Chapter 181 - 166: Northwestern Countries, Beixuan Alliance, Cultivation Technique Selection
Chapter 181: Chapter 166: Northwestern Countries, Beixuan Alliance, Cultivation Technique Selection
「Three days later. C-57 Cave Mansion.」
Inside the cave mansion, the dense Spiritual Qi was like a milky-white mist, heavy and thick—a far cry from his previous abode. Lu Zhao sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion in the center of the room. He slowly opened his eyes. A serene Divine Light shone within his calm, ripple-free gaze, yet he possessed a profound and steady presence, like a deep pool or a towering mountain.
He lightly tapped a finger in the air, and a smooth Cyan Jade Scroll emerged, hovering before him and emitting a soft halo. This was the Jade Scroll his Senior Brother, Chen Chumo, had given him a few days ago. It contained detailed information on the situation in the surrounding countries.
Lu Zhao focused his mind, his Divine Sense flowing like a trickling stream into the Jade Scroll. Instantly, an ocean of information surged into his mind.
’The Beixuan Alliance, the Northwestern Countries... so that’s how it is.’ After a long while, Lu Zhao withdrew his Divine Sense. His knuckles tapped lightly on the Jade Scroll, making a barely audible crisp sound as the situation became clear in his mind.
According to the Jade Scroll, the Chen Country, where the Bixia Sect resided, belonged to a region known as the "Northwestern Countries." The entirety of the Northwestern Countries, in turn, was affiliated with a vast and loosely organized coalition—the "Beixuan Alliance." As for how expansive the Beixuan Alliance’s territory was or how unfathomably deep its heritage ran, the Jade Scroll was vague. This information was clearly beyond what someone of Lu Zhao’s current status was permitted to know.
However, the Jade Scroll was quite detailed regarding the Bixia Sect’s status. Among the Golden Core Major Sects of the Northwestern Countries, the Bixia Sect was a leading power!
Even across the entire Beixuan Alliance, only a handful of the truly top-tier major sects were definitively stronger than the Bixia Sect.
The Bixia Sect was already one of the strongest sects in the Northwestern Countries. Combining past rumors with his own observations within the sect, Lu Zhao estimated that it had between five and seven true Golden Core Masters. Furthermore, the Northwestern Countries comprised only a little over thirty nations in total.
Based on this, he deduced that the total number of Golden Core Cultivators across all the Northwestern Countries was likely around one hundred. As for the even vaster Beixuan Alliance? ’How strong is it? How many Golden Core Cultivators does it have?’ For someone like him who had just reached Foundation Establishment, such questions were far too remote. It was useless to dwell on them.
Having understood the external situation, Lu Zhao’s focus returned to his own affairs. Foundation Establishment was merely the beginning of his new path. The road ahead was long, and the urgent matters awaiting his attention were as numerous as thorns in a thicket.
The first priority was to replace his Main Cultivation Method! His old Little Spirit Rain Technique was best suited for the Qi Cultivation Stage. While it did have a Foundation Establishment Chapter, it clearly couldn’t keep up with his needs. The technique was now obsolete, incapable of supporting Lu Zhao’s ambition to cultivate all the way to the Golden Core Realm.
Second were his Magical Artifacts. He rubbed the Storage Bag at his waist, and with a slight stir of his Divine Thought, the Hundred Waters Magic Disc—an artifact that had accompanied him through countless battles and was now intimately familiar—leaped into his palm.
The disc was highly compatible with his Water Attribute Spirit Root and his combat style; he could wield it seamlessly. If he could upgrade it to a Tier Two Spiritual Artifact, his combat strength would experience a fundamental leap.
However, as the list of key materials needed for the upgrade flashed through his mind—Tier Two Water Spirit Stones, Tier Two Spirit Water...—a grave expression settled on Lu Zhao’s face.
He did possess a Top-Grade Tier Two Spirit Water—three bottles of Unsettled True Water. Unfortunately, he had obtained it through illicit means and it could never see the light of day. Tier Two Water Spirit Stones were an equally scarce resource and would be just as difficult to acquire.
’I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. The matter of the Hundred Waters Magic Disc... I’ll set it aside for now.’ He sighed softly, returned the Hundred Waters Magic Disc to his bag, and temporarily suppressed the thought.
