Chapter 518 - 495: Cultivation Technique and Array

Pei Lan'er composed herself and activated the mechanism. Countless bookshelves began to rotate around her.

In a way, this Ten Thousand Books House was a special Magical Treasure refined by the Seven Mysterious Master.

As long as it collected a sufficient number and quality of books, it would ascend in rank to become a Spiritual Treasure.

This method of Treasure Refining was something the Seven Mysterious Master had obtained from the Langhuan Grotto Heaven.

Unfortunately, even after several hundred years, it still hadn't succeeded.

Three streaks of light landed in Pei Lan'er's hand. With another wave, the bookshelves all returned to their original positions.

"Senior, please take a look. These three are the highest-tier Cultivation Techniques in the Ten Thousand Books House. I wonder if they will meet your discerning eye, True Monarch."

Pei Lan'er turned to the side, her magnificent curves accentuated, as she respectfully presented the three Jade Scrolls.

At the same time, she secretly sized up the True Monarch before her out of the corner of her eye. He wore a Hydration Robe, his hair was simply tied up with a Daoist hairpin, and his face was handsome and otherworldly.

'I really don't understand why someone whose face indicates an unspeakably noble destiny would have no future at all.'

'I've only ever seen something like this on the faces of the dying.'

'But it makes no sense to say this Nascent Soul True Monarch is about to perish. There isn't a trace of deathly aura on his face either.'

Pei Lan'er was beginning to doubt her own face-reading skills, thinking her lack of proficiency was to blame.

"The Three Discs True Scripture is missing its final two volumes. It's incomplete, so one can only cultivate to the Early-Stage Nascent Soul realm... The original version allowed one to refine the Great Divine Technique of an Outer Body Incarnation upon reaching the Late-Stage Nascent Soul realm, but this incomplete version naturally lacks that."

"The Ten Directions Great Vajra Skill is a Body Cultivation Method. It doesn't refine Spiritual Power, focusing instead on the physical body... It also allows cultivation to the Early-Stage Nascent Soul realm, forming a Vajra Dharma Aspect and granting ten Divine Techniques. Most of these Divine Techniques are designed for combat and slaughter. This technique's combat prowess is not to be underestimated, and its demand for Cultivation Resources is significantly lower than that of a normal Cultivator."

"The Sun Devouring Technique allows cultivation to the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul realm. The technique has obvious flaws; its creator was clearly too ambitious, trying to create an unprecedented, world-shocking technique. In the end, he overreached. The technique's backlash struck when he reached the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul realm, and he was burned into a ball of fire, his body and soul obliterated."

Bai Zichen finished reading the three Jade Scrolls, the disappointment on his face unconcealed. "The Ten Thousand Books House has such a great reputation, but you only have these three High-Tier Cultivation Techniques?"

'The techniques that stop at the Early-Stage Nascent Soul realm are on the same level as my Fire Dragon Returning Essence Scripture. I can dismiss them outright.'

'The remaining Sun Devouring Technique is indeed a Fire Element Technique, but for one, it only goes up to the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul realm, which isn't a huge improvement. Changing techniques again later would be a hassle.'

'And two, even its creator failed while cultivating it. If I switched, I'd have to put in a great deal of effort to improve the Sun Devouring Technique first.'

"Please forgive us, True Monarch. These three techniques are all the Ten Thousand Books House has. The remaining High-Tier Cultivation Techniques are in my master's possession and are generally not available for exchange."

Pei Lan'er's beautiful face paled as she hurriedly explained.

"Senior, techniques that allow one to cultivate to the Nascent Soul realm are essentially the core secrets of major powers. Even if they have no use for a higher-tier technique, they rarely put it up for sale. Should they find a suitable disciple, a single technique could be the opportunity for them to leap the Dragon Gate."

Geng Shaobai added, speaking from his lower position.

"The Three Discs True Scripture and the Ten Directions Great Vajra Skill—what are their prices? Give me a quote."

'I guess I misunderstood how cultivation techniques circulate on the market. If even techniques that lead directly to the Nascent Soul realm are this scarce, it's probably impossible for one that reaches Divinity Transformation to ever show up.'

He had given up on the Sun Devouring Technique first, but he still had some interest in the other two techniques.

'Even if they're of no use to my own cultivation, I can bring them back to Black Mountain. The Sect will then have two more Nascent Soul Techniques.'

'For the Qingfeng Sect, this would be a major breakthrough, greatly broadening the paths available to future disciples.'

