi looked up and found it was Qiu Sheng Hai, so he smiled and nodded,
"Yes, I mainly came to learn about the cultivation experience of you seniors."
"Junior Brother, you are too modest. Your farming skills are not weak at all,"
Qiu Sheng Hai responded with a wave of his hand.
Although he had never seen Lin Yi's cultivation techniques, from the well-kept Spirit Grass, it was obvious that Lin Yi had excellent cultivation ability.
However, since this junior brother had been in seclusion for some time, his cultivation skills must have slacked off. Still, he was quite confident in his own cultivation abilities.
"Senior Brother, you flatter me. Let's register first." Lin Yi replied with a fist and palm salute. While practicing his cultivation skills, he was also studying the specific requirements for various spirit grasses.
He had also specifically bought some seeds, dug up some soil, and secretly planted them in his cave mansion, using his cultivation techniques to observe their growth conditions.
Because the test of maintaining the spirit grass would not only test the materials like Gathering Qi Pills, there would certainly be other types of spirit grass and spiritual medicine as well.
When the line moved towards the registration point, Lin Yi displayed his identity plaque and confirmed that he would participate in the farming disciple examination.
The book recording the list of farming disciples who had registered was much thicker than the others. No one ever thought that a Dan God's Cave Mansion would turn an ignored occupation like farming into something highly sought after.
At this time, an elder from the Affairs Hall walked over and, seeing Lin Yi, a smile formed on his face,
"Ah, Lin Yi, you also want to take part in the farming disciple examination?"
"Greetings, Elder Sue Yes, I just want to try my luck," Lin Yi greeted with a bow.
Su Qi Hong laughed out loud,
"Ha ha ha, do you still need to rely on luck? When you entered the Inner Sect straight from being an Outer Sect Spirit Farmer, I still remember the farming method you used."
"The small Cloud Rain Technique actually showed signs of thunder and lightning." Saying this, he showed a hint of lament. The memory was quite shocking to many people at the time).
However, no one had paid much attention to it. In the eyes of many inner sect disciples, farming was considered a lowly job. But now, it was different it was related to whether they could enter the Dan God Secret Realm or not.
At this time, several inner sect disciples remembered. They too had been on
Golden Sword Peak and witnessed the amazing scene of the Cloud Rain Technique.
However, afterwards, no one paid any attention to this spirit farmer, even after his promotion to the inner sect. After all, even as a spirit farmer, one could only survive in the farming profession.
Their eyes flashed briefly as they noticed Lin Yi's cultivation level and were filled with astonishment. Qi Refinement Eighth Stage! This Outer Sect Spirit Farmer had reached the Qi Refining Eighth Stage in just over six years, which was simply astonishing.
"Elder Su, you flatter me. I just know how to farm, I never thought that by a twist of fate, I would be able to participate in the farming disciple examination," Lin Yi said modestly. When he chose to farm after entering the
Inner Sect, he never thought that one day he would be able to farm in the Dan God Secret Realm.
"You have improved significantly over the past few years. You have worked very hard. I look forward to your performance in the examination. Keep it up," Su Qi Hong walked over and patted Lin Yi's shoulder.
An Outer Sect Spirit Farmer who was able to improve his cultivation level to this extent after entering the Inner Sect must have put in an unimaginable amount of effort.
Perhaps through this farming disciple examination, he could truly change his destiny.
After thanking him, Lin Yi left Golden Sword Peak on his flying boat. He was not worried because he was good at farming.
Because within the Golden Sword Lineage, it is the capable who holds the highest position. As long as you show enough ability to crush others, you will be respected.
If someone targets and suppresses you because of your strong abilities, Gold
Sword Zen Ren would certainly make them regret it for the rest of their lives. This was the law of the Golden Sword Lineage.
Even if the Golden Sword Lineage has some influential powers, no one can override this rule. No one would dare to act rashly in front of the righteous and unbending Gold Sword Zen Ren..
