The next day.
During the morning court assembly at Taihe Hall, Ji Xia meticulously inquired about matters concerning the Jiangu tribe's housing construction, food supply, and temporary accommodations. Satisfied with the responses from the various departments, he adjourned the meeting.
Returning to his private quarters, Ji Xia, assisted by Guan Xi, changed into comfortable attire. With a flip of his wrist, he retrieved a small, square cauldron.
This small cauldron, slightly larger than a palm, was engraved with a series of clouds. It contained fine, brown sand, giving it a sophisticated and mysterious appearance.
This was none other than the artifact Ji Xia had previously exchanged: the Divine Sandalwood Incense of Zongfang.
When lit, the incense emitted a fragrance that significantly enhanced both cognitive clarity and memory. This would be a tremendous boon to Ji Xia at this juncture.
Back in Yanxiang Prefecture, it had taken him a full seven to eight days to comb through the hundred-odd scrolls in Pang Shi's Xuanfang bag, and those were relatively lower-tier techniques, inferior even to the Starweave Codex.
After raiding the treasury of the Ancestral Shrine Pavilion, he had acquired thousands of scrolls, including many rare and obscure manuals, making for a treasure trove of knowledge.
If he were to study these scrolls at the pace he had maintained in Yanxiang Prefecture, even dedicating all his time to it, it would take at least a couple of years to finish.
Thankfully, the Divine Sandalwood Incense was now in his possession, promising a dramatic acceleration in his comprehension of these techniques.
"I wonder just how significant the 'dramatic' increase described in the incense's attributes truly is."
Ji Xia examined the artifact before placing it on a nearby table. Channeling spiritual essence into the cauldron, the cloud engravings on its surface grew more vivid. A transparent smoke rose, dispersing a unique fragrance throughout the chamber.
Inhaling the aroma, Ji Xia felt his mind become exceptionally clear.
He retrieved a Xuanfang bag from the Voidring and channeled spiritual essence into its guardian beast insignia, immersing his consciousness within the spatial domain of the bag.
Within the bag, which was about the size of a small room, there was an overwhelming collection of scrolls.
"This must be what people mean by 'a veritable ocean of books.'"
Marveling at the sheer volume of techniques and manuals, Ji Xia mused, "They say that reading ten thousand books grants immense wisdom. Even if there aren't ten thousand scrolls here, there must be three to five thousand."
"If I can fully grasp the contents of these manuals, my foundational knowledge should be sufficient to create a technique tailored for the human race."
He already had a preliminary concept for this technique; all he lacked was the requisite knowledge base.
"With my current cultivation and the visionary perspective granted by the Golden Crow Primordial Sutra, once I break through to the Divine Abilities Realm and inscribe spiritual imprints upon my Spirit Wheel, I'll have the basis to start developing the technique."
His determination soared as he conjured several dozen scrolls to his side.
Unrolling one, he began to read. Words and profound phrases entered his mind, where they were swiftly comprehended, memorized, and internalized.
It felt like divine intervention.
"With the Divine Sandalwood Incense, my cognitive clarity has increased tenfold!"
Elated, Ji Xia noted, "Previously, it would take me half a day to discern the intricacies and shortcomings of a technique comparable to the Starweave Codex. Now, I can identify its strengths and flaws almost instantly—and with greater depth!"
The miraculous efficacy of divine artifacts remained as astonishing as ever. Though the incense cost a steep 1,800 spirit seeds, its value more than justified the expense.
"With this incense, even if I don't have the luxury of deep contemplation, I should be able to finish perusing all these scrolls in under three months!"
A sudden thought struck him.
"The Divine Sandalwood Incense fills the entire chamber with its fragrance. Isn't it wasteful for me to use it alone?"
Naturally, Ji Xia's thoughts turned to the soon-to-be-established Spirit Talisman Pavilion. Although the Spirit Talisman Compendium offered a foundation, Taisang had no prior expertise in runic techniques.
Everything had to be built from scratch.
The Great Fu Empire, by contrast, had cultivated their mastery of runes for countless years before their nation's founding, granting them their current dominance in the field.
Could Taisang truly achieve meaningful progress while standing on the shoulders of this giant? Ji Xia wasn't entirely sure, knowing full well the complexity and intricacy of runic techniques.
"If members of the Spirit Talisman Pavilion can study under the influence of the incense, their training in runic techniques could proceed much faster," Ji Xia speculated.
"Runes require more than rote memorization. They demand mutual discussion and validation. Enhanced cognitive clarity and memory would be invaluable during this process."
He continued to deliberate, constantly seeking ways to expedite Taisang's development.
In these plans, the Spirit Talisman Compendium was a critical element.
While runic techniques might not possess the devastating power of advanced divine abilities, they consumed far less energy and had unparalleled endurance.
For example, the Heating Rune used by Great Fu households required only a single rune inscription and a spirit crystal. One crystal could sustain a massive furnace for an entire year, producing heat that was both gentle and pervasive.
If used sparingly, activating the rune only during the coldest months, it could last for six years.
Similarly, Illumination Runes could emit radiant light, functioning as streetlamps with minimal energy consumption.
Runes also had potential applications in weapon enhancement, though even Great Fu's scholars had yet to fully explore this area.
"This Divine Sandalwood Incense is of critical importance!" Ji Xia concluded internally.
"Fortunately, I can exchange for up to eight more of them. When I have enough spirit seeds, I'll obtain the rest. They're bound to have immense utility."
Resolving not to let his thoughts wander further, Ji Xia refocused on studying the scrolls under the incense's enhancing effects.
Hours passed. As night fell, Ji Xia sensed two powerful spiritual energy fluctuations approaching the palace.
Although the energy was suppressed to the utmost, Ji Xia's current abilities were far from ordinary. Such tricks couldn't escape his notice.
Frowning momentarily, he activated the Great Sun Spirit Eyes, his gaze piercing through countless barriers to spot two Divine Abilities practitioners stealthily moving through Taicheng.
The intruders skillfully evaded patrols and sentries, heading straight for the palace.
Ji Xia's frown relaxed, replaced by a faint smirk.
"Refusing to surrender and opting for a desperate gamble? Or are you just here to vent your frustrations?"
A mocking glint appeared in his eyes.
"Coming to die?"