Chapter 99: Asking for a Future Opportunity, Inner Sect

Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Asking for a Future Opportunity, Inner Sect

"What!"

"An Inner Sect Disciple?"

"You’ve got to be kidding."

Hearing this, the three Stewards were all stunned, looking at him and Li Changsheng in disbelief.

Li Changsheng’s cultivation was plain for them to see; he was just a Junior Cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer.

But after their shock subsided, a thought suddenly crossed their minds.

’Did he become a Spirit Plant Master?’

That seemed to be the only way to explain why Tan Hu would say such a thing.

But a year ago, didn’t Steward Lan say this Spirit Plant inheritance was too difficult and dangerous? That it was fundamentally impossible for Spirit Farmers like them to master? At best, they could only form the main veins, which would barely count as succeeding in the technique, but they could expect no further progress after that.

Besides, seeing how monstrously deformed they became from their cultivation, they looked nothing like the Spirit Plant Masters of their imagination!

The three looked at Li Changsheng, whose face was covered, then turned to the astonished Lan Cai Shen.

Just then, Jin Fang suddenly said to Li Changsheng, "Take off your mask and let me have a look."

With the matter of his Inner Sect Disciple status on the line, Li Changsheng didn’t hesitate for a second and ripped off his mask.

"HISS..."

Upon seeing his face, everyone gasped, and even Lan Cai Shen’s eye twitched.

Tan Hu was stunned for a moment, then gave a thumbs-up and praised, "Junior Brother, with a face like that, one can tell at a glance you are a man of great talent!"

Just what kind of face could shock even these worldly men to such an extent?

In truth, it was Li Changsheng’s own fault for being too much of a perfectionist, meticulously ensuring even the leaf veins matched the Three-leaf Spirit Absorption Vein Map.

As a result of these intricately connected leaf veins...

The corners of his eyes were pulled up even more sharply, the three ravines crisscrossing his cheeks were deeper and longer, his nostrils flared up into points, and the corners of his mouth were stretched to his ears, revealing pale white gums.

Most importantly, his entire face was covered in a network of bulging, pale green veins, like a spiderweb stretched over his skin.

With all these features combined, he looked even more demonic than the demons depicted by mortals.

After a moment of shock, Jin Fang stared above Li Changsheng’s brow. He looked at the faint green, three-leafed grass mark with a stunned expression and murmured softly, "The Spirit Plant Mark... He was just an ordinary Spirit Farmer, yet he actually managed to become a Spirit Plant Master!"

Lan Cai Shen suddenly shot to his feet, strode over to Li Changsheng, and stared intently at the mark on his brow.

After a few seconds of observation, he suddenly burst out laughing. "Good, good, good! My efforts were not in vain after all!"

With that, he stepped forward, took Li Changsheng’s hand, and said gently, "Junior Brother, come with me to see my father. He will handle the process of making you an Inner Sect Disciple."

"Oh, okay."

Li Changsheng, stunned for a moment, nodded.

Before the other Stewards could react, a spiritual light flared around Lan Cai Shen. He wrapped Li Changsheng in it, and they transformed into a streak of light, vanishing from the hall in an instant.

The remaining people looked at each other, speechless.

A moment later, Steward Ma suddenly asked, "He’s a real Spirit Plant Master?"

Jin Fang and Ke Jing looked at him with pity.

Tan Hu sat back down in his chair with a composed air, casually fiddling with his fingernails, but he couldn’t hide the smug look on his face.

’He had already extended his goodwill. As long as he carefully maintained the relationship in the future, the benefits... heh heh.’

’To think that a few Spirit Stones could buy the friendship of a Spirit Plant Master who can cultivate Second Order, and perhaps even Tier Three Spirit Plants in the future. He had really struck gold this time!’

’If he could maintain a good relationship, once Li Changsheng’s Spirit Plant Mark advanced, it wouldn’t be impossible to ask him for help cultivating a Spirit Plant that suited his own attributes!’

After all, this was not without precedent.

Therefore, within the Cyan Yang Sect, a Spirit Plant Master capable of cultivating Tier Three Spirit Plants was far more revered than an ordinary Dao Foundation Great Cultivator, comparable even to the legacy disciple of a Golden Core Ancestor.

Even the Golden Core Ancestors would show them special care.

It could be said that Spirit Plant Masters with extraordinary potential were the very foundation of the sect.

Seeing Tan Hu’s smug expression, Jin Fang grew jealous. With a slight shift in his eyes, he immediately sent a voice transmission to Steward Ma, explaining the stakes.

After hearing this, Steward Ma’s face turned pale then livid. He suddenly stomped his feet and beat his chest, and the look he gave Tan Hu changed completely.

’Befriending Li Changsheng might have been my only chance in this lifetime to reach the Dao Foundation!’

Little did he know, for a chance at the Dao Foundation, two great Stewards were already fighting tooth and nail!

’His heart was flooded with regret, but it was too late for everything!’

’Once Li Changsheng returned from being registered, he would be of equal status. How could adding flowers to brocade compare to offering charcoal in a snowstorm?’

’Tan Hu’s simple act of helping Li Changsheng up now counted as a significant favor!’

’No matter how bad Li Changsheng’s character might be, he would have to acknowledge it. Otherwise, no other cultivator would be willing to associate with him in the future.’

With an ashen face, Steward Ma sat stiffly in his chair, not saying a word.

Tan Hu wasn’t surprised by Steward Ma’s glare. After all, he had indirectly snatched away the man’s opportunity.

’Then again, doesn’t that just prove how shortsighted he is?’

’Tan Hu was secretly pleased. One of the Second Order Magic he cultivated made him extremely sensitive to auras.’

’The moment he saw Li Changsheng, he had been shocked by the vibrant life force emanating from his brow.’

’Later, when he saw Ke Jing and Steward Ma exchange a few words and lead someone away, his heart had suddenly pounded. He immediately paid a thousand Spirit Stones and, ecstatic, took Li Changsheng away.’

’Tan Hu began to ponder what kind of congratulatory gift would be appropriate when Li Changsheng was promoted to Inner Sect Disciple.’

’It had to be something Li Changsheng could use, and something that would make him remember the favor again.’

’After some thought, an idea suddenly struck him.’

Tan Hu’s consciousness probed his storage bag, focusing on a jade box inside. ’This is it!’ he thought. ’Li Changsheng, you’d better make me proud! My path to the Dao Foundation is riding on you!’

In the great hall, the various Stewards were lost in their own thoughts.

Dong Xing and the others exchanged a look, saw the confusion in each other’s eyes, and silently lowered their heads.

「Mountaintop Marketplace, High Tower.」

A streak of light suddenly shot down from the sky, landing in the High Tower Square.

Li Changsheng felt dizzy for a moment. When he came to his senses and saw the magnificent high tower before him, he froze, then looked at Lan Cai Shen with envy.

He felt like he’d only been in a daze for a second, yet he had already arrived at the mountain’s peak.

’In his mind, this was already the realm of Divine Techniques.’

Lan Cai Shen waited for him to compose himself, then gestured forward with a smile. "Junior Brother, follow me."

Li Changsheng clasped his hands. "I’m troubling you, Senior Brother Lan." He then followed him toward the high tower.

When the Cultivators guarding the entrance to the high tower saw Lan Cai Shen, they all bowed in salute. "Greetings, my lord."

Lan Cai Shen nodded slightly and led Li Changsheng into the high tower.

Li Changsheng felt as if he had passed through a thin membrane. The next moment, a wave of Spiritual Qi so dense it felt tangible washed over him, causing his face to flush red. He subconsciously activated his Cultivation Technique to refine the pure Spiritual Qi flooding his body.

「A Cup of Tea’s Time passed.」

Li Changsheng opened his eyes, a hint of joy flashing within them.

Refining that pure Spiritual Qi had actually increased his Spiritual Power by more than five percent. If he could stay here forever, even a pig could probably transform into a demon!

Lan Cai Shen, who had been waiting patiently nearby, seemed to have read his mind. He spoke up, "Junior Brother, this is your first time entering the Heaven-Filling Tower, which is why your progress is so great. After you’ve been here many times, it won’t have such a significant effect."

