Chapter 223: A Completely Different Atmosphere and Yunzhi’s Seclusion
Chapter 223: Chapter 223: A Completely Different Atmosphere and Yunzhi’s Seclusion
Since this concerned the Sect’s refining of Foundation Establishment Pills,
Shi Yutong dared not delay. The moment she returned to the city, she went to her parents’ cultivation hall to report the matter to them in detail.
The silver-white hall was filled with an astonishing amount of Spiritual Qi.
Shi Yutong was saying something in a low voice, and in front of her, two figures sat cross-legged, silently listening.
After a moment, Shi Yutong finished her explanation and said helplessly, "That is Li Ping’s request. I didn’t know how to handle it, so I had no choice but to come back and ask for your opinion."
After hearing Shi Yutong’s account, Mu Yun Master frowned. "Borrow a Tier Three Spirit Vein to attempt Core Formation? Tong’Er, have you met Li Ping’s sister? Do you know her background?"
Shi Yutong slowly shook her head. "I only know that, like Li Ping, she is a Cultivator from the Western Wilderness. Her aptitude must be excellent. She’s younger than me, but her Cultivation level is higher."
"Younger than you, but with a higher cultivation level?" Qianxue Master, at his side, couldn’t hide her surprise.
Her own daughter possessed an Abnormal Spiritual Root and had consumed countless rare Spirit Medicines during her training. Yet, her Cultivation was still surpassed by a cultivator younger than herself.
She figured there were only two possibilities.
First, the female cultivator could be like Tong’Er, hailing from a prestigious sect and enjoying even greater resources in her cultivation than what she and her husband—two Core Formation Cultivators—could provide.
Second, the female cultivator’s aptitude was even greater than Tong’Er’s, which would explain why her cultivation speed surpassed her daughter’s.
Tong’Er had an Abnormal Spiritual Root. For someone to have better aptitude than her, Qianxue Master knew very well what that meant.
The female cultivator was very likely a Cultivator with a Celestial Spiritual Root—an extremely rare talent in the Cultivation Realm!
Celestial Spiritual Root Cultivators have no bottlenecks before Nascent Soul Formation, so their cultivation speed is naturally far beyond any other cultivator.
As Qianxue Master was lost in thought, Mu Yun Master spoke again. "Li Ping is a Tier Two Upper Grade Alchemist. Only a major Sect could produce someone like him. His sister is even more talented and has a higher Cultivation.
For them to come all the way from the Western Wilderness to Flying Snow City... they must have a purpose. It wasn’t just aimless wandering. Do you know what it is?"
"Purpose?" Shi Yutong was taken aback. She really hadn’t thought about that question.
Thinking about it carefully, it was true. A veteran Tier Two Upper Grade Alchemist like Li Ping could live very comfortably even in the Great Zhou. Why would he come to a bitter, cold, and barren place like the Far North for no reason?
After a moment of thought, her eyes suddenly lit up. "Father, I understand now! Since arriving in Flying Snow City, besides focusing on his Cultivation, Li Ping has been collecting materials for puppet refining. He’s also been asking about the Celestial Skill Sect’s Divine Sense Cultivation Technique and even asked for my help with it.
So, he must have come all the way to Flying Snow City for the Celestial Skill Sect’s Puppetry Technique and Divine Sense Cultivation Technique!"
As she spoke, Shi Yutong became more and more certain of her own speculation.
’That’s right, it all makes sense,’ she thought. ’Li Ping must have gone through the trouble of bringing his sister across the grasslands and deserts for the Celestial Skill Sect’s Divine Sense Cultivation Technique and Puppetry Technique!’
Besides that, she couldn’t think of anything else in the Land of the Far North that could attract an Alchemy Grandmaster.
Of course, what she didn’t know was that Li Ping’s arrival in the Land of the Far North was purely a coincidence.
He had an adaptable, go-with-the-flow personality, so once he arrived, he simply settled in.
