Chapter 443: Spirit Seed Enlightenment Art |
Clap, clap, clap!
Third Senior Brother Qin Ye applauded enthusiastically, his hearty laughter ringing out. “Junior Brother, if anyone dares bully you in the future, just say the word. Your Senior Brother will be the first to draw his blade for you.”
Second Senior Brother Zhou Yan offered a warm smile. “Junior Brother, since your talent in nurturing spirit plants is so exceptional, we must exchange insights often.”
Fourth Senior Brother Gu Qiao, a man of few words, simply offered a gruff “Mm” in greeting.
Fifth Senior Sister Mu Ning beamed with undisguised pride. “I am finally no longer the youngest!”
Eldest Senior Sister proved the most practical, stepping forward with a gift. “These are the seeds of rare spirit plants. You may try sowing them when spring arrives.”
Seeing this, the others quickly reached into their storage artifacts.
One offered ancient tomes on plant cultivation.
Another presented a wood-attribute Spirit Weapon.
In no time at all, Jiang Chen’s arms were overflowing with a rich harvest of treasures. He quickly bowed his head in gratitude. “Thank you, Senior Sisters and Senior Brothers!”
At this moment, their Master, Mu Ji, returned to his seat with a light chuckle. “Since you have already exchanged for an Earth-grade cultivation technique from Elder Mu, I shall bestow upon you an Earth-grade technique as a welcoming gift.”
Jiang Chen’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Master.”
Techniques were precisely what he lacked the most.
For his Metal Spirit Root, he possessed the high-grade Golden Blade Art.
For his Wood Spirit Root, he held the high-grade Spirit Finger, the high-grade Vine Bind, and the Earth-grade Four Seasons Scripture.
For his Fire Spirit Root, he had the high-grade Scorching Sun Finger.
For his Water Spirit Root, he commanded the Earth-grade Overturning Sea Seal.
But for his Earth Spirit Root, his repertoire remained entirely empty.
Mu Ji raised his hand and swept it through the air, summoning several beams of cyan light to float before him. “I have five Wood-attribute techniques and three Water-Wood dual-attribute techniques here.”
Green Sprout Breaks Earth Art.
Uses Wood-attribute Spirit Qi and Magic Power to stimulate spirit plant growth, drastically shortening their maturation time.
Ten Thousand Vines Spirit Locking Array.
Draws upon spirit vines and wild grasses within a hundred-zhang radius to form a natural formation, capable of trapping enemies and gathering ambient spirit energy.
Wood Vein Sound Transmission Art.
Uses Spirit Qi and Magic Power to commune with spirit plants or earth veins, allowing the caster to decipher the subtle fluctuations of life and extract hidden information.
Withering and Flourishing Spirit Transfer Hand.
One hand brings decay, the other brings bloom; it siphons the vitality of anything it touches to restore or enhance the caster’s own life force.
Spirit Seed Enlightenment Art.
Condenses a verdant glow at the fingertip to touch a spirit plant, guiding its internal essence to restructure and forcefully inducing mutation.
Nourishing Rain on a Thousand Sprouts Art.
Draws upon atmospheric moisture to conjure a spiritual downpour, irrigating vast expanses of spirit farms, doubling the growth rate of crops, and automatically mending any damage.
Water Jade Muscle Coagulation Art.
Uses Water-attribute Spirit Qi to nourish the flesh and Wood-attribute Spirit Qi to mend the meridians; it rapidly heals physical trauma and possesses miraculous restorative effects for Spirit Qi exhaustion.
Cold Wood River Locking Art.
Wood stimulates the growth of vines, Water condenses into frost; the fusion of the two can flash-freeze everything across a massive domain.
After reviewing the options, Jiang Chen did not hesitate. He decisively chose, “Spirit Seed Enlightenment Art!”
Mu Ji looked mildly surprised. “This technique?”
Jiang Chen thought for a moment before explaining, “This disciple previously learned the Spirit Finger, so I am particularly drawn to this path.”
Mu Ji nodded slightly. “In that case, take it.”
With a flick of his sleeve, the orb of cyan light drifted toward Jiang Chen and sank seamlessly into his brow.
Instantly, a torrent of profound information regarding the Spirit Seed Enlightenment Art flooded his mind. Because it was a complete Earth-grade technique, its intricacies were vast and complex.
However, for Jiang Chen-who had already mastered the Spirit Finger to its absolute peak-the underlying concepts were not entirely foreign. Regardless, he only needed to reach the Novice stage to begin.
With this, the formal apprenticeship ceremony was concluded.
Mu Ji then offered a solemn instruction. “In a few days, I will enter Secluded Cultivation to prepare for my breakthrough to the Soul Formation stage. In my absence, you must look after one another.”
“Yes, Master!”
Jiang Chen and his five martial siblings cupped their hands and bowed deeply.
The next moment, Mu Ji’s physical form blurred into the silhouette of an ancient tree. The cycle of withering, flourishing, life, and death played out across its bark in a fraction of a second. By the time their eyes adjusted, he had vanished entirely from the hall.
“Sixth Junior Brother, I heard you are only temporarily attached to the peak and do not plan to move up the mountain?”
“That is correct, Senior Brother.”
“But the mountain is so much better! The Spirit Qi is dense, and the resources are plentiful.”
“My duties tie me to the fields. I have no other choice.”
“It seems our Sixth Junior Brother carries a heavy sense of responsibility.”
With their Master gone, the atmosphere in the hall loosened considerably, and the group fell into casual chatter.
As the newest addition to their ranks, Jiang Chen found himself the center of their eager curiosity.
…
…
By the time Jiang Chen finally departed Green Wood Peak, half an hour had passed.
The overwhelming enthusiasm of his new Senior Sisters and Brothers had left him feeling slightly out of his depth.
Fortunately, the outcome of the visit was highly satisfactory.
Not only had he formally acknowledged a Master, but he had also acquired a coveted Earth-grade technique.
More importantly, the stipends afforded to core disciples were staggeringly generous.
Every month, the allowance of Mid-grade Spirit Stones alone exceeded a thousand pieces. The assortment of Pills and Spirit Talismans provided was not only vast in quantity but rich in variety.
Furthermore, these benefits scaled with one’s cultivation realm.
The higher the realm, the more lavish the rewards.
As a Foundation Establishment stage core disciple, Jiang Chen was entitled to one thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones, five hundred sect points, and a steady supply of talismans and pills.
Meanwhile, Eldest Senior Sister and the other Golden Core stage core disciples received up to six thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones and a thousand points, not even accounting for their supplementary rewards.
As he flew through the clouds, a thought suddenly struck Jiang Chen. Since I am already out, I might as well make a trip to Iron Blood Peak to check on Senior Brother Long.
Both Long Ao and Feng Lie were core disciples of Iron Blood Peak.
More importantly, they were both survivors of the devastating explosion at Mystic Heart City.
Adjusting his course, Jiang Chen accelerated, cutting a swift path toward the distant silhouette of Iron Blood Peak.
As he drew near, a massive, blood-red banner was the first thing to dominate his vision.
The fabric was tanned from an unrecognizable hide, dyed a deep, oxidized crimson that snapped and fluttered violently even in the absence of wind.
Embroidered across its surface was a single black-gold character-Break. The strokes were jagged and brutal, as if carved by the heavy blows of an axe, exuding an indomitable, piercing intent.
The moment he saw that banner, Jiang Chen knew he had arