"As for the remaining six strikes of heavenly thunder, my elder brother procured them using a special secret treasure," Ling Ziwei explained. "I'm not entirely familiar with its specifics..."
"Allow me to elaborate, Fellow Daoist!" Ling Hua's voice echoed from outside the courtyard. He pushed open the gate, his long robe swaying behind him, and strode in, seating himself beside the pair.
"I humbly request Senior Ling's explanation," Wei Zhong said earnestly, clasping his hands in a respectful bow.
"You're Ziwei's friend, and I'm her elder brother. There's no need for such formality; simply call me Fellow Daoist." Without waiting for Wei Zhong's reply, Ling Hua began explaining the Seven-Colored Golden Bamboo Umbrella.
"I recovered this item from an ancient Immortal's Cave," Ling Hua said, retrieving the damaged Treasure Umbrella. "According to records, this magic tool is called the Seven-Colored Golden Bamboo Umbrella, a unique thunder-repelling artifact."
"Seven-Colored Golden Bamboo Umbrella... thunder-repelling?" Wei Zhong stared at the tattered umbrella. Though its shaft was partially charred, he could still vaguely discern its original yellowish-green hue, bearing little resemblance to golden bamboo.
Sensing Wei Zhong's confusion, Ling Hua clarified: "The reason you see the umbrella's shaft as yellowish-green, Fellow Daoist, is because the Golden Thunder Bamboo used in its refinement hadn't matured sufficiently."
"Golden Thunder Bamboo?" Wei Zhong had never heard of such a spiritual treasure before.
"That's right, Golden Thunder Bamboo. It's an extremely rare spiritual material naturally imbued with the power of thunder and lightning. It can be used to refine various magic tools, and this Seven-Colored Golden Bamboo Umbrella is one such example. Because of its innate lightning power, Golden Thunder Bamboo has a natural affinity for heavenly thunder, granting it its lightning-repelling properties."
Ling Hua continued, "The color of Golden Thunder Bamboo varies with its age. A century-old stalk is green, a millennium-old stalk is greenish-yellow, and after ten thousand years, the green hue completely fades, leaving the bamboo pure golden yellow."
He gestured to the Seven-Colored Golden Bamboo Umbrella on the table. "The Golden Thunder Bamboo used to refine this magic tool is only three thousand years old, making it a subpar specimen. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easily destroyed by a few strikes from a Core Formation Lightning Tribulation."
Wei Zhong glanced regretfully at the damaged Treasure Umbrella on the table, while Ling Hua produced a jade slip.
"What's this?" Wei Zhong asked, puzzled.
"It contains the refining technique for the Seven-Colored Golden Bamboo Umbrella," Ling Hua said calmly.
Wei Zhong was startled. "Fellow Daoist Ling, do you truly believe I can afford such a technique?"
"Haha, it's best if you can afford it, Fellow Daoist. If you're short on funds, consider it a gift from me," Ling Hua said, glancing sideways at Ling Ziwei beside him.
Wei Zhong sighed, then produced a jade bottle containing ten shimmering golden pills.
Ling Hua's heart skipped a beat. He snatched the bottle, uncorked it, and sniffed deeply. His eyes widened in astonishment as he looked up at Wei Zhong. "A Haoyuan Pill?"
"Precisely," Wei Zhong confirmed.
Ling Ziwei was equally surprised that Wei Zhong possessed such a Third-Tier Pill. "Did you refine this yourself, Fellow Daoist Wei?"
"Indeed," Wei Zhong nodded, his gaze drifting inward to his status panel:
Third-Tier Pill Refinement Technique (Water) - Proficient (78%)
After over a decade of effort, Wei Zhong had not only advanced his cultivation base to the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment but had also gained proficiency in Third-Tier Pill Refinement.
Although his skill level had dropped from Masterful to Proficient, it hadn't hindered his ability to refine Second-Tier Pills. Moreover, with his Proficient Third-Tier Pill Refinement Technique, he could now successfully refine certain Third-Tier Pills, including the Haoyuan Pill.