Chapter 168: Test of Secret Realm Places (2)
After returning to Jin Qiao Peak, Lin Yi resumed practicing the Sword Control Technique, striving to reach the proficiency level before entering the Dan God Secret Realm.
One day, after he finished practicing the Sword Control Technique, he noticed Zhi Ling silently sitting by his side, seeming a bit dejected. Since he returned from Old Huangs funeral a few days ago, this little fellow had been in a low mood.
However, he was too occupied with practicing his Sword Control Technique and signing up for the competition to give it much thought, assuming the little guy was just temporarily upset.
Lin Yi placed Zhi Ling on his palm and asked earnestly,
"Zhi Ling, are you upset about something? We are partners, you can't keep things from me."
Zhi Ling silently nodded, then laid down in his palm. Its tiny claw stretched out into the air before dropping in exhaustion, and it titled its head, eyelids dropping closed.
Then, it opened its eyes, uttering a couple of low, dejected chirps.
Lin Yi suddenly understood and burst into laughter,
"You little fellow, eagerly waiting for my demise. Rest assured, I will not die as easily as Old Huang."
He then jokingly added, "On the contrary, you need to cultivate diligently. I don't want to have to bury you one day."
The once dejected Zhi Ling suddenly perked up, shaking his small paw energetically a couple of times. Then, it began to absorb spiritual energy again, resuming its cultivation.
Ten days later, Lin Yi t s Sword Control Technique successfully advanced from a beginner level to proficiency. Under the potent effect of [Grain Wisdom from One's Mistakes], even the bottleneck between the beginner and proficiency stage of a high-order spell could be broken through with ease.
After upgrading the level of the Sword Control Technique, a dialog box appeared before him.
"The Host's diligence in raising cultivation levels and spell grades is astonishing. [Newbie] title has been upgraded to [Training Expert]."
Seeing the content of the dialog box, Lin Yi smiled. The leveling title had been advanced to the next stage for the second time.
He had been puzzling over this title. It should have arrived after breaking through the foundation, considering he had advanced a Great Realm. He thought he should have at least surpassed the newbie stage by now.
He didn't expect that it required his spell to level up again to activate this title.
His gaze then fell on [Training Expert], taking in the effects of the upgraded title.
"Cultivation Speed +50%, Spell/Skills Advancement Speed +50%,
Breaking-through difficulty -15%, 10% chance of entering the Flow State."
Seeing the new additional effects, a strange expression crept onto Lin Yi's face. Fixating his gaze on 'Flow State', he read the details of its effect.
"All title effects are doubled in this state.'
The effect of all his leveling had doubled. Lin Yi couldn't help but smile at this boost to his leveling. The 10% chance wasn't too low.
If he was able to utilize his Little Luck state, this effect would yield the greatest results, lowering the breaking-through difficulty by 30%. Paired with [Grain Wisdom from One's Mistakes], future bottlenecks would become increasingly easier to break through.
Next were [Little Farmer] and [Junior Dung Cleaner]. He estimated that the Farmer title could only be upgraded after this year's Spirit Grass harvest.
As for the Dung Cleaner title, he was still unsure how to activate the next stage. Perhaps awakening another animal's bloodline was necessary, but that would have to wait until he returned from the Dan God Secret Realm.
A month later, the Golden Sword was once again hovering in mid-air, and all the Disciples once again gathered at the Golden Sword Peak Plaza.
Golden Sword Zen Ren stood atop the Golden Sword and declared,
"Registration time is over. Today, we shall begin the ability test for the Secret Realm quotas. The three tests will be conducted simultaneously in the Golden Sword Plaza.'
"Let the most capable enter the Dan God Secret Realm. The full responsibility of this test will be carried out by my Golden Sword Lineage's Great Disciple, Zhou Yun Feng." With a flash of golden light, he vanished before everyone's eyes.
