Chapter 594 - 430: True Skill Inheritance, True Realm Tower

"Elder Zhen."

After a moment of thought, Xu Qing asked, "If a True One’s Life Wheel has a minimum of one Black Annual Ring, then what’s the maximum?"

"The maximum?"

Elder Zhen contemplated this and said, "Theoretically, a True One can have a maximum of one hundred and eight Black Annual Rings."

"I see."

Xu Qing was taken aback. He only had nine Black Annual Rings, a full ninety-nine short of the maximum of one hundred and eight.

"Alright."

Elder Zhen continued, "Since you two have entered the Seeking Truth Realm, you will not need to go mine in the Longevity Veins. Those who failed to reach this realm must go to the Longevity Veins and mine for ten years. Only then can they obtain True Realm Soil and the corresponding True Skill to enter the Seeking Truth Realm."

"Furthermore, even after entering the Seeking Truth Realm, they will have to continue mining in the Longevity Veins if they don’t have enough merits."

"In the Void True Realm, one’s Lifespan is only one hundred years."

At this point, Elder Zhen added, "It doesn’t matter if you’re at the First Layer Heaven of the Void True Realm or the Great Perfection of the Ninth Heaven of the Void Truth Realm. Here in the Unique True Realm, you will only have a Lifespan of one hundred years."

"Moreover, before entering the Seeking Truth Realm and condensing a Life Wheel, you cannot absorb Longevity Crystals. This means you have no way to replenish the Lifespan you’ve consumed."

"You can only live for one hundred years."

"Of course," Elder Zhen added, "you could also choose to descend and enter the Sea of Chaos. Any being from the Unique True Realm, upon entering the Sea of Chaos, will be at least as strong as what you call an ’Immortal’."

"Elder Zhen, where are we going then?" the red-haired woman asked.

"You won’t have to mine in the Longevity Veins, but you will need to serve as apprentices in the various branches of the True Realm Tower. The tasks of an apprentice are also arduous, but it is much better than mining."

Elder Zhen said, "Besides, once you enter a branch of the True Realm Tower, you can directly receive the inheritance of a True Skill."

"Let me take a look."

BUZZ!

He waved his right hand.

A corresponding virtual screen materialized in front of Elder Zhen. It displayed images of one pavilion after another—these were the branch towers of the True Realm Tower, spread across the Unique True Realm.

It must be understood that the True Realm Tower is one of the Nine Great Forces of the Unique True Realm, with a footprint in nearly every corner. The True Realm Sect, on the other hand, is primarily centered around trade.

This means that the True Realm Tower sells True Skills, True Techniques, True Artifacts, Lifespan, news, intelligence, and so on. Within the True Realm Tower, there is almost nothing that cannot be traded.

Elder Zhen’s gaze landed on the red-haired woman, and he spoke her true name. "Hong Ying," he said, "the Cloud Sea Branch Tower is in need of a front-hall apprentice. You will go and fill that position."

"Yes."

The red-haired woman was silent for a moment but asked no questions. Faced with Elder Zhen’s arrangement, she simply nodded in compliance.

"Go on."

Elder Zhen waved his hand.

Then, as Xu Qing and Elder Zhen watched, Hong Ying slowly walked into the white vortex on the right. Her figure disappeared within, on her way to the Cloud Sea Branch Tower.

"Xu Qing greets you, Elder Zhen."

Xu Qing bowed respectfully to Elder Zhen.

"Xu Qing."

Elder Zhen smiled faintly, sizing Xu Qing up for a moment before asking directly, "How many Black Annual Rings does your Life Wheel currently have?"

"In response to Elder Zhen, I have nine Black Annual Rings," Xu Qing replied.

"Nine!"

Elder Zhen looked startled, a pleasant surprise spreading across his face. "Truly?!" he exclaimed.

"Yes."

Xu Qing nodded. "I wouldn’t dare lie to you, Elder Zhen."

"Good, good."

Elder Zhen took a deep breath, calming himself. "To think that while in the Sea of Chaos, you not only broke through to the Seeking Truth Realm, but even managed to condense nine Black Annual Rings."

"Elder Zhen."

Xu Qing paused, confused. "Are nine Black Annual Rings that many? You just said that theoretically, a True One could condense up to one hundred and eight."

"Heh heh..."

Elder Zhen chuckled. "As I just said, that is *theoretically* speaking. A True One with one hundred and eight Black Annual Rings exists only in theory."

"Furthermore, the True Realm Tower has been around for eons and is one of the Nine Great Forces of the Unique True Realm. But in all of the True Realm Tower’s records, the highest number of Black Annual Rings ever achieved by someone at the True Realm level is only ninety-nine."

"Across the entire Unique True Realm, the highest record for the True Realm is one hundred Black Annual Rings, achieved by someone from Eternal City, one of the Nine Great Forces."

"I see."

Xu Qing nodded but still remarked, "But nine Black Annual Rings still doesn’t seem like a lot!"

"Nine Black Annual Rings is just the base number."

Elder Zhen said, "You’ve only just broken through, which means you’re an Early-stage True Master. The True Master level is divided into four stages: Early, Mid, Late, and Perfection."

"Every time you advance by one minor stage, your number of Black Annual Rings will double. You currently have nine Black Annual Rings at the Early Stage."

"So, when you enter the Mid-stage, your number of Black Annual Rings will double to eighteen. Upon breaking through to the Late-stage, you will reach thirty-six."

"Finally, at the Perfection stage, your number of Black Annual Rings will double again to seventy-two."

"Furthermore, I have some special methods that can help you add an extra six Black Annual Rings with each breakthrough at the True Master level."

"This way, you can reach ninety Black Annual Rings by the time you achieve the Perfection stage. In the Unique True Realm, and within the True Realm Tower, that number is considered absolutely top-tier."

Elder Zhen continued, "Of course, if you happen upon any other fortuitous opportunities in the meantime, you might advance even further, possibly exceeding ninety."

"Ninety is just the guaranteed minimum."

"This..."

Xu Qing was stunned for a moment.

THUD!

Without hesitation,

Xu Qing knelt before Elder Zhen.

"I implore you, Senior, to take me as your disciple."

Xu Qing bowed his head.

"Hahaha..."

Elder Zhen was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter. He looked down at Xu Qing with a satisfied expression, gently stroking his long, white beard.

In truth, Elder Zhen had sent Hong Ying away first and kept Xu Qing behind because he already had the thought of taking a disciple. At first, however, he had still been somewhat undecided.

Now, after learning that Xu Qing’s Black Annual Rings numbered nine, his decision to take him as a disciple was firmly set.

"Very well,"

Elder Zhen nodded slightly. "I will accept you as my disciple today. However, for now, you can only be considered my Registered Disciple."

"Next, I will impart a True Skill to you. Only when you have reached the Perfection Level and your Black Annual Rings number ninety-five will I accept you as my Official Disciple."

"Do you understand?"

"Yes."

Xu Qing nodded. "Disciple Xu Qing greets Master!"

"Good."

Elder Zhen smiled faintly. He raised his right hand and gently tapped the center of Xu Qing’s brow. Countless streams of True Text surged into Xu Qing’s mind.

Instantly, Xu Qing’s consciousness connected to the Encyclopedia of All Things. However, out of caution, he did not use the Encyclopedia’s power to record this True Skill inheritance.

With a thought,

BUZZ!

Xu Qing began to comprehend the True Skill inheritance.

Not long after,

Elder Zhen slowly withdrew his hand.

"Comprehend it well,"

Elder Zhen said.

BUZZ!

The next moment,

Xu Qing’s consciousness activated the power of the Encyclopedia of All Things, instantly recording the True Skill inheritance. Countless images surfaced in his mind.

At the same time, the Encyclopedia of All Things’s pages turned, stopping at the fourth page. It then truly recorded this True Skill inheritance there, making it a part of the Encyclopedia itself.

"This..."

Xu Qing was inwardly quite surprised.