Chapter 2: Purple Qi Space, Gray Floating Island
Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Purple Qi Space, Gray Floating Island
After taking stock of the changes in his body, Li Ping began to contemplate his future.
Based on the information he had gathered, the cultivation levels were divided into five major realms: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and the legendary Divinity Transformation.
Each successful breakthrough to a new realm not only granted one all sorts of incredible abilities but also doubled one’s lifespan.
If it were possible, Li Ping naturally wanted to become a Core Formation Cultivator, or even a Nascent Soul Cultivator. But that wasn’t something he could achieve just by wishing for it.
It was just like before he transmigrated; he had dreamed of becoming the richest man in the world, but in the end, he could only resign himself to the daily grind of a regular job.
As far as Li Ping knew, in the vast region containing Fenglan Immortal City, Fenglan Master was the only Core Formation Cultivator. And among the dozens of nations, large and small, in the entire Western Wilderness, not every one had a Core Formation Cultivator presiding over it.
As for Nascent Soul Cultivators—who possessed Great Divine Abilities, capable of traversing thousands of miles in spirit or moving mountains and filling seas—the entire Cultivation Realm of the Western Wilderness wasn’t even sure if such experts existed.
Li Ping had always been self-aware. Although he was a transmigrator, he didn’t have a cheat system or golden finger.
’Relying on the advantage of my powerful soul and Divine Sense, managing to reach Foundation Establishment with my Three Spirit Roots aptitude is already a blessing from the heavens. How could I dare to hope for even higher realms?’
He was already very satisfied with reaching Foundation Establishment.
’For me, after reaching Foundation Establishment, to keep thinking about cultivating to a higher realm and wasting precious time on it... that would be taking the wrong path.’
’I’ve spent half my life cultivating. Now, I should just give up on my fantasies and enjoy life.’
’Like marrying a few beautiful Fairies, having some healthy sons, and propagating my family line.’
...
After a moment of contemplation, Li Ping shook his head. "I’ll deal with the rest later. I rented this cave residence for two months, and it only took a little over one to reach Foundation Establishment. I can use the remaining ten-plus days to consolidate my realm."
Without delay, Li Ping began to circulate the Golden Sword Skill.
This gold-element Basic Skill only contained the Qi Refining portion. It was effectively useless after Foundation Establishment. Li Ping couldn’t advance his Cultivation by practicing it now; he could only use it to stabilize his new realm.
’After reaching Foundation Establishment, my top priority is to find a new Cultivation Technique,’ Li Ping thought to himself.
’Even if I’m not hoping to become a Core Formation Cultivator, the power of a High-tier Cultivation Technique is much greater than that of a Basic Skill.’
’If I don’t want to be the weakest Foundation Establishment Cultivator, I’ll have to practice a High-tier Cultivation Technique.’
As Li Ping circulated the technique, a thread of faint golden Magical Power coursed through the meridians of his entire body, gradually stabilizing his aura. But just as this thread of Magical Power reached the meridians in his head—
BOOM!
A vast clap of thunder resounded in Li Ping’s sea of consciousness, leaving him completely stunned.
In that stunned moment, it was as if a new world was being forged in his sea of consciousness. A boundless space, filled with swirling purple energy, opened up at an incredible speed.
"This is?"
Before Li Ping could even react, as his consciousness watched, a gray island slowly materialized from the void amidst the purple energy. On this island grew a straight, three-foot-tall sapling.
The small tree had a regal purple bark and was wreathed in faint layers of purple mist. It was clearly no ordinary thing.
And at the base of this small tree, a tiny, nascent branch was slowly sprouting...
...
After a long while, Li Ping opened his eyes again, his gaze filled with shock and excitement.
’Just a moment ago, I was lamenting how I, a transmigrator, didn’t have a cheat system. I can’t believe it showed up just like that!’
According to the information transmitted into his soul, the space filled with purple chaotic energy that had opened in his sea of consciousness was his golden finger, his cheat.
He wasn’t sure where the cheat came from.
But the way to use it had already been laid out clearly in his mind.
The three-foot-tall purple tree on the small gray island was named the "Tree of Legacy."
As its name suggested, the "Tree of Legacy" represented the legacies of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation.
According to the information from the tree, as long as he provided it with legacies, or items imbued with the lifeblood of Cultivator artisans, along with a corresponding amount of Spirit Stones and Spiritual Materials as nourishment...
...he could directly absorb the knowledge within and master the corresponding level of that cultivation art!
Li Ping couldn’t help but marvel at how ridiculously overpowered the "Tree of Legacy" was.
He knew just how difficult it was to learn the Hundred Arts of Cultivation.
Even for skills that were relatively common among Low-tier Cultivators and easier to get into, such as Spirit Plant cultivation or Medicinal Collection.
Even with a master’s guidance, achieving any real proficiency was extremely difficult and often required decades of painstaking study.
This was even more true for high-end professions like Alchemy and Artifact Refining. To even get started, one needed not only the right talent but also had to spend an unimaginable amount of Spiritual Materials on practice. It could take decades, or even centuries, of research to achieve even a modest level of success.
Of course, the most difficult of all was the Array Dao. While it didn’t consume vast resources, the talent it demanded from a Cultivator was absurdly high.
Without enough talent, even a Nascent Soul Cultivator was unlikely to make any significant achievements.
As for how to determine if a Cultivator had talent for the Array Dao, the method was quite simple.
Just place a finger under the Cultivator’s nostrils. If they are breathing, then they have no talent for the Array Dao. This method is 99% accurate.