"We respectfully send off the Master of Golden Sword Faction (Master/True Person)." The crowd bowed towards the sky with their fists clenched in respect.
At this moment, Zhou Yun Feng rose into the air, smiled, and waved his hand,
"You don't have to stand, please sit down."
Hearing his words, the multitude of disciples immediately sat on the plaza.
He slowly descended and began,
"First, let me announce the number of contestants for each of the three tests. The entry requirements for these tests are restricted to those at the Qi Refining Eighth Stage and above."
"The number of combat power disciples that have signed up is two hundred and thirty, alchemist disciples one hundred and five, and farming disciples six hundred and twenty-six."
Lin Yi couldn't help but marvel. Indeed, the Golden Sword Lineage placed emphasis on quality over quantity. He remembered that there were almost fourteen hundred Qi-refining disciples in the sect.
Looking at the number of applicants, there are over nine hundred cultivators at the Qi Refining Eighth Stage and above, accounting for more than sixty percent. This doesn't even include those who haven't signed up.
Just as he had guessed, the number of disciples signing up for the farming test was staggeringly high. Many from the combat renowned Golden Sword Peak were leaning towards the farming test. Quite the surprise.
The tests for combat and alchemy disciples could be easily guessed. One would fight on the ring, and the other would refine pills. But the farming disciple test, looking after Spirit Grass, might not be so straightforward.
After all, tending to Spirit Grass is a long-term commitment. Even though there are cultivation methods that can make plants grow rapidly, the plants grown in this way are void of any nutrients and essentially, useless.
If the test is conducted on the Golden Sword Plaza, there's only one option. The Spirit Grass must be planted in pots and handed to those who signed up for the farming test. This way, it can be conducted fairly.
Upon hearing these numbers, the cultivators on the plaza were astounded, particularly at the number of disciples signing up for the farming test almost three times more than those for combat.
"No way, there are so many signing for farming? Our Golden Sword Peak is the number one in terms of combat power in the Liu Yun Sect. Are we now trying to be the top farming peak?"
"Well, choosing the combat disciple test, you think you can defeat those senior brothers? It'd be better off to try your luck in farming."
"Yes, I heard that other Golden Core Peaks are similar, with a huge number of people signing up for the farming test and looking after the Spirit Grass. After all, the chance to enter the Dan God Secret Realm and the Dan God's Cave Mansion is too tempting. It doesn't matter if it's farming or even cleaning dung."
At this point, Zhou Yun Feng pressed down with both hands, and the scene immediately quieted,
"Now, let me announce the format for the three tests. The combat disciples will compete on a stage on one side, and the last two victorious will be awarded a place in the Dan God Secret Realm."
"The alchemy disciples will be tested on the other side of the plaza. The test involves not only pill refining but also identifying Spirit Grass and Spirit Medicine, as well as grading pills."
"An Alchemy Furnace will be placed on the plaza, and the disciple with the highest score will earn a place in the Secret Realm."
"The farming disciples' test will take place in the center of the plaza, where the Pill Hall will distribute five identical pots of Spirit Grass to each
Contestant."
"You will need to tend to them for one month. Whether you choose to leave the Golden Sword Peak after tending to them each day is up to you."
"Those who choose to leave should have no worries about their Spirit Grass being damaged, as they will be monitored at all times. Any contestant who gets close to another's Spirit Grass will be immediately disqualified."
"Anyone who uses farming practices to help others will be disqualified as well.'
"After one month, the two disciples whose Spirit Grasses thrive the most will be awarded a place in the Secret Realm."
Zhou Yun Feng outlined each test, stirring up intense discussion among the crowd.
Lin Yi smiled, he had guessed it right again. He felt this test was probably more than just looking after Spirit Grass. There would surely be other twists.
However, he, who had attained Great Perfection in all three levels of farming practices, was not nervous at all.
He would decide whether or not to hide his abilities based on the actual situation. Among the over six hundred contestants, there would definitely be excellent disciples. He could not afford to miss this opportunity because of any hidden agendas..