"Since you are a Celestial Phoenix VIP of the Immortal City, True Monarch, you are entitled to all the discounts of the Ten Thousand Books House, plus an additional reduction... The Three Discs True Scripture is priced at seventy Top-Grade Spirit Stones, and the Ten Directions Great Vajra Skill is priced at ninety Top-Grade Spirit Stones."

Pei Lan'er quoted the prices for the two techniques, sticking close to the bottom line.

'I have a faint feeling that building a good relationship with this mysterious Nascent Soul True Monarch, whose face shows no future, will be all benefit and no harm.'

Bai Zichen took out one hundred and sixty Top-Grade Spirit Stones and accepted the two complete Cultivation Technique Jade Scrolls from Pei Lan'er.

He then spent several dozen more Top-Grade Spirit Stones to purchase the legacy of a Tier Four Spiritual Plant Master.

'The Qingfeng Sect has never excelled in the art of Spirit Plant cultivation. Back then, we even had to invite someone from the Shennong Sect to serve as an Honored Guest Elder just to cultivate Spirit Rice.'

'Although we've made some progress over the years, we're still far from meeting my standards.'

'Since I have the chance, I might as well take it.'

'This is only possible because it's a Spirit Plant Master legacy. If it were for Alchemy or Arrays, I wouldn't be able to buy a Tier Four legacy even for several times the price.'

'In any case, these Spirit Stones are of little use to me just sitting around. It's better to exchange them for something valuable.'

"It seems the path of acquiring a Top-Tier Cultivation Technique through the Immortal City is a dead end... I'll have to place my hopes on an exchange meet attended by Nascent Soul True Monarchs, or on finding a clue to a Secret Realm where I might obtain a Top-Tier Cultivation Technique legacy."

Leaving the Ten Thousand Books House, Bai Zichen let out a long sigh. Changing his cultivation technique would have to wait a while longer; it couldn't be accomplished so quickly.

'Come to think of it, I've entered many Secret Realms, but most of them were already claimed and controlled by various sects.'

'The only completely new one was the Ancient Sword Immortal Secret Realm, which Lu Song led me into. From it, I obtained three great legacies: the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword, the Nine Heavens Bone Forging Techniques, and the Supreme Qingwei Sword Box.'

'Since then, I haven't found any similar clues to other Secret Realms.'

'I can only say that my fortuitous opportunities in this regard are still somewhat lacking.'

In the Circulation Sect's Circulation Tower, Bai Zichen was similarly unsatisfied. The only complete Grand Arrays available for sale were Tier Three.

They came with everything: Array Maps, Array Banners, Array Plates, and control cores.

When he requested a Tier Four Array, the Master of the Circulation Tower gave him a stunned look.

If it weren't a Nascent Soul True Monarch standing before him, you could guarantee he would have burst into roaring laughter.

After an explanation from the Master of the Circulation Tower, Bai Zichen began to understand. Deploying a Tier Four Array was no small matter; it was normal for the process to take several years.

The Circulation Sect did indeed have a service to help other powers set up Tier Four Arrays, but the prerequisite was that the client had to provide the array themselves. The sect merely sent a Tier Four Array Master to fully deploy the array and calibrate it to its optimal state.

This work alone cost a hundred Top-Grade Spirit Stones, and one had to get in line and make an appointment.

As for complete Tier Four Arrays, the Circulation Sect would never sell them.

According to the Master, the Circulation Sect didn't even have enough for itself; several of its branch sects had yet to set up Tier Four Arrays.

It was impossible for them to sell a Tier Four Array that was part of the Sect's legacy. Only a few discarded Banner Flags from old Tier Four Arrays could be purchased separately.

With a few Banner Flags and two complete Tier Three Arrays, Bai Zichen had spent nearly all the Spirit Stones he had on him at the Circulation Sect.

Of course, his few Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones were not included in that.

'The Qingfeng Sect now occupies so much territory, but without the protection of Tier Three Arrays, we don't dare to develop it aggressively.'

'The biggest reason is the lack of High-Tier Cultivators. We can't even guarantee one Core Formation True Man for each Spirit Vein, so how could we dare to invest vast resources?'

'Without a Grand Array, a single passing Tier Three Demon Beast could leave a Spirit Vein in utter ruin.'

'While I can't get a Tier Four Array, two Tier Three Arrays are better than nothing.'

'The other damaged Banner Flags from the Tier Four Array are for Zhou Suqing. I'll see if she has a chance to take another step forward and become the first Tier Four Array Master in the Qingfeng Sect's history.'