This spirit pill, used by Core Formation cultivators, not only enhanced spiritual energy but also aided in breaking through cultivation bottlenecks.
These Haoyuan Pills were incredibly expensive, each costing a thousand low-grade spirit stones. The bottle Wei Zhong presented contained ten pills, worth over ten thousand spirit stones—a substantial fortune.
The Ling Clan siblings were astonished by Wei Zhong's revelation. "We never imagined Fellow Daoist Wei had already become a Third-Tier Pill Refiner!"
The gulf between Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators was as vast as the distance between heaven and earth, and the gap between Second-Tier Pill Masters and Third-Tier Pill Refiners was equally immense.
Luochuan Prefecture was governed by a coalition of Core Formation powers, and Wei Zhong's status as a Third-Tier Pill Refiner meant he had essentially taken a half-step into the highest echelons of power. With this standing, he would command respect wherever he went, even from Core Formation cultivators.
"Is this bottle of pills sufficient?" Wei Zhong asked.
"More than enough!" Ling Hua replied, pushing the jade slip toward Wei Zhong before gratefully accepting the Spirit Pills. Having only recently achieved Core Formation, Ling Hua desperately needed these pills to refine his mana. He had no reason to refuse.
Wei Zhong took the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense. Inside was the complete refining technique for the Seven-Colored Golden Bamboo Umbrella.
"Golden Thunder Bamboo, Heavenly Silkworm Silk..." Wei Zhong sighed inwardly as he reviewed the unfamiliar spiritual materials. He stored the jade slip in his Grotto-Heaven.
"It seems refining this magic tool will be impossible for the time being," Wei Zhong thought. "I'll have to rely on the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild for these rare materials. Searching for them myself in a Secret Realm would be like looking for a needle in a haystack—a tremendous waste of time and effort."
"Brother Wei, are you satisfied with this?" Ling Hua asked.
Wei Zhong nodded. "Based on the records, this magic tool's power is indeed extraordinary. However, the spiritual materials required to refine this umbrella are far too precious."
"Haha, naturally. This treasure was originally designed to withstand the Nascent Soul Thunder Tribulation. Fellow Daoist, since you're only facing the Core Formation Lightning Tribulation, you only need to acquire some millennium-grade spiritual materials."
"But it's best to find Golden Thunder Bamboo that's at least several thousand years old. Otherwise, like my own umbrella—which failed during the Six Paths Thunder Tribulation—it'll become useless, and that would be quite embarrassing."
Wei Zhong glanced at the shattered Treasure Umbrella on the table, recalling the ninth bolt of Core Formation heavenly thunder.
This umbrella likely wouldn't have survived that final strike. I should prioritize finding ten-thousand-year-old spiritual materials.
Wei Zhong carefully chose his words. Having so readily received the magic tool's refinement method, he felt hesitant to press further.
Ling Hua sensed Wei Zhong's unspoken question. "Fellow Daoist Wei, are you curious about how I weathered the final two stages of the Thunder Tribulation?"
Wei Zhong nodded and clasped his hands in a respectful gesture. "I'm simply curious, Brother Ling. If you'd rather not disclose your methods, I won't press the matter."
Ling Hua waved dismissively. "For the eighth heavenly thunderbolt, I employed a unique secret technique from my cultivation method. Since your cultivation method differs from mine, this technique would be useless to you. As for the formation I used to withstand the ninth heavenly thunderbolt, it wouldn't be of much practical benefit to you either."
Ling Hua then glanced at Ling Ziwei beside him.
"My brother is right," Ling Ziwei confirmed. "That formation was a Tribulation Substitution Formation."
"A Tribulation Substitution Formation?" Wei Zhong's heart skipped a beat.