Chapter 169: Isn't This Deviant Practices?
After introducing the three types of trials, Zhou Yun Feng divided the tasks,
"Li Yuan Qing will supervise the testing of disciples on combat power, Dan Hall Master Qi Jing Yu will supervise the trials of disciples on alchemy, and I will be responsible for the trials of disciples on farming."
At this time, Li Yuan Qing stepped forward, his face remaining expressionless and radiating a grave aura. Dan Hall Master Qi Jing Yu, clad in the attire of the Golden Sword Lineage, stepped forward as well with a serious countenance. However, she revealed a hint of tenderness when she looked at Zhou Yun Feng.
Seated at the back, Lin Yi looked up. This was his first time seeing Li Yuan
Qings only female senior disciple, also the second disciple of the Golden
Sword Lineage. She appeared to be in her thirties and emitted an aura that
Kept people at bay.
During his six-plus years in the Inner Sect, he had never seen Qi Jing Yu whenever Gold Sword Zen Ren summoned his disciples. Perhaps she was researching Alchemy Dao.
According to some rumors, the second disciple of the Golden Sword Lineage did not originally study alchemy. Her mastery in swordsmanship is comparable to Zhou Yun Feng.
However, a few decades ago, after Zhou Yun Feng suffered a setback, he began to study alchemy. His progress was rapid and he ultimately became the Dan Hall Master of the Golden Sword Lineage.
Admiration filled Li Yuan Qings eyes when he looked at Zhou Yun Feng, but Qi Jing Yu's face displayed a hint of affection. Coupled with the fact that she had taken up the study of alchemy, it seemed her feelings towards Zhou Yun Feng weren't just admiration after all, but also contained a hint of emotion.
In Lin Yi's view, the elder disciple of the Golden Sword Lineage did have an attractive personality – approachable and selfless.
After he took over the Sinong Palace, he earned the respect of all Spirit Farmers within just a year or two. Not everyone could achieve this feat. If Li Yuan Qing had managed the palace, things probably would have gone awry.
"All disciples undertaking the trials will have three days to prepare. The trials will begin after these three days. Everyone may disperse now," Zhou Yun Feng said with a wave of his hand and a smile.
Upon hearing Zhou Yun Fengs words, his disciples all bowed in respect and left the Golden Sword Peak. Some planned to close themselves off in their cave mansions for three days, to practice their farming techniques. After all, as the saying goes, even studying at the last moment is better than not studying at all.
Lin Yi also left the Golden Sword Peak along with the crowd. There was nothing he needed to prepare for, as he had already achieved Great Perfection in all three farming practices.
However, he would still approach the upcoming trials with caution, taking it easy but not being careless. Planting Spirit Grass in small pots was indeed a bit more challenging than planting them in a medicinal field.
Of course, this setup could better test the disciples' experience and control over their techniques.
After establishing his foundation, Lin Yi learnt about the usefulness of the light gold Spiritual Liquid in his Dantian through the use of various spells. It aligned with his speculation that the liquid could enhance the power of spells.
Whether it was farming techniques or attack spells, all would show a dramatic increase in efficiency under the influence of Spiritual Power made from this light gold liquid. This was an additional effect beyond the power of his current foundation.
However, he did not plan to use his real power to cast spells during the trial.
He would control the power of the spell to be approximately at the level of the Qi Refining Eight Stage.
Using a farming practice at the Great Perfection level, combined with the effect of [Little Farmer], would be enough to pass the trial.
Three days later, all disciples from the Golden Sword Lineage gathered again atop the Golden Sword Peak. However, this time they gathered on a previously deserted square, now rearranged with a few additions.
Dozens of stages were set up on the left side of the square, and dozens of Pill Furnaces were placed on the right. The center of the square had been divided into more than six hundred separate squares, although nothing had been placed within them yet.
