Innate Immortal Seed

Dai Hui was a middle-aged man with a refined face and a scholarly air about him.

In contrast to the brutes of the Artifact Refining Hall, he seemed rather out of place.

Bai Zichen snuck a glance at Peng Chong and another Artifact Refining Hall Elder next to him. Both had dark, ruddy skin and thinning hair—the side effects of years spent dealing with Earth Fire.

Whether commissioning alchemy or artifact refining, if it wasn’t for a common market item but a special custom order, the client had to hand over the pill formula or refining technique.

On top of that, an extra fee in Spirit Stones was required.

This was how Alchemists and Artifact Refiners achieved their transcendent status among the Hundred Skills of Cultivation.

That was why the major powers did their best to train their own specialists, to avoid being at the mercy of others.

Upon returning to the Sect, Bai Zichen immediately found Peng Chong. He asked if he could get the Hall Master of the Artifact Refining Hall to personally refine a sword for him if he submitted a sword refining technique he had acquired to the Transmission Hall.

Unexpectedly, Peng Chong was very enthusiastic and immediately dragged him to the Artifact Refining Hall.

He explained that such matters didn’t necessarily have to go through the Transmission Hall. Anything related to artifact refining techniques could be handled by the Artifact Refining Hall directly.

The two Jade Scrolls were passed among the three men. They all agreed that the techniques could be accepted by the Artifact Refining Hall, adding to its collection.

Refining Flying Swords had always been a weak point for the Qingfeng Sect’s Artifact Refining Hall.

"Junior Brother Bai, your fortune is truly profound. To think you’ve obtained the refining techniques for two types of Tier Two Flying Swords..."

Dai Hui didn’t ask where Bai Zichen had gotten the Sword Refining Secret Method, whether by chance or from the Bai Family. To him, it didn’t matter.

As long as the end result was the Artifact Refining Hall gaining two new sword refining techniques, he didn’t care about the details.

"How about this? The Artifact Refining Hall will acquire these sword refining techniques for ten thousand Sect Contribution points... and as long as you gather the materials, I’ll personally refine a Flying Sword for you."

"That would be perfect. Senior Brother Dai, your Artifact Refining Skill is unparalleled in Black Mountain. It would be my honor."

After Bai Zichen finished speaking, he took out a Jade Box and pushed the Sacred Sound Bamboo over.

He had already found out that Dai Hui had successfully refined Top-Grade Spiritual Artifacts on multiple occasions.

Even when Master Ge Cang was Refining a Magical Treasure, he had sought out Dai Hui to assist.

Short of traveling thousands of miles to Zengguang Immortal City, Dai Hui was the best choice within the Black Mountain region.

"You’re certainly well-prepared, Junior Brother Bai."

Dai Hui was visibly surprised. With a wave of his hand, he drew the Sacred Sound Bamboo into his grasp and examined it carefully.

"The age and size are sufficient... but this will be my first time crafting a Tier Two Flying Sword. Give me a month to prepare. I need to fully comprehend the contents of these two secret techniques."

"In the meantime, I’ll also need to forge a few Tier One Flying Swords for practice... The entire sword refinement process should take about three to four months."

Dai Hui accepted the Sacred Sound Bamboo and gave his estimated timeframe.

"I’ll cover the cost of some of the supplementary materials. I’ll call for you when the sword is nearly complete, Junior Brother Bai."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Dai."

Bai Zichen’s eyes lit up, and he quickly cupped his hands in thanks.

"This Sword Refinement is also a chance for me to hone my skills and fill a gap in my expertise. It might even help me find the path to Tier Three, so there’s no need for thanks."

Dai Hui placed the two Jade Scrolls on his lap, closed his eyes, and seemed to fall into a state of contemplation.

The men didn’t disturb him further. They bowed slightly and took their leave.

"Senior Brother Peng, I have another use for these contribution points... It might take some time before I can pay you back what I owe."

Bai Zichen looked at the ten thousand contribution points transferred to his Elder Token and said with some embarrassment.