"The Celestial Skill Sect’s Puppetry Technique and Divine Sense Cultivation Technique?" Mu Yun Master was a little surprised. "Isn’t he an Alchemy Master? How does he have time to study the Puppetry Technique?"
The Puppetry Technique is incredibly profound, considered an advanced skill of Artifact Refining, and its difficulty is comparable to that of Arrays.
He couldn’t understand just how talented a person must be to achieve great success in both puppetry and Alchemy at the same time.
Qianxue Master, at the side, smiled and said: "Brother Yun, you’re overthinking it. For him to have such achievements in Alchemy without neglecting his own Cultivation is already a sign of incredible talent. How could he possibly have the energy to study puppetry?"
She then added her own guess, "So, I believe it must be Li Ping’s sister who is studying the Puppetry Technique. He came to Flying Snow City to help her obtain an advanced technique. What a perfect couple they make."
Qianxue Master’s idea was quite romantic, revealing her own imaginative nature.
However, both Mu Yun Master and Shi Yutong found her guess quite plausible.
If a mortal would spend a fortune just to see a beauty smile, what was so strange about Li Ping traveling thousands of miles to Flying Snow City for his ’sister’?
Soon, the mother-daughter pair, Qianxue Master and Shi Yutong, were excitedly gossiping about Li Ping and Xiao Yunzhi’s relationship, their eyes sparkling with enough enthusiasm to write a million-word novel about it.
"Ahem..." Mu Yun Master cleared his throat, interrupting their gossip and bringing the discussion back on topic.
But it was clear from their expressions that they were far from finished with the subject.
"Since there don’t seem to be any major issues with Li Ping and his companion’s identities, and borrowing the Spirit Vein to attempt Core Formation won’t harm the vein itself," Mu Yun Master said solemnly, "then as fellow members of the Human Race, I agree to lend her the Tier Three Spirit Vein. However, this Spirit Vein belongs to the Sect, not to me. Therefore, they must pay a price for its use."
Since he was the Sect Leader, once he had spoken,
Qianxue Master and Shi Yutong naturally had no objections.
"As for the specific price..." Mu Yun Master mused for a moment. "If Li Ping’s sister successfully achieves Core Formation, she must aid Flying Snow City three times, free of charge, on the condition that the tasks are within her capabilities and do not endanger her own safety."
He did not mention the price for failing Core Formation.
Attempting to break through to Core Formation was no small matter. Failure could mean instant death at worst, or at best, a regression in one’s cultivation level and damage to one’s Origin.
In such a situation, how could one still have the ability to pay any price?
...
In the courtyard, the three of them sat around a stone table.
Since the matter concerned Xiao Yunzhi borrowing the Flying Snow Sect’s Tier Three Spirit Vein, Li Ping had specifically called her over so they could discuss it together with Shi Yutong.
"Aid them three times, free of charge?"
Li Ping was a little surprised to hear the terms Shi Yutong presented.
He was surprised not because the price was excessive, but because it was actually quite low.
Just three acts of service, and only on the condition that they wouldn’t endanger her and were within her capabilities.
If Xiao Yunzhi felt a task requested by the Flying Snow Sect threatened her life, she could simply refuse.
The terms were, to put it mildly, extremely generous.
Li Ping couldn’t help but develop a better impression of the Core Formation couple from the Flying Snow Sect.
The natural environment of the Land of the Far North is harsh, but the bonds between people are much stronger than in the Western Wilderness.
He guessed that because the environment in the Land of the Far North was so harsh and its resources so scarce, and because they had to face attacks from many ferocious Alien Races and Ice Sea Demon Beasts, human Cultivators could only survive by banding together for support. The selfish, lone-wolf types had probably all perished long ago.
This was likely why a culture so different from that of the Western Wilderness’s Cultivation Realm had ultimately formed.
...