"Exactly. This type of formation allows others to collectively divert a portion or all of the Heavenly Tribulation's power from the one undergoing tribulation onto themselves. It requires a Third-Tier Formation Master to oversee the main formation, while the auxiliary formations must be manned by at least four Foundation Establishment cultivators and twelve Qi Refining cultivators. The Ling Clan met these requirements. The power of a Core Formation Heavenly Tribulation is so immense that even true Core Formation cultivators would hesitate to confront it directly. Imagine how much more dangerous it would be for Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining cultivators, who are far weaker than Core Formation experts."
"In this disastrous operation, all twelve Qi Refining cultivators from the Ling Clan who participated in the formation perished. Of the four Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, three died, and the sole survivor was left on the brink of death. As the formation's master, I myself sustained grievous injuries."
Wei Zhong's gaze sharpened.
No wonder the Ling Clan struggled so fiercely against external enemies. He had always wondered why a clan with such deep roots possessed so few Foundation Establishment cultivators. Now he understood: at least half their strength had been invested in this formation.
And Ling Ziwei...
"How is Immortal Maiden Ling's condition?" Wei Zhong asked, studying her face. He noticed her complexion was indeed paler than usual.
"Thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoist Wei. I've already taken medicinal pills and will fully recover with a few days of rest," she replied.
Despite her reassurance, Wei Zhong produced a jar of Second-Tier Azure Spirit Brew. "This spirit wine nourishes the body and aids in healing hidden injuries. Regular consumption should accelerate your recovery."
Ling Ziwei accepted the jar with a faint smile. "In that case, I won't stand on ceremony," she said.
After a brief conversation, the three attended the Core Formation Ceremony.
Representatives from various major powers gathered at the ceremony, presenting a diverse array of precious treasures to congratulate Ling Hua on his successful Core Formation.
During the banquet, Wei Zhong noticed Qing Ze. The man's complexion was rosy, and his injuries had largely healed. Wei Zhong wondered what benefits the Ling Clan had offered him, as Qing Ze spent the entire ceremony flattering Ling Hua.
After the banquet, Wei Zhong bid farewell to Ling Ziwei and departed with Qing Ze.
Aboard the Green Boat, Wei Zhong jokingly remarked, "Fellow Daoist, would you be willing to sell your Beast Taming Method?"
To his surprise, Qing Ze immediately tossed him a jade slip. "This is the True Seal Treasure Manual I use. If you can offer suitable spiritual treasures in exchange, feel free to take it."
Wei Zhong was utterly astonished. He had merely made a casual remark, yet Qing Ze had actually offered his most closely guarded secret technique.
Noticing Wei Zhong's stunned expression, Qing Ze asked, "Fellow Daoist Wei, do you think I'm trying to deceive you?"
Wei Zhong shook his head. "Not at all. This Daoist trusts that Fellow Daoist Qingze wouldn't resort to such tactics. I'm merely surprised by your willingness to part with it so readily."
"Haha, indeed, indeed!" Qing Ze laughed heartily, draining his cup of spirit wine. "Fellow Daoist Wei, don't overthink this. I simply wish to forge a connection with you.
During the Ling Clan's recent crisis, you were willing to lend a hand. I trust that if I ever find myself in trouble in the future, you won't stand idly by either.
Moreover, witnessing the Ling Clan's Core Formation ceremony has made me realize that survival in the Cultivation World requires either immense strength or reliable allies. If one lacks the former, they must find a powerful backer or cultivate close friendships.
To be frank, I've already joined the Ling Clan as their Guest Elder. And you, Fellow Daoist Wei, are precisely the kind of friend I was seeking."
Wei Zhong suddenly understood. No wonder Qing Ze had acted like a member of the Ling Clan during the ceremony—he had secretly aligned himself with them long ago.
"I'm undeserving of Fellow Daoist Qingze's trust," Wei Zhong replied, "but should you ever need assistance in the future, don't hesitate to ask. I won't refuse any reasonable request within my means."
"Haha, those were exactly the words I was hoping to hear!" Qing Ze exclaimed.