The disciples participating in the trials each bore different expressions. Some were full of confidence while others were nervous or disconcerted.
Zhou Yun Feng stepped onto his Flying Sword and hovered mid-air. His face didn't reflect a smile as usual, but graveness instead.
"Today, we officially begin the trials for access to the Secret Realm. The full-scale opening of the Dan God Secret Realm has only happened once or twice in a thousand years. Please treasure this hard-earned opportunity."
All the disciples below understood the significance of these trials. The next full-scale opening of the Dan God Secret Realm might not happen until five or six hundred years later.
The lifespan of those in the Foundation Establishment stage is two hundred and fifty years, and that of the Golden Core Realm is five hundred years. By the time the Secret Realm opens again, if they were still alive, they would probably be in the Golden Core Realm and wouldn't be allowed to enter the Dan God Secret Realm. Therefore, this was their only chance.
"Disciples not involved in the trials, please leave the trial areas," Zhou Yun Feng said next.
All those who hadn't registered for the trials and the cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Stage stepped outside the lines marking the trial area.
"Disciples undertaking the trials in combat power and alchemy, respectively, follow Li Yuan Qing and Qi Jing Yu to your trial locations."
At Zhou Yun Fengs words, the three hundred or so disciples participating in combat and alchemy trials set out for the respective sides of the square with Li Yuan Qing and Qi Jing Yu, ready to start their trials.
"Disciples participating in the farming trials, please stand in the corresponding squares based on your registration order," Zhou Yun Feng said to the six hundred or so disciples participating in farming trials.
Looking at the voucher given to him at the time of registration, Lin Yi stood in square number five hundred and thirty-two. The space in the square was fairly large, enough to fit two or three people sitting together..
Chapter 170: Isn't This Deviant Practices? (2)
At this moment, Zhou Yun Feng made a gesture, taking out more than six hundred Spirit Grass from a higher-ranked Storage Ring. These were meant for the evaluation of the Farming Disciples, with each person getting five pots, making a total of more than three thousand pots.
Each pot already had a Spirit Grass planted in it. Regardless of size, all the plants seemed to be in the same state of growth. However, to everyone's confusion, one of the pots didn't contain Spirit Grass but appeared to contain a few stalks of Spirit Rice.
Lin Yi, intrigued, gazed at the pot. Having worked as an Outer Sect Spirit
Farmer for over a year, he recognized the plants inside the pots as Cloud Spirit Rice, the lowest grade of Spirit Rice, usually only grown in Lower Grade Spiritual Fields. He hadn't expected them to be used in this assessment.
Next, Zhou Yun Feng, a Foundation Building Realm cultivator, used the Manipulating Object Technique to distribute the more than three thousand pots among the six hundred-plus Farming Disciples in their respective squares.
Looking at the plants in the five pots before them, many of the disciples preparing for the farming test were surprised to find one pot contained three stalks of Spirit Rice that appeared to be near ripening.
The whole venue erupted in discussion,
"Were not the test instructions to take care of Spirit Grass? Why is there Spirit Rice? Are they really testing farming skills?"
"We're supposed to enter the Dan God Secret Realm. Would that Dan God really test us on cultivating Spirit Rice?"
"I've only ever taken care of Spirit Grass. I don't know the habits of Spirit Rice. "
Zhou Yun Feng, hearing these murmurs, chuckled.
"Cultivating and taking care of Spirit Grass are, in essence, farming activities," he said.
"Nobody can know for certain what type of Spirit Grass or Spirit Rice will need to be cared for during the assessment in the Dan God Secret Realm Cave Mansion, thus, Spirit Rice is also included."
"The examination officially begins now. Everyone, feel free to show your Divine Skills. Remember the rules though, don't enter other people's squares or use spells to tend to their plants. Otherwise, you will be disqualified outright."