Third was Puppetry, the art he relied upon. His Tier One, High-Grade Puppetry was already showing its limits at the Foundation Establishment Stage and was no longer sufficient for his needs.
Lu Zhao had already made up his mind. He would pour his heart and soul—and even pay a great price—into advancing his mastery of this art. Even if it meant selling his Puppets at a loss for a while, he had to lay a solid foundation for his future as a Tier Two Puppet Master.
Finally, there was the most fundamental issue of all: advancing his Cultivation. Chen Chumo’s subtle warning still echoed in his ears: within the Sect, any Foundation Establishment Cultivator who sought more Cultivation Resources would inevitably be drawn into the whirlpool of factional conflict and struggles over benefits.
Lu Zhao mulled it over for a moment, and the situation became crystal clear. He was a nobody in the Bixia Sect, with no connections or powerful backer to protect him. Nor was he a disciple from a prestigious Direct Lineage. If he rashly dove into that whirlpool, he would most likely end up as someone’s pawn, or worse—be silently pushed into an abyss without ever knowing it. Even if he were willing to be a weapon in another’s hand, it was impossible to say what the rewards would be. As for other reliable methods to obtain Pills... for now, his prospects were as hazy as flowers in a fog.
These heavy thoughts wound around his mind like silk threads. Lu Zhao couldn’t help but murmur, "Forget it. First, I’ll change my Cultivation Technique and focus on practicing a few spells. Increasing my ability to protect myself is the correct path. Once my strength has advanced, many of these problems may solve themselves."
「The next day. The Library Pavilion.」
Dressed in the Profound Daoist Robe that signified his status as an Inner Sect Steward, Lu Zhao walked with a steady gait as he once again entered the familiar Bixia Sect Library Pavilion. Unlike previous visits when he had lingered on the first and second floors, this time he held his Token and proceeded directly to the more profound 3rd Layer.
The moment he stepped onto the 3rd Layer, the Token in his hand resonated subtly with the invisible Array enveloping the space. Lu Zhao knew it was the Array verifying his identity.
The 3rd Layer was much smaller than the second. Its layout was still orderly but felt more profound and tranquil. A Spiritual Pressure purer than that on the floors below permeated the air. The commingled scents of ancient scrolls and the passage of time inspired a sense of solemn reverence. His objective was crystal clear: he headed straight for the section where the Cultivation Techniques were stored.
His Divine Sense spread like invisible tentacles, sweeping over the exquisite Jade Scroll racks like a tide. Over a hundred Jade Scrolls, each containing one of the Sect’s treasured Middle-Grade Cultivation Techniques, appeared in his mind’s eye. The sheer depth of the Bixia Sect’s collection once again left Lu Zhao inwardly amazed. He quickly filtered through the results, locking his focus on the Water Attribute Cultivation Technique Jade Scrolls that suited him.
A moment later, he had a clear understanding of the names and characteristics of eighteen different Middle-Grade Water Attribute Cultivation Techniques.
He quickly eliminated six Sword Skills, as he was completely ignorant of the Sword Dao. Next, he discarded two techniques that focused heavily on Body Refining and placed extremely harsh demands on one’s physique. The Soft Water Bone Forging Technique he practiced was merely a Non-tiered Technique, and he had no intention of making Body Refining his primary path.
Of the remaining ten, he decisively rejected another two that pursued cultivation speed at the cost of power, resulting in a mediocre technique and a shallow foundation. In the dog-eat-dog Cultivation Realm, possessing a high Realm without the power to defend oneself simply made one a fat sheep for slaughter.
Next, his gaze swept over three more techniques. They were renowned for their power and ferocious attacks, but they came with extremely slow cultivation speeds and made it very difficult to break through bottlenecks. Choosing one of them would be like tying his own hands, sealing off the main road to the Golden Core Realm.
Finally, five Cultivation Technique Jade Scrolls remained, each striking a delicate balance between cultivation speed, magical power, and long-term potential. They hovered before Lu Zhao, emitting faint Spirit Lights of either deep blue or dark cyan.
He focused and examined them in detail:
Cold Nether True Essence Skill: Its defining trait was an inclination toward the concept of frigid cold. The Magical Power it condensed was like Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice, chilling one to the soul. It provided an excellent natural enhancement to Ice Magic, and any Defense Technique cast with it was exceptionally sturdy.