Although Li Ping didn’t think the Flying Snow Sect’s request was excessive, the one attempting Core Formation was Xiao Yunzhi, and the one who had to fulfill the promise was also Xiao Yunzhi.
So after Shi Yutong finished speaking, his gaze fell on Xiao Yunzhi and he smiled and said, "Yunzhi, what do you think?"
Xiao Yunzhi nodded. "Brother Li, I accept Sect Leader Shi’s terms."
She also felt that aiding them three times was not an unreasonable request. The condition was well within her range of acceptance.
"Good, then it’s settled," Shi Yutong said with a smile.
But, perhaps it was just his imagination, Li Ping felt a strange, fleeting look in her eyes as she glanced at him and Xiao Yunzhi.
Since they had reached an agreement and Xiao Yunzhi was on the verge of attempting Core Formation,
the parties wasted no more time.
In front of Shi Yutong, Xiao Yunzhi swore a Heavenly Dao Oath, promising to aid Flying Snow City three times without compensation after she reached Core Formation.
After this was done, Shi Yutong led her to the Tier Three Spirit Vein within the city to begin her seclusion.
During this time, Shi Yutong carefully observed Li Ping’s expression, trying to see worry on his face.
But to her surprise, Li Ping’s expression remained perfectly calm from start to finish.
’Why isn’t he the least bit concerned about whether his dear sister succeeds or fails in her breakthrough?’ Shi Yutong thought with disappointment, realizing she’d lost a juicy tidbit to gossip about with her mother.
Of course Li Ping wasn’t worried.
Does a Celestial Spiritual Root Cultivator need to worry about attempting Core Formation?
What a joke!
After watching the two women depart, Li Ping returned to his room to continue his arduous cultivation.
He was very happy for Xiao Yunzhi about her breakthrough to Core Formation.
But if the one reaching Core Formation was himself, he would be even happier.
...
Li Ping had not cultivated for long before Shi Yutong came to his door again.
Her purpose for this visit was clear: she was here to ask Li Ping to begin refining the Foundation Establishment Pills.
Moreover, she had brought all the necessary materials for refining the Foundation Establishment Pills with her.
Helping the Flying Snow Sect refine Foundation Establishment Pills was something Li Ping had promised, so he naturally wouldn’t go back on his word.
He immediately led Shi Yutong into the Alchemy Room, took out his Pill Furnace, and began the alchemy process.
He had never refined a Foundation Establishment Pill before.
However, he had already refined them dozens of times in the Inheritance Illusion Realm and knew the process by heart.
Furthermore, with the blessing of the Tree of Inheritance, his success rate in alchemy was one hundred percent.
And so, half a month later, under Shi Yutong’s nervous gaze,
a rosy pill-glow pushed open the furnace lid, and waves of medicinal fragrance instantly filled the Alchemy Room.
"Is it ready?" Shi Yutong asked excitedly as the medicinal fragrance wafted into her nose.
The next moment,
Li Ping performed a spell, and ten pigeon-egg-sized pills flew out of the Pill Furnace in a streak of light, which he collected into a prepared Pill Bottle.
He then used his Magical Power to float the Pill Bottle in front of Shi Yutong, smiling and gesturing. "Sect Leader Shi, I was fortunate not to fail. Please inspect the Pills."
"Oh, yes, of course." At this point, Shi Yutong couldn’t be bothered with pleasantries.
Her Divine Sense swept into the Pill Bottle. Ten Foundation Establishment Pills lay quietly at the bottom, each one perfectly round with a rich, fragrant aroma.
Clearly, all ten of these Foundation Establishment Pills were of exceptional quality!
After her inspection, Shi Yutong’s face lit up with joy. "Brother Li, your alchemy skills are incredible. I am truly impressed."
"Mm," Li Ping acknowledged with a faint nod.
Then, he took out the second batch of materials and began refining again.
Other Alchemists would need to rest between sessions to recover their Magical Power and adjust their condition, but he had no such need.