Upon hearing this, some disciples started watering their plants impatiently, and clouds began to form overhead in the Golden Sword Plaza. The venue was bustling as everyone tried to control the range of their spells, careful not to breach the boundaries of their neighbors' squares.
Those participating in this examination were at least at Qi Refining Eighth Stage. Anyone who reached this realm, unless they were the so-called
Immortal Second Generation that relied solely on consuming pills, was skilled in controlling their own spells.
Lin Yi did not rush to cast his spell. Instead, he studied the five pots of plants before him. Apart from Spirit Rice, the other four types of Spirit Grass ranged in difficulty from easy to hard.
The first one was the commonly seen Spirit Grass, and the last one was a crucial ingredient for the Foundation Building Pill, known as Purple Star Flower. It was typically cultivated in a medium-grade medicinal field.
At this moment, this Purple Star Flower appeared to be on the verge of blooming, and once the flowers bloom, they turn purple.
Viewed at night, the stamen of the flower emits a faint glow, giving the impression of scattered stars. Hence its name, the Purple Star Flower is a Spirit Grass that aids in breaking through realms.
Lin Yi carefully observed the growth of the five types of Spirit Grass. Some were growing strong, while some were beginning to wither. He sensed the spiritual energy emanating from the soil in the pots and couldn't help but chuckle.
The soils in the five pots were of different grades. Although they were all covered with a layer of identical soil, the grades of the soil didn't match the Spirit Grass that was planted in them.
For example, soil from a Lower Grade Medicinal Field was used for the Spirit Rice, while the Spirit Grass was planted in the soil of a Medium Grade Medicinal Field.
This was probably the first hurdle of the test. Lin Yi started to switch the plants to suitable pots, keeping his actions inconspicuous. During the switch, he noticed some insect eggs and weed seeds in the soil.
Indeed, one thing leads to another. If he hadn't noticed the mismatch between the soil and Spirit Grass initially, he wouldn't have found the insect eggs and weed seeds.
Since there were no obstacles around, his movements were noticed by a few nearby disciples. These disciples were puzzled. Still, when they inspected their pots, they suddenly realized the problem and their faces revealed expressions of surprise.
Lin Yi didn't hide anything because these were just minor tricks. The ultimate test was to rely on one's farming skills and take good care of the Spirit Grass.
After removing all the insect eggs and weed seeds, he planted each type of Spirit Grass into suitable pots.
During his years as a farmer, he learned a lot about the characteristics and habits of various Spirit Grass. Some prefer dry conditions, and hence shouldn't be watered frequently. Others like wet conditions and require more watering.
At the same time, Spirit Rice and Spirit Grass have differences in their varieties. As a type of crop, Spirit Rice cannot be cultivated using too high-grade farming spells.
Otherwise, the crop will absorb excessive nutrients, causing the Spirit Rice to grow excessively, delaying its maturation and earing phases, resulting in higher rates of misshapen grains.
For Spirit Grass, the impact of the grade of the farming spell is much less significant. Even if one uses the Rainfall Technique on Spirit Grass, it won't do any harm because Spirit Grass has a very strong capacity to absorb and adapt to nutrients.
Of course, auxiliary spells are also needed, such as the Warm Sun Growth Technique and the Spring Nourishing Technique, to help Spirit Grass better absorb nutrients.
An overseeing Foundation Building cultivator saw Lin Yi's actions and nodded approvingly with a smile. Unlike other disciples who started watering impatiently, this one was cautious and serious.
Zhou Yun Feng, sitting cross-legged above his Flying Sword in mid-air, took some time before spotting Lin Yi. He felt somewhat helpless for the young man was becoming more and more unnoticeable.
Unexpectedly, Lin Yi, who was notorious for being overly cautious and careful, was also participating in the competition for the secret realm quota, it seems that the attraction of the Cave Mansion was too great, or perhaps, the lad had the capability to protect himself.
Seeing Lin Yi replanting Spirit Grass, he couldn't help admiring him. Worthy of being a Spirit Farmer, he detected the problem right away.
