Chapter 167 - 146: Return, Courageous Fellow Disciples

Chapter 167: Chapter 146: Return, Courageous Fellow Disciples

"So it was him."

He remembered that when he first joined the sect, it was Steward Wu who had given him meticulous guidance. The Golden Turtle Spirit Technique he previously cultivated was also chosen on his recommendation.

He was the second benefactor Li Changsheng had met since joining the sect. The first, of course, was Steward Lu, who had brought him away from Beast Valley.

"Remember now?" Tan Hu asked with a smile.

Li Changsheng nodded. Looking at the two Spiritual Objects on the table, he hesitated. "Steward Wu has already done me a great kindness. How can I accept his Spiritual Objects?"

Tan Hu gave him a look and said lazily, "Just take them." After a pause, he asked in confusion, "Don’t you want to be on good terms with him?"

"If that’s the case, I’ll just return these Spiritual Objects to him the next time I go back to the sect."

"Of course not."

Li Changsheng shook his head repeatedly, hesitated for a moment, and then put away the Spiritual Objects.

Tan Hu nodded in satisfaction. "That’s more like it. Wu Yong is well-connected. Being on good terms with him will only benefit you."

"Senior Brother, what about the pills?" Li Changsheng asked.

"Oh, I almost forgot about them."

Tan Hu slapped his forehead, then swept his sleeve across the table. Five palm-sized jade vials appeared on the surface.

"Four of these jade vials contain Spirit Fusion Pills. The remaining one holds Spirit Stabilizing Pills."

Tan Hu smiled. "Each vial contains nine pills, which is enough for you, Junior Brother, to cultivate to the ninth level of Qi Cultivation."

He then took out a round-topped, square-bottomed celadon porcelain flask, placed it on the table, and explained, "This contains Spirit Ascending Liquid. Once you reach the peak of the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, Junior Brother, you can consume this Spirit Liquid to quickly unblock the remaining three main Spirit Veins."

"At that point, you can take Second-Order Spiritual Pills to rapidly complete your accumulation in the Qi Cultivation Stage and begin the process of advancing to the Vein Condensation Realm."

Li Changsheng looked at the items on the table, a slightly awkward expression on his face.

Tan Hu had truly considered all of his problems and had even provided the solutions.

But there was one thing he had overlooked.

Namely, he had no Spirit Stones! In other words, he couldn’t afford them!

A single first-rank top-grade spirit pill cost at least three hundred Spirit Stones. He only had a little over three thousand in total, and that was only after selling the Red Fox and a snow goat. Otherwise, he would have had just over a thousand Spirit Stones.

And that amount of Spirit Stones was only enough to buy one vial.

Not to mention the Spirit Ascending Liquid. The fact that it was stored in a talismanic container meant it would only be more expensive.

Li Changsheng rubbed his nose and admitted frankly, "Senior Brother, this is too expensive. I can’t afford it..." After a pause, he added, "How about I just buy one vial for now, and get the rest in half a year?"

His own three plots of Concentration Flowers, which he often spurred with life-force energy, would be mature in a little less than half a year.

Once he sold the Concentration Flowers, his pockets would be much fuller.

Hearing this, Tan Hu didn’t hesitate for a second, waving his hand dismissively. "Just take them and use them. You can pay me back whenever you get the Spirit Stones."

Seeing Li Changsheng’s hesitation, he quickly said, "To be honest, Junior Brother, I’ve nearly finished my accumulation for the Mid-Meridian Condensation stage. I’ll likely break through to the Late-Meridian Condensation stage within the next six months."

"You need to hurry up and advance to the Vein Condensation Realm, Junior Brother. Whether or not I can get a glimpse of the Dao Foundation Realm is all up to you."

Li Changsheng hesitated for a few breaths before cupping his hands. "In that case, I will humbly accept. After I sell my Concentration Flowers, I will be sure to repay you, Senior Brother."

Tan Hu waved his hand with a nonchalant expression. "Just take them, Junior Brother."

Li Changsheng put the pills away, picked up the teapot to pour him a cup of tea, and asked quizzically, "Senior Brother, what brings you back to the sect this time?"

Tan Hu gulped down a mouthful of tea, smacked his lips, and said, "I came back for the Inner Sect competition and the matter of the True Inheritor trial." He then shook his head. "Unfortunately, I didn’t even make it into the top one hundred. Otherwise, I might have been able to travel to the outer regions with the top ten Inner Sect disciples and see the world beyond."

Li Changsheng was shocked. "With your skills, Senior Brother, you couldn’t even make it into the top one hundred?"

"The sect is full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons. I’m just an Inner Sect Disciple who was sent to guard an outpost..."

Tan Hu shook his head with a bitter smile, then sighed. "Steward Lan, on the other hand, truly lives up to his name as Elder Lan’s son. His Water Manipulation Technique, which is comparable to a minor Divine Technique, is simply masterful. He was a dark horse in this year’s competition."

"Unfortunately, when he was about to enter the top ten, he ran into a guy from the Blood Fusion lineage who had cultivated Nether Heavy Water. He was countered and lost by a narrow margin. Otherwise, he might have won a spot in the True Inheritor trial."

"Senior Brother Lan is that powerful?" Li Changsheng asked in surprise.

Tan Hu glanced at him, his tone profound. "His father is an Elder who can establish his own peak. There aren’t many big shots like that even within the Cyan Yang Sect. There’s a world of difference between them and ordinary Elders."

Li Changsheng listened, only half-understanding.

Tan Hu shook his head, not explaining further.

"Then what is the True Inheritor trial?"

Li Changsheng asked again, "I’ve heard a bit about the Inner Sect competition, but I’ve never heard of this True Inheritor trial before."

Tan Hu thought for a moment and explained, "The True Inheritor trial is a trial for the top ten Inner Sect disciples from each competition. If they pass, they are promoted to True Inheritors, and their status becomes equivalent to that of an Elder who can establish their own peak."

"The trial takes place in a territory outside the sect’s domain, and it lasts for a hundred years."

Li Changsheng’s interest was piqued. "A territory outside the sect’s domain?" he asked.

Tan Hu smiled and didn’t hide anything. "As you know, Junior Brother, our Cyan Yang Sect is bordered by the Power Demon Sect and the Ten Thousand Poison Forest."

"Our Cyan Yang Sect rules over the lands of three countries. Aren’t you curious, Junior Brother, why Qingyuan Country only borders Baiyue and Nanfeng?"

Hearing this, Li Changsheng thought back and was suddenly taken aback.

He recalled that whether it was from the ’Records of the Cyan Yang Sect’ or from things he had overheard, there were only ever mentions of three countries, and no others.

’Could it be that this world is a flat earth with a round sky? Is Qingyuan Country located at the very edge?’

Soon, Tan Hu gave him the answer.