Li Changsheng smiled and nodded, but in his heart, he was a little skeptical.

’With such abundant Spiritual Qi, if he had cultivated here since childhood, he would have definitely reached Qi Cultivation Perfection, let alone Vein Condensation.’

Lan Cai Shen chuckled and led him towards a nearby staircase.

The interior of the Heaven-Filling Tower was modestly decorated. Aside from murals of various strange beasts painted with vibrant pigments, it looked no different from an ordinary pavilion.

The two chatted softly as they quickly ascended to the top floor.

The space, less than a thousand square meters, was filled with rows of bookshelves. Against the surrounding walls were shelves displaying treasures that glowed with spiritual light.

Li Changsheng swept a quick glance and saw no fewer than a thousand items. The collection was diverse, including Spirit Plants, spirit ores, as well as swords, sabers, and other artifacts...

Lan Cai Shen led him past the rows of bookshelves, and the space suddenly opened up.

A cold-faced young man who bore a strong resemblance to Lan Cai Shen was sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat.

Beside him was a single incense burner, with wisps of green smoke curling around his body, making him appear like a celestial being from a painting.

As the two approached, the young man slowly opened his eyes.

HISS...

’This is Elder Lan? What kind of gaze is that!’

Li Changsheng secretly gasped, the hair on his body standing on end.

The young man’s pupils were deathly pale. When his gaze swept past Li Changsheng’s brow, it felt as if a thousand blades were pressed against his body, and an involuntary fear rose within him.

Fortunately, the gaze came and went quickly.

The young man slowly closed his eyes, and his slightly chilly voice rang out.

"To have become a Spirit Plant Master using that ancient scroll... you’ve done well."

"I see you cultivate the Golden Turtle Spirit Technique. While it is balanced and gentle, it does not suit your blood attribute. If you use it to advance to the Vein Condensation Realm, you will become nothing more than a weakling in that realm."

The young man paused, then with a flip of his hand, he produced a jade slip that was entirely blood-red and covered in golden patterns, sending it over to Li Changsheng.

"This is the Vein Condensing Technique, the Blood River Refining Yang True Skill. The Blood Sun Spiritual Power it cultivates is not only formidable but also carries a trace of chilling blood poison. Among Vein Condensing Techniques, it is considered superior."

A look of pleasant surprise appeared on Li Changsheng’s face. After accepting it, he bowed and said, "Changsheng thanks Elder Lan."

The young man asked again, "Is there any Magic you desire?"

Hearing this, Li Changsheng thought for a moment and said, "This disciple desires a Magic for manipulating Spirit Insects and Spirit Beasts, as well as a Magic for self-preservation."

"Manipulating Spirit Insects, Spirit Beasts..."

The young man’s brow furrowed for a moment. With a flip of his hand, he produced a fist-sized piece of jade. It was shaped like a bull’s head with dragon horns and a carapace, but it lacked limbs and a tail. After a moment’s thought, he took out another thumb-sized, teardrop-shaped jade that was a deep, watery red and sent them both before Li Changsheng.

Then, the young man flipped his hand again, producing a white jade tablet and sending it before him with a surge of Spiritual Power.

"Write your name on it with your blood. From this day forward, you will be an Inner Sect Disciple of my Miscellaneous Cultivation Lineage."

Li Changsheng put away the two Dharma Transmission Jades, channeled Spiritual Power to his fingertip, cut his index finger, and wrote his name, Li Changsheng, on the white jade tablet.

A spiritual light pulsed from the jade tablet, and the bloody characters slowly sank into it.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of miles away, a grand and solemn hall sat atop a cloud-shrouded Immortal Mountain circled by celestial cranes and exotic beasts.

Inside the hall, the walls were painted with thousands of exotic beasts. Dozens of massive, gold-and-jade-inlaid stone pillars stood in two rows. Enshrined within were dozens of towering statues, their expressions by turns stern, gentle, or ferocious.

Before the statues stood a gleaming white stone stele, several dozen feet high. It was densely branded with tens of thousands of tiny names. Some names shone with spiritual light, while others were dim and lusterless.

In an inconspicuous corner of the stele, a name slowly materialized in shining spiritual light.

Li Changsheng