However, these were just minor obstacles in the trials. If they couldn't even spot these, they were probably not cut out for farming.
Before watering, Lin Yi looked around at his fellow disciples. Many of them were watering five pots at once, using spells of different grades. Some used middle-level farming spells, such as the Warm Sun Growth Technique.
Others were using higher-level spells like the Rainfall Technique and Spring Nourishing Technique.
Judging from the state of the spells, a few disciples' Rainfall Techniques had reached proficiency level. He even felt the aura of a spell at the Great
Achievement level from afar. The Golden Sword lineage really produced talented cultivators.
Lin Yi no longer wanted to hide his abilities. If there were one or two outstanding talents among them, wouldn't he be wasting this opportunity?
Looking at the five pots of Spirit Grass in front of him, he first took out the Spirit Rice and released a Cloud Rain Technique at the Great Perfect Level, controlling the range of the dark clouds.
A dark cloud rose above, showing signs of thunder and lightning activities, forming a stark contrast with the other spells that only have dark clouds.
At this moment, many people around couldn't help but look over. They didn't seem to remember this Qi Refining Eighth Stage disciple and wondered why his farming spell was so powerful.
However, some people racked their brains to remember Lin Yi's identity as an Outer Sect Spirit Farmer. When he reported for the Inner Sect, he seemed to display the same farming spell as now.
While Spirit Rice was enjoying the nourishment of the Cloud Rain Technique, Lin Yi placed the remaining four pots of Spirit Grass at a distance and directly released the Rainfall Technique, confining it within the range of the four pots.
The energy exhibited by this cloud was much greater than that of the Cloud Rain Technique. The cloud layer was tumbling, with thunder and lightning moving inside, occasionally appearing in the open, creating a grand scene.
Upon witnessing this, the onlookers' eyes widened, feeling as if the cloud contained a vibrant life force.
This must be a high-level farming spell, refined to such a realm. They hadn't noticed many other spells with such grand manifestations of thunder and lightning.
Some of the people nearby who had registered on the same day as Lin Yi began to recall his words, "l am here mainly to learn the farming experience of the senior brothers…
Who was learning from whom? He was so skilled at farming spells, did he plan to farm for the rest of his life?
This is Golden Sword Peak, the Sect with the strongest combat power in the Liu Yun Sect. Instead of learning swords, he focused on refining farming spells.. Isn't this deviant?
Chapter 171: How did I become a hero? 1
After achieving Great Perfection in the Rainfall Technique, Lin Yi could fully control it. By control, it means he could manipulate rainfall in any area within the dark cloud.
However, he didn't display this ability here. He let the Rainfall Technique perform normally by creating rain, and adjusted it according to the characteristic of each Spirit Grass, showering them with differing amounts of rainfall.
While it rained, thunder and lightning also rumbled within the dark cloud formed by the Rainfall Technique. Occasionally, one or two lightning bolts would strike down from the cloud.
Although the farming test was just starting, despair could be seen on many Farming Disciple's faces. With such an abnormal farmer like him around, what could they possibly compete with?
Some people felt hopeless and couldn't help but start complaining, "Farming
Practices are so well cultivated, is he planning to farm for a lifetime?"
"Shouldn't a Cultivator aim for self-improvement? It's reversing the priorities to spend time and energy practicing farming skills. Can farming skills protect oneself?"
"Don't talk nonsense, he is a natural born Outer Sect Spirit Farmer. Naturally, he's plan is to stick to farming for life."
"Damn, some people are so lucky. He has always been farming and yet, he found a rare opportunity."
While many were envious and jealous in their hearts, they didn't harbor much resentment, nor did they value Lin Yi's idea much.
After all, this Outer Sect Spirit Farmer who relied on farming to survive was extremely lucky. He came across the Spirit Grass test in the Dan God's Secret Realm Cave Mansion. Otherwise, in Golden Sword Peak, where combat power is highly respected, he would not even be suitable to carry other people's shoes.