And if they’re not breathing... well, then the question of whether they have talent for the Array Dao becomes moot.
...
In short, even with the right talent, a proper legacy, and a master’s guidance, learning any of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation required an enormous amount of time and research to achieve any success.
A Qi Refining Cultivator could spend their entire life poring over texts until their hair turned white and still struggle to reach Tier Two in a single art!
But Li Ping was different. As long as he provided the "Tree of Legacy" with the proper nourishment, he could, with its assistance, instantly master a legacy and achieve a profound level in a given art.
’This shouldn’t be called ’legacy,’ it should be called ’copying’! It’s directly copying the experience of the cultivators who left these legacies behind!’
Li Ping mused silently as his consciousness turned back to the Tree of Legacy on the gray, floating island.
The Tree of Legacy was currently only three feet tall, and aside from a single, thin branch at its base, the rest of it was completely bare.
His consciousness fell upon that small branch. [Talisman Maker: Tier One Middle Grade].
After stepping onto the path of cultivation, to earn resources, Li Ping had considered his advantage—a Divine Sense 50% stronger than his peers—and chosen to become a Talisman Maker.
Unfortunately, despite the advantage of his strong Divine Sense, he had absolutely no talent for the art. After more than twenty years of study, he had only barely managed to become a Tier One Middle Grade Talisman Maker, capable of crafting Tier One Middle Grade Talismans!
And now, that very skill had been recorded by the Tree of Legacy.
’A strong Divine Sense, and it still took me over twenty years of research just to become a Tier One Middle Grade Talisman Maker.’
’But with the Tree of Legacy, it might only take an instant for me to become a Tier Two, or even a Tier Three Talisman Maker!’
’And not just Talisman Making! With enough nourishment, I could reach a high level in Alchemy, Artifact Refining, Beast Taming, Arrays... all of them!’
Li Ping’s eyes filled with excitement. "If I can master multiple arts at Tier Two or higher, maybe I can go even further on my cultivation path."
At this thought, he wished he could leave his seclusion immediately to search for Tier Two legacies or items left behind by Tier Two or higher artisans.
A moment later, however, he forced himself to calm down and continued to study the Purple Qi Space in his sea of consciousness.
As Li Ping sorted through the rest of the information that had flooded his mind, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
According to the information, the Purple Qi Space possessed more than just the Tree of Legacy.
In the future, each time he broke through a major realm, a new island would form in the Purple Qi Space, and it would grant him heaven-defying abilities just as powerful as the Tree of Legacy!
"Core Formation... No... Eternal life is within my grasp!"
...
「Over ten days passed in the blink of an eye.」
The faint blue light enveloping the small courtyard dissipated. Then, with a CREAK, Li Ping, dressed in a blue Daoist robe, pushed the door open with a smile and walked out.
Leaving the courtyard, Li Ping headed straight for the cave residence management office to return his Token.
The old steward who managed the cultivator residences saw Li Ping approaching from a distance. Sensing the Spiritual Pressure emanating from him, the steward hurriedly trotted out to greet him, respectfully calling out, "He Erbo congratulates Senior on successfully reaching Foundation Establishment! The Great Dao is within your reach!"
Li Ping beamed at the man, his mood soaring.
Before he had reached Foundation Establishment, when he’d come to rent the residence, this very same old steward had been arrogant and dismissive.
Back then, he had been just a Loose Cultivator, while the other man was a steward dispatched by the Cyan Dragon Mountain sect. Although their Cultivation levels were similar—and in a real fight, this Steward He might not have even been Li Ping’s match—he had been backed by the Cyan Dragon Mountain sect and its Core Formation Master, and so had utterly disdained Li Ping.
But now that Li Ping had successfully reached Foundation Establishment, he was among the highest-ranking people in the Immortal City, second only to Fenglan Master himself.
Even though Li Ping was still a Loose Cultivator, Steward He would no longer dare to slight him. On the contrary, he now had to address him respectfully as "Senior."
’In the end, when making your way in the Cultivation Realm, background is secondary. Your own strength is what truly matters.’
’Whoever is stronger has a louder voice, and they become the revered ’Senior’.’
Although he was secretly pleased by Steward He’s swift change from arrogance to subservience, Li Ping, as a "Senior," had no intention of holding a grudge. He didn’t tease the man with lines like, "You know, I kind of preferred your old rebellious attitude. How about you bring it back?"
He glanced at the steward and tossed the residence Token. "The rental period is up. I’ve come to return the Token. Here, take it."
Steward He scrambled to catch the Token, still fawning. "Senior jests! What rental period? With Senior’s status, you may cultivate here for as long as you please."
Li Ping smiled. "I rented the residence to reach Foundation Establishment. Now that I’ve succeeded, I no longer have need of it. Well, since you have the Token, our business is concluded."
With that, he turned to leave.
But just then, Steward He called out to him. "Senior, please wait! When Senior achieved Foundation Establishment over ten days ago, Martial Uncle Meng Qingyi of Cyan Dragon Mountain learned of it. He instructed this old one to notify him the very moment Senior came out of seclusion."
Steward He gave a fawning smile. "I have just informed Martial Uncle Meng. He ordered me to make sure you wait for a moment, Senior. He will be here shortly."
"Meng Qingyi? He wants to see me?" Li Ping’s expression flickered. Then he smiled. "In that case, I’ll wait."
Hearing Li Ping agree to wait, Steward He’s face lit up with delight. "Senior, please follow me! You can have a cup of tea while you wait for Martial Uncle Meng’s arrival!"