Canglang Layering Essence Skill: Its Magical Power circulated like an endless, layered tide, providing immense and lasting stamina. It excelled at battles of attrition and Water Element Escape Light techniques, and it also enhanced Healing Water Techniques.
Profound Water Transforming Marsh Skill: The attributes of its Magical Power focused on "trapping" and "defense." It excelled at creating fields to ensnare enemies, such as swamps or quicksand, as well as casting layered Water Curtain defenses. The Magical Power it condensed naturally possessed the ability to slow and weaken foes, while also deflecting and dissipating incoming force.
True Water Spirit Transformation Skill: The core essence of this technique was its ability to aid cultivation by Refining the myriad types of Spirit Water found in the world. By doing so, one could temper an Acquired Spirit Body known as the "Thousand Waters Spirit Body."
Once formed, this Spirit Body not only enhanced the power of various Water Attribute Magic and Secret Techniques, but it also granted special abilities based on the unique Traits of the Spirit Water used in its Refining. These could include controlling water currents, an affinity for Water Spirits, and more.
Most critically, a note on the Jade Scroll mentioned that if one could cultivate the Thousand Waters Spirit Body to the realm of Great Success, it could transform from Acquired to Innate, thereby improving the Cultivator’s natural aptitude! Of course, the scroll also issued a clear warning: extremely few Foundation Establishment Cultivators ever managed to cultivate this Spirit Body to Great Success.
Finally, there was the Azure Whale Cyan Sea Skill. The Magical Power cultivated through this method was world-renowned for being "profound and immense." A single drop of its Magical Power often contained more pure energy than two drops from other techniques of the same grade! It provided a stable and powerful enhancement to both Ice and Water Element magic, and its cultivation speed was among the fastest for a Middle-Grade Cultivation Technique.
Lu Zhao’s gaze lingered on the Jade Scrolls for the True Water Spirit Transformation Skill and the Azure Whale Cyan Sea Skill, his mind wavering with indecision.
The former offered limitless future potential; successfully cultivating the Thousand Waters Spirit Body would be an immeasurable boon to his future cultivation. The latter was a more stable and pragmatic choice, offering unparalleled Magical Power that would immediately boost his combat strength, and its cultivation speed was by no means slow.
The choice was difficult. ’I should ask the Cultivator on duty on the 3rd Layer,’ Lu Zhao decided after a moment’s thought. ’They’ve been stationed here for years; they might know something useful.’
Lu Zhao walked over to an old man sitting quietly behind a counter near the 3rd Layer’s entrance. The elder’s hair and beard were white as snow, his face was lean, and his eyes were lightly closed. His aura was perfectly harmonious, as if he had returned to a state of primal simplicity, and he exuded the transcendent air of an immortal. With a brief scan, Lu Zhao could tell the man’s cultivation was profound; he was at least a Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, perhaps even at Foundation Establishment Perfection.
Lu Zhao stepped forward and bowed. "This junior, Lu Zhao, has recently reached Foundation Establishment and has come to select a Main Cultivation Method. I am struggling to decide between two techniques and sincerely request Senior Brother’s guidance."
The old man’s eyelids lifted slightly. His gaze, as gentle and peaceful as a deep spring or an ancient pool, fell upon Lu Zhao. He nodded and replied, "Ah, a newly advanced junior brother. There’s no need for such ceremony. And which two Cultivation Techniques are giving you so much trouble?"
Lu Zhao clearly explained the essential characteristics of the True Water Spirit Transformation Skill and the Azure Whale Cyan Sea Skill, along with his own concerns about each.
The old man listened patiently, stroking the long beard on his chest. A flicker of approval flashed in his eyes. "Mm, you have a good eye, Junior Brother. Those two are indeed the cream of the crop among our sect’s Water-Attribute, Middle-Grade Cultivation Techniques. Each has its strengths, and it’s difficult to say which is definitively better. The crucial factor is your own long-term plan for your path of cultivation."
He paused, and seeing Lu Zhao’s focused and attentive expression, his tone grew even gentler. "However, the fact that you were able to pick these two from among so many techniques tells me that your Dao Heart must be firm and your ambitions far-reaching. As it happens, I know of a certain secret that might add some weight to your considerations."