"Don’t worry about it. I have no use for contribution points in the next couple of years. But after the reclamation war, the Sect is bound to acquire a large haul of Demon Beast Materials. I plan to refine a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact and attempt to become a Tier Two Top-Grade Refiner... As long as you can pay me back by then, we’re good."

Peng Chong laughed heartily and spoke with an easygoing manner.

Bai Zichen nodded silently. ’I’ll definitely have enough contribution points by then.’

「Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.」

Bai Zichen sought out Su Lie, who had already taken on the post of Steward.

"Junior Martial Uncle Bai, if you needed something, you could have just sent Cai Heng or one of the others to fetch me. You shouldn’t have troubled yourself to come in person."

Su Lie was dressed in the standard robes of a Steward, his hair tied in a Daoist topknot. The change made him look several years younger, and the weary air he once had was gone.

He knew exactly where all this came from. With his meager cultivation, he should have been given the cold shoulder as a newcomer to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. Instead, he had been assigned the lucrative post of managing task distribution. It was all, of course, thanks to Junior Martial Uncle Bai, who was currently one of the most sought-after figures in the entire Qingfeng Sect.

A few Stewards knew that Su Lie had been released from his post as Bai Zichen’s personal attendant, so they were very accommodating to him in minor matters.

This was why Su Lie was even more deferential toward Bai Zichen, terrified of giving the impression that his new position as a Steward in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall had gone to his head.

"Go get me an order form. I need a batch of basic resources—a large quantity, suitable for Qi Refining Cultivators."

Bai Zichen chose a shady and secluded pavilion to sit down in.

’Getting the Tier Two Flying Sword sorted out is a huge weight off my shoulders.’

’Once Senior Brother Dai Hui successfully refines the sword, I won’t have to worry about an offensive Spiritual Artifact for a long time. A Tier Two Flying Sword is more than enough to see me through the Foundation Establishment Stage.’

’The reclamation war is imminent, and in a year, I’ll be rotated into the fray. I need to be better prepared.’

Bai Zichen had already made up his mind to use this last bit of time to cultivate the second layer of the Five Crystal Glaze Body.

’In the short term, this Body Refining Technique is the only thing that can give my power a significant boost.’

"Junior Martial Uncle Bai, here is the form you wanted. I’ve picked out several items with the largest stock in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall’s warehouse."

Su Lie trotted over and presented the form.

"One thousand pounds of Blood Ginseng Rice, fifty bottles of Qi Replenishing Pills, thirty bottles of Barrier-Breaking Pills, thirty Mid-Grade Magical Artifacts, and ten Top-Grade Magical Artifacts... That should do it. It should come out to exactly ten thousand contribution points."

Bai Zichen checked off items as he read, spending every last one of the ten thousand Sect Contribution points he had just earned from the Artifact Refining Hall.

"That’s so many things... What do you need them for?"

Su Lie was dumbfounded. Some Elders spent even more contribution points at once, but it was strange to exchange them all for basic resources that were only useful for the Qi Refining Stage.

"Quickly have people prepare everything, dispatch a Spirit Ship in my name, and send it to the Ink Bamboo Bai Family."

Bai Zichen took out his Elder Token, channeled his Magical Power, and stamped the inventory list, which glowed with a faint Spirit Light.

’Since I got the two Sword Refining Secret Techniques from the clan, it’s only right that the Sect Contribution points I received are converted into Cultivation Resources and returned to the Bai Family.’

’With my personality, I either keep it all or touch none of it. I can’t bring myself to skim anything off the top.’

’But my heart is set on the Great Dao. All I want is to grow stronger, leave Black Mountain, and journey to the mysterious Zengguang Immortal City everyone talks about.’

’Getting too entangled with the clan and being tied down to one place goes against my goals.’

’I’ve already managed to snag a free Sword Refinement out of this deal. I’m more than satisfied.’

"Alright, I’ll report it immediately... but right now the Hall’s top priority is preparing for the reclamation war, so it will probably be a bit slow. It might take a week before the goods can be shipped."

Su Lie didn’t dare to object. ’This Junior Martial Uncle Bai really cares for his clansmen,’ he thought.

This situation was not uncommon. Many Elders from poor backgrounds would give back to their clans after achieving success in their cultivation.

It was just that someone like Bai Zichen, giving such a large amount at once, was relatively rare.

Bai Zichen had also planned to visit Gu Xisheng, but he was told that Senior Brother Gu was incredibly busy, having been swamped for days on end.

Just outfitting the first wave of Qingfeng Sect cultivators for the campaign with Battle Array Magical Artifacts required him to coordinate between the Artifact Refining Hall and the Law Enforcement Hall, and he was running himself ragged.

Bai Zichen didn’t want to disturb him further, so he returned directly to Moon-Locking Pool.

...

’The Glazed Fire Jade and the Five Crystal Divine Iron are both Tier Five Spiritual Materials. Why is visualizing them together so much more difficult...’

The days spent immersed in cultivation always flew by.

Especially with a Body Refining Technique as esoteric as the Five Crystal Glaze Body, a single failed visualization attempt cost several days.

Then he had to wait for his Divine Sense to recover, analyze the reasons for his failure, and once he thought he’d found the trick to it, he would try again.

Two months passed, and Bai Zichen still hadn’t made any headway.

He had a feeling that cultivating the second layer of the Five Crystal Glaze Body wouldn’t be as smooth as the first.

’There seems to be an endless amount of Spiritual Qi constantly being exchanged with this Glazed Red Jade... What tier of Spirit Land would it take to produce Spiritual Qi this tangible?’

Relying on the strength of his Divine Sense—which was comparable to that of a Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator—and his stash of Tier Two Spirit Tea to speed up its recovery, Bai Zichen dove back into the visualization.

The image of the Glazed Red Jade was of a whole piece of Spiritual Material nearly as tall as a person. It was a faint crimson color, and one could see straight through it, without a single impurity.

In the sealed space where it was located, Spiritual Qi roiled, and one could even see distinct clumps of Spiritual Qi with the naked eye, hovering near the Glazed Red Jade.

Spiritual Qi continuously seeped into the Glazed Red Jade as more was simultaneously expelled, creating a spiritual qi tide that ebbed and flowed.

The Spiritual Qi in his Quiet Chamber at Moon-Locking Pool was nothing compared to what was depicted in the image—the difference was like that between heaven and earth.

’Even a Tier Four Spirit Land couldn’t produce a sight like this,’ Bai Zichen believed.

Moreover, he had a faint suspicion that this process of Spiritual Qi exchange both strengthened the quality of the Glazed Red Jade and increased the purity of the Spiritual Qi.

POP!

Bai Zichen’s Divine Sense reached its limit. The image shattered like a bubble, and he calmed his mind, emptying his Sea of Consciousness.

’Based on my last few attempts, I’ve finally noticed something different. The fundamental nature of the Glazed Red Jade is the polar opposite of the Five Crystal Divine Iron... Even though I’m using it for body refining, it’s actually completely unsuitable for crafting defensive Treasures.’

’Or rather, Refining it into a defensive Treasure would be a sacrilegious waste.’

According to Ancient Texts, the use of Glazed Fire Jade was to refine defensive Treasures and for use in Spiritual Puppets.

But Bai Zichen, based on his own visualization, came to a different conclusion.

’He had a vague realization that if the Glazed Fire Jade were refined into a defensive Treasure, it would just become an ordinary Tier Five Spiritual Material, losing what made it unique.’

’Given its unique interaction with Spiritual Qi, there must be a more fitting use for it.’

In reality, Bai Zichen had never even seen many Tier Three Spiritual Materials, let alone Tier Five Spiritual Materials which were nearly extinct in the Cultivation Realm.

But it was this sudden flash of insight that made him dive back into the visualization as soon as his Divine Sense recovered, lest he lose this mysterious, profound feeling.

Sure enough, this time he made significant progress.

In his Sea of Consciousness, a piece of Glazed Red Jade the size of a fingernail successfully coalesced!

It began to resonate with the Five Crystal Divine Iron on the other side of his Sea of Consciousness, the two of them pulsing alternately with light and shadow.

Unfortunately, after ten breaths’ time, the Glazed Red Jade dispersed. He had not yet reached the point where it could coalesce permanently.

But at least, he had taken a solid step forward.