Chapter 397 - 258: Vajra Bodhi, Hidden Demonic Qi
Chapter 397: Chapter 258: Vajra Bodhi, Hidden Demonic Qi
"Why so impatient?"
Lin Changheng’s lips twitched, but his words were sharp. "Mr. Wu, you’ve waited for so many years. A few more days shouldn’t be a problem, right?"
Wu Jiu chuckled. "When you don’t have something, waiting is easy. But once it’s in your grasp and you’re just one step away, it’s like a cat scratching at your heart—unbearable."
"But I’ve lost my composure. Allow me to order some more Spiritual Food and Wine for you to enjoy, Mr. Lin, as an apology."
Lin Changheng remained noncommittal. He watched as Wu Jiu summoned the palace-gowned Female Attendant waiting outside, ordered a heap of Spiritual Food and Wine, and tossed out Spirit Stones with great generosity.
After the Female Attendant left, Wu Jiu clicked his tongue. "I’m clearly the one paying this time. Why didn’t she give me that same look of reverence, admiration, and shining eyes she gave you last time?"
Lin Changheng couldn’t help but laugh.
’This old Daoist really holds a grudge.’
Last time, the Female Attendant had only smiled at him, ignoring the old Daoist. Wu Jiu had been stewing over it ever since. Now, even though their roles were reversed, her smile lacked the same admiration, which left the old man feeling rather jealous.
But the old Daoist was just all talk; he wouldn’t actually kill someone to vent his frustration. If he were that ruthless, Lin Changheng wouldn’t be cooperating with him in the slightest.
The two of them drank and feasted, and the atmosphere was quite pleasant.
They ate happily, drank happily, and their conversation was quite pleasant as well.
Lin Changheng took the opportunity to ask about the Bixiao Sect, its territories, and its history. Wu Jiu held nothing back, telling Lin Changheng everything he knew.
He even knew a surprising number of the Bixiao Sect’s secrets and revealed them all without reservation.
This gave Lin Changheng a much deeper understanding of the Sect.
Compared to the Purple Extreme Sect, the Bixiao Sect gave off the impression of a dynasty in its twilight years—corrupt, rigid, and rife with internal conflicts, infighting, and divergent interests.
The only reasons the Bixiao Sect hadn’t collapsed were the presence of a Core Formation Cultivator holding the fort and the Extreme South Palace’s demand for stability in the region.
...
「On the appointed day.」
Lin Changheng went directly to the Marketplace and rented a temporary cave abode to use as the site for refining the special Spiritual Material, with Wu Jiu waiting outside.
Of course, Lin Changheng wouldn’t let Wu Jiu watch over his shoulder; he would have to wait outside the Secluded Meditation Chamber.
It would be unreasonable to bar him from the premises entirely. After all, they had only just met and lacked trust; Lin Changheng could potentially run off with the Spiritual Materials.
But letting the man watch him work was even more out of the question. During the refining process, all his attention would be focused on Fire Control and the Spiritual Materials. Moreover, his Essence, Qi, and Spirit would be depleted, putting him in a vulnerable position.
So, after taking the Spiritual Material—about the size of two clenched fists—from Wu Jiu, Lin Changheng entered the Seclusion Room and lowered the ten-thousand-jin Dragon-Breaking Stone.
He then waved his sleeve and laid down a two-layered Array. Only then did he feel at ease.
His eyes then fell upon the Spiritual Material in his hand.
The object was a dull, matte golden-yellow, its surface covered in natural wood grain. Yet it possessed a cold, hard texture like metal. It felt surprisingly light in his hand, almost as if it were hollow, but that was not the case.
Sensing it carefully, he could detect a vast, yet impure and stagnant, reservoir of Wood Spirit Qi within, as if it were enveloped and clogged by countless impurities.
HISS... ’It’s actually this thing!’
Lin Changheng instantly made the connection.
The item Wu Jiu wanted him to refine was none other than Vajra Bodhi Wood, one of the Seven Divine Woods.
This wood was known for being indestructible, its texture far harder than refined iron, making it a top-tier material for refining Defensive Treasures.
But for that very reason, its internal structure was overly dense, making it difficult for Wood Spirit Qi to circulate. Furthermore, it had been contaminated by some kind of impurity over a long period, greatly diminishing its Spiritual nature, making it difficult to refine and preventing it from displaying its true potential.
’Just as that old Daoist said—the material is extraordinary, but it’s a pearl covered in dust.’
Lin Changheng’s fingertips brushed across the cold surface of the wood. Under the sweep of his Tri-color Divine Light, he could clearly "see" the blockages to the Spiritual Qi flow within, as well as the impurities clinging to the wood fibers like rust.
It was like thick, foul-smelling black sludge clogging a pond.
Vajra Bodhi Wood!
So this was the Treasure that had driven Wu Jiu to wait for a full thirty years?
It truly was a fine item. Though not large and currently contaminated, it was a great treasure nonetheless.
A flash of covetous desire to seize it for himself sparked in his mind, but he quickly suppressed it.
The fact that the man dared to hand it over for refining wasn’t just because of the constraints of a Daoist Oath; he surely had the strength to back up his confidence.
’But to think that Vajra Bodhi Wood exists in the Bixiao Sect’s territory?’
Lin Changheng immediately recalled a key point: one of the Bixiao Sect’s main industries was, undeniably, Spirit Wood.
Whether the Vajra Bodhi Wood was related to this, however, was impossible to know.
...
’Ordinary Earth Fire or True Fire would indeed be unable to affect it in the slightest, let alone refine and purify it. Only an Exotic Fire...’
He hesitated no longer. He sat down cross-legged, held his breath, and focused his mind.
A moment later, he opened his mouth and spat out a wisp of incredibly condensed, dark golden flame. The Red Sky Profound Flame floated out slowly, hovering above his palm and emitting a terrifyingly high temperature that caused the very space around it to warp slightly.
With a single thought, the wisp of Exotic Fire moved as if it were Spiritual, wrapping itself around the block of Vajra Bodhi Wood.
TCHH—!
The instant the Flame touched the wood, it didn’t immediately begin to burn. Instead, it let out a violent sound, like a red-hot poker being plunged into ice water!