Wei Zhong produced a jade bottle containing two Haoyuan Pills he had refined himself. "Would these two Haoyuan Pills be sufficient in exchange for your technique?" he asked.
Although the Haoyuan Pill was a treasured elixir primarily for Core Formation cultivators, it could also be used by Foundation Establishment cultivators, albeit somewhat extravagantly.
Qing Ze was surprised that Wei Zhong had produced such a pill. "Fellow Daoist, did you refine this yourself?"
Wei Zhong shook his head. "Fellow Daoist Qingze, you flatter me. I'm merely approaching the realm of a Third-Tier Pill Refiner, so I acquired this pill for research."
Wei Zhong had no intention of revealing that he was already a Third-Tier Pill Refiner.
Qing Ze seemed slightly disappointed. "That's more than sufficient. Please, take the technique, Fellow Daoist."
Wei Zhong accepted the jade slip and scanned it with his divine sense, confirming its authenticity.
"Fellow Daoist Wei, you truly surpass the likes of Zhu Shen by leaps and bounds. If I ever need pills refined in the future, I'll certainly seek you out."
Wei Zhong raised his cup in a toast. "As you wish, Fellow Daoist. Just don't blame me if my refinement fails and I waste your Spirit Medicine."
"Haha..."
They clinked cups and drank.
As they conversed, Cloudglow Island came into view. Daoist Qingze departed, while Wei Zhong spent a few more days enjoying Xie Linghua's company before retreating to his Cultivation Chamber once more.
He retrieved the jade slip—the True Seal Treasure Manual he had acquired from Qing Ze.
To Wei Zhong's surprise, the technique wasn't purely a Beast Taming Method, but rather a method for manipulating divine sense.
In essence, it involved condensing one's divine sense into True Seals and imprinting them into spirit beasts to establish a contract and exert control.
There was no limit to the number of True Seals one could create. The stronger one's divine sense, the more seals they could forge, and consequently, the more spirit beasts they could contract.
With a sufficient number of True Seals, one could even achieve cross-tier contracts with spirit beasts by stacking multiple seals.
Wei Zhong couldn't help but think of the Third-Tier Spirit Monkey in the Dongting Secret Realm. Was it deliberately tempting me to subdue it?
He summoned Big Gold for a test. A nearly transparent True Seal materialized in his Sea of Consciousness and effortlessly entered Big Gold's mind.
Immediately, Wei Zhong felt a stronger connection with the spirit beast. He could even vaguely understand the meaning behind its chattering calls.
"Interesting," he mused. "The divine sense consumption doesn't seem excessive, and the expended energy replenishes over time.
With my current divine sense strength, I should be able to condense about six True Seals. I wonder how that compares to Qing Ze's capabilities."
Wei Zhong emerged from the Grotto-Heaven and tested the Nine-Colored Treasure Art several times, finally confirming its extraordinary effectiveness. It was now superior to his Beast Taming Art.
He casually released Big Gold from the Grotto-Heaven, patting its head. "Roam around this island, but don't stray too far." Then he returned to his cultivation.
Wei Zhong's cultivation base was nearing Late-Stage Foundation Establishment. He needed to push harder.
After two years of secluded cultivation, Wei Zhong emerged from the Grotto-Heaven with a grim expression.
Cultivation Base: Sixth Layer of Foundation Establishment (99%)
He had reached this stage eight months prior, but despite continued cultivation, there had been no progress toward Late-Stage Foundation Establishment.
Could it be that I still need to use that Second-Tier Breakthrough Pill?
He had initially avoided it, having heard that using such pills could destabilize one's foundation. Wei Zhong had hoped to break through through sheer accumulation of cultivation.
It seems I was overcautious. But this Hundred-Jun Heavy Water Spirit Body is truly underwhelming—trapping me at the mere threshold of Late-Stage Foundation Establishment.
Wei Zhong exhaled a long breath of stale air as Xie Linghua approached, her face radiant with a smile.
"Master, do you notice anything different about Ling'er today?" she asked, twirling before him in a crimson dress, her fingers delicately pinching the hem.
"You've reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining?" Wei Zhong exclaimed in astonishment. He grasped her wrist to verify, his surprise quickly turning to delight.
"Excellent, excellent! It seems you haven't wasted your time. Continue to cultivate diligently. I've already prepared a Foundation Establishment Pill for you. When you attempt Foundation Establishment, I'll personally oversee your breakthrough."
"Thank you, Master!" Xie Linghua leaned in and planted a sweet kiss on Wei Zhong's cheek.
Wei Zhong's heart fluttered. He swept her into his arms and carried her into the house. The monotony of cultivation could use a little... diversion.
The servants lowered their heads, pretending not to see, but Tang Yanhong dared to tease, "The Master and Madam are certainly in high spirits." As Xie Linghua's right-hand man, he was familiar enough with her to risk such banter.
"Hmph, Old Woman Tang," Zou Ruiyuan retorted, his black robe contrasting with his ruddy complexion, "if the Master hears your insolence, he might just tear out your tongue!" As head of security for Spirit Island, Zou Ruiyuan took his duties seriously.
During his time on Cloudglow Island, he had earned a substantial number of spirit stones. Combined with the spiritual treasures occasionally bestowed upon him by Wei Zhong, he had fully recovered from his previous injuries.
Deeply grateful to Wei Zhong, he immediately rebuked Tang Yanhong when he heard him teasing Wei Zhong and his companion.
Tang Yanhong, equally displeased by the Loose Cultivator's menacing aura, glared coldly in return.
Seeing the two were on the verge of a heated argument, Hu Zongfu, the overseer of the Spirit Field, intervened:
"Enough, enough, Fellow Daoists. Why work yourselves into such a frenzy over this?
Fellow Daoist Zou is right. Old Tang, you should refrain from gossiping about the Master in private.
Manager Xie might be kind enough to overlook it, but the Master is unlikely to be so lenient. If you value your position, you'd best hold your tongue."
Hu Zongfu's words seemed to have an effect. Tang Yanhong lowered his head and fell silent.
Feeling vindicated by Hu Zongfu's apparent support, Zou Ruiyuan's mood brightened:
"Brother Hu, didn't your clan recently produce a young prodigy? I recall you mentioning wanting to recommend him as the Master's disciple."
Hu Zongfu nodded. "Indeed, a child with a High-Grade Wood Spirit Root. But alas, he possesses all Five Elements Spirit Roots, making me fear the Master might disdain such unruly aptitude."
"Brother Hu, you jest. Any Core Formation sect would eagerly accept a disciple with a High-Grade Spirit Root."
"Of course, instead of sending him to a Core Formation sect, it would be far better to bring him here and have him become Master's disciple."
"Don't forget, Master is a renowned Second-Tier Pill Master, and the resources he can provide rival those offered by Core Formation sects."
Hu Zongfu nodded in agreement.
While a High-Grade Spirit Root would secure a core position in any Core Formation sect, these organizations are vast and rife with internal factions.
Without strong backing, my family's descendant could easily face forced allegiance or suppression upon entering such a sect. It would be far wiser to have him pledge loyalty to Master.
Especially since Master hasn't taken any disciples yet...
Wei Zhong paid no heed to the discussion outside, preoccupied with Xie Linghua inside. Lost in pleasure, he had no interest in eavesdropping on his subordinates' conversation.
As long as they remained loyal, Wei Zhong cared little about their private talk—unless he happened to overhear something displeasing.
For the next month, Wei Zhong abandoned cultivation and instead indulged in leisurely travels with Xie Linghua, thoroughly enjoying their time together.
Wei Zhong then flew to Moonrise City on his sword, his primary objective being to acquire a Thousand Spirit Water Stone.
He had already experienced the effects of the Hundred-Jun Heavy Water Spirit Body, which had trapped him at the minor bottleneck of Late-Stage Foundation Establishment for nearly a year. He could only imagine the difficulty of overcoming the Core Formation bottleneck.
