Chapter 392 - 361: 9-Turn Spirit Condensing Skill
Chapter 392: Chapter 361: 9-Turn Spirit Condensing Skill
"Well done. I hope you’ll continue to work hard and live up to this gift from the heavens."
When Elder Nie presented Zhao Lin with his reward, his tone was one of rare praise.
"Since you have a talent for Magic, you should focus your efforts there. If you run into any difficulties, don’t hesitate to come find me."
Elder Wu added with a smile.
The two were astounded by the talent for Magic that Zhao Lin had displayed. They saw his great potential and believed that even if he never broke through to Foundation Establishment, he could still become a figure like Miao Kefa.
"You flatter me, Elders! The only reason I’ve managed this small achievement is thanks to your dedicated guidance, the excellent instruction of the institute head, and the generous teachings of the senior brothers from the Transmission Hall."
Zhao Lin’s expression showed no hint of pride as he spoke with utmost sincerity.
"Well said. A truly teachable student."
"Humble and patient—a talent worth nurturing."
Hearing this, Elders Wu and Nie couldn’t help but smile, feeling pleased.
The corners of Dou Wu and Gong Huaipeng’s mouths twitched. ’This guy’s mouth is even more impressive than his Magic!’ they thought.
And so, the magic competition came to an end.
At noon two days later, Zhao Lin arrived at the Transmission Hall.
"Elder Wu, I want to cultivate the Nine Revolutions God Condensing Skill."
After much deliberation, Zhao Lin had decided to cultivate this technique, which could expand his Divine Sense.
Most disciples of the Spirit Dao Institute only reached the Introductory or Proficient level in their Magic. For them, an attack range of thirty zhang was generally sufficient, as they lacked the power to be effective at greater distances.
But for Zhao Lin, who had achieved Mastery-level Magic, being limited to such a short attack range prevented him from unleashing his true power. When fighting higher-level cultivators, he had to rely on his superior speed to compensate.
Against a faster opponent, he would be a sitting duck.
The jade slip contained Lu Yuanxiu’s merit point exchange records. This Purple Mansion cultivator had also practiced the Nine Revolutions God Condensing Skill and had already reached the seventh revolution.
’Since I have to learn it sooner or later, the sooner the better.’
The Nine Revolutions God Condensing Skill was a Cultivation Technique, not a form of Magic. It required a long period of practice, and the Spirit Cultivation Map would be of no help.
"Have you thought this through?"
As if he had long expected it, Elder Wu wasn’t surprised in the slightest. He merely lifted his eyelids and posed the question to Zhao Lin.
"I’ve thought it through!"
Zhao Lin replied with conviction.
Elder Wu nodded. "Very well, I won’t stand in your way. You have a great talent for Magic, and it’s true that having a limited Divine Sense would hinder you."
"However, I must warn you: the Nine Revolutions God Condensing Skill consumes a massive amount of merit points and Spirit Stones. You may have over a thousand merit points now, but that’s not even enough to complete the first revolution."
Zhao Lin said in a solemn voice, "Thank you for the warning, Elder. I understand."
Elder Wu said no more. He took out a messenger paper crane, wrote a few words on it with a brush, and with a light flick, the crane flapped its wings and flew out of the Transmission Hall.
"Go to the Merit Hall to redeem the Cultivation Technique, then pick it up from the Archives."
"Thank you, Elder..."
Zhao Lin left the Spirit Dao Institute and hurried to the Merit Hall located on Yingchun Peak.
"You must be here to redeem the Cultivation Technique, Junior Brother? Elder Wu already sent word."
Before Zhao Lin could even state his purpose, Steward Hu deftly took out a Star Origin Brush, deducted five hundred merit points from his Body Stone, and noted the redemption of the first revolution of the Nine Revolutions God Condensing Skill.
As he left the Merit Hall, Zhao Lin made a point to glance at the western wall, where he saw that the Sheng family’s search notice was still posted.
His heart sank. ’Looks like the Sheng family hasn’t given up.’
The Cultivation Realm was different from the mortal world; there was no such thing as a perfect crime.
Zhao Lin had heard of two Secret Techniques that could be used to find someone across vast distances, even if that person’s body and soul had been utterly destroyed.
The first Secret Technique was called Bloodline Induction.
A telepathic connection often exists between people, especially close relatives, allowing them to subtly sense each other’s emotions through some unseen bond.
When one person faces a great crisis or immense pressure, the other will feel it as well.
This was why children could feel extreme anguish, anxiety, or even have nightmares when their parents fell gravely ill or died, even if they were far from home. The same held true in reverse.
Through Bloodline Induction, a close relative could summon the soul of the deceased, which would coalesce into a ball of memories and return to the living relative, allowing them to view the events leading up to the person’s death.
The second Secret Technique was Divination.
Everything in the world, all its myriad things and events, existed beneath the Celestial Dao.
Divination worked by observing the shifts in heavenly secrets to deduce the past and predict the future. It wasn’t some unfathomable superstition, but an obscure discipline among the many arts of cultivation.
Both of these methods could uncover the root cause of an event from nothing, without needing a single clue.
However, they both came at a great cost and might only yield a vague result.
’My assassination of Sheng Jinlong seemed flawless, but as long as the Sheng family was willing to pay the price, they could still find me.’
’In the end, strength is the only thing that truly matters.’
After a moment of contemplation, Zhao Lin strode out of the Merit Hall.
Arriving at the Archives, he explained his purpose to Steward Wang.
"You want to cultivate the Nine Revolutions God Condensing Skill?"
Steward Wang asked in surprise, "Young man, if I recall correctly, you’ve only been with the sect for a little over a year. How have you already earned five hundred merit points?"
"I completed a sect mission a few days ago. I got lucky and earned a few merit points."
Zhao Lin explained with a smile as he handed over his Body Stone.
"Luck can only get you so far; you still need skill."
Steward Wang checked it and, seeing the redemption was complete, adopted a serious expression. "This Cultivation Technique is restricted by the sect. Before you can practice it, you must swear a Dao oath. You’re aware of this, correct?"
"I am. The elder already informed me."
"Good. In that case, take a look at this first."
Steward Wang took out a sheet of gold foil from under his desk.
Zhao Lin took it and saw that it contained the wording of the Dao oath and instructions on how to swear it. After reading it through, he asked, "Do I swear the oath now?"