Regarding this, Lin Yi didn't respond and merely continued watering the
Spirit Grass silently. A few sarcastic comments wouldn't cause him any harm. The more superior his farming abilities seemed to others, the more they underestimated him.
At this time, Qiu Sheng Hai, who was sitting on the side, looking at the two dark clouds above Lin Yi showed a look of admiration. Junior Brother Lin was indeed a master who hid his true abilities well.
After listening to the ridicules and sarcasm from the people nearby, he couldn't help but scoff,
"Ha, a bunch of sour grapes. Junior Brother Lin works hard at farming cultivation for his self-improvement."
"Unlike us privileged Spiritual Root individuals, he can only acquire more resources for practice through farming. His cultivation of farming skills is for survival. Do you think he doesn't want to practice powerful attack spells?"
"He is a very hardworking individual. Whenever he has spare time, he practices cultivation. I bear no grudge towards such a person for gaining an advantage from farming. On the contrary, I respect him deeply."
"Good farming is also a sort of ability. With it, we Golden Sword Peak stand a much bigger chance of successfully entering the Cave Mansion in the Dan God Secret Realm test, thus obtaining more treasures for Golden Sword Peak."
"Originally, there was no need for him to take risks. As he concentrated on farming, he had a chance of achieving foundation establishment. But now, he showed his true farming abilities and took on life-threatening risks to participate in the test to enter the Secret Realm. And for what? For the honor of Golden Sword Peak."
At the end of his speech, a mocking smile appeared on his face,
"Ask yourself honestly, with your farming abilities, even if you guys managed to earn a spot to enter the secret realm, how confident are you in passing the test to enter the Cave Mansion? It's nothing more than a waste of a spot."
Many people around felt that what Qiu Sheng Hai said was very reasonable. The purpose of this farming test is to select individuals who have a better chance of entering the Dan God's Cave Mansion. This way, there is a chance to acquire treasures.
Perhaps these treasures might also be useful to them one day.
A person who has a higher chance of entering the Dan God's Cave Mansion now appears before them. Shouldn't they congratulate him? Why should they mock him?
"Junior Brother, I apologise for my previous remarks."
"Junior Brother, I'm sorry. It was due to my jealousy."
"Junior Brother, as a farmer, you have risked your life for the honor of Golden Sword Peak. Please accept my salute."
Several people made salutes towards Lin Yi one after another, expressing their apologies or respect.
Lin Yi was puzzled by this,
"What's happening? I entered the Dan God's Cave Mansion merely to seize an opportunity. How did it suddenly turn into a heroic deed?"
He couldn't help but glance at Qiu Sheng Hai. This Brother Qiu was really good at imagining things. He concocted a heroic tale of a farming disciple stepping forward for the honor of Golden Sword Peak. Lin Yi was truly impressed beyond belief.
"Junior Brother, there's no need to be formal. I was merely speaking the truth." Seeing Lin Yi's gaze, Qiu Sheng Hai waved his hand, revealing an appearance of righteousness.
Lin Yi didn't say anything, he just clenched his teeth slightly and saluted Qiu Sheng Hait In this instance, silence spoke louder than words.
"Junior Brother Lin is not good at socialising, much less speaking. Hence, he had to swallow his resentment when you all jeered at him earlier. It's truly too much to bully such an honest person." Qiu Sheng Hai spoke in a cold tone when he saw Lin Yi's actions.
Lin Yi really wanted to kneel down in astonishment, Brother Qiu could imagine beyond belief. Some words spoken by others had a completely different effect when spoken by Lin Yi himself.
Listening to Qiu Sheng Hai l s words and seeing Lin Yi clenching his teeth while saluting, they couldn't help but envision a poor image of a simple and honest disciple who was bullied and ridiculed for stepping forward for the glory of Golden Sword Peak despite his humble farming background..