Upon entering the Cloud Gathering Pavilion, he happened to encounter Manager Xu Xuan. The two brewed tea and engaged in conversation.
"Fellow Daoist, your timing is unfortunate," Xu Xuan said. "The last few Thousand Spirit Water Stones we had in stock were recently purchased."
Moreover, the exchange interface for Guest Elders had consistently shown zero Thousand Spirit Water Stones available.
Wei Zhong bought some spiritual treasures and magic tools, intending to leave.
Suddenly, Xu Xuan suggested, "Fellow Daoist, why not try posting a mission?"
"A mission?" Wei Zhong asked, puzzled.
Xu Xuan explained, "Besides the missions the Chamber of Commerce issues to its members, Guest Elders can also post their own missions for specific needs. These missions tend to be specialized and typically reward Contribution Points."
Wei Zhong glanced at his Token, where the number 3,989 glowed. Over more than a decade, he had accumulated a substantial amount of Contribution Points through his Wine Recipe.
"With a slight premium," Xu Xuan continued, "you can use your Contribution Points to acquire this spiritual treasure from another Fellow Daoist."
After all, not everyone could gather enough Thousand Spirit Water Stones to forge a Spirit Body. Most cultivators simply acquired them whenever they encountered these rare stones, resulting in many Fellow Daoists possessing only a few scattered pieces.
"Oh? Then Fellow Daoist Xu Xuan, what price per stone do you think I should offer in Contribution Points?"
"Although we sell Thousand Spirit Water Stones for one thousand spirit stones apiece, their true value far exceeds that. Besides being used to forge Heavy Water Spirit Bodies, they're also precious materials for refining Third-Tier Magic Artifacts. I suggest you try offering fifteen Contribution Points per stone."
"Hiss!"
Even Wei Zhong, a veritable "millionaire" in Contribution Points, couldn't help but gasp at the price.
That's more than half a Foundation Establishment Pill!
But after considering his own subpar aptitude, Wei Zhong gritted his teeth and agreed.
...
Within a month, Wei Zhong had acquired over fifty Thousand Spirit Water Stones, at the cost of more than eight hundred Contribution Points.
Inside his Grotto-Heaven, Wei Zhong emerged from his meditative state with a long sigh. A month of relaxation had done nothing to improve his mental state. He still couldn't break through the bottleneck of the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment realm, and Wei Zhong had no intention of waiting any longer.
Wei Zhong retrieved a Second-Tier Breakthrough Pill, tilted his head back, and swallowed it. He then activated the Spring and Autumn Water Refinement Manual to refine the pill's medicinal power.
The once-impenetrable bottleneck seemed to loosen slightly under the pill's influence.
Wei Zhong's heart leaped with joy. He took another large gulp of Jade Nectar and charged toward the bottleneck once more.
Three days later, Wei Zhong opened his eyes, his face beaming with delight.
His gaze immediately locked onto his status panel:
Name: Wei Zhong
Cultivation Base: Late-Stage Foundation Establishment (1%)
Lifespan: 227/305
The bottleneck to Late-Stage Foundation Establishment had finally shattered. Wei Zhong now possessed true Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.
Moreover, this breakthrough had granted him a full thirty years of lifespan, alleviating his anxieties about mortality.
"Haha, with the Triple Time Dao Technique, reaching Late Core Formation is inevitable. In Luochuan Prefecture, I'll be among the elite, practically invincible!"
He could now finally make his move against the Third-Tier Spirit Monkey.
Secret Art: True Seal Treasure Manual - Proficient (21%)
In just a few years, Wei Zhong had progressed from novice to proficient in this technique. The benefits were twofold: the divine sense required to condense True Seals had decreased, and his maximum capacity had increased to seven.
Furthermore, the strength of his True Seals had improved, greatly bolstering his confidence in confronting the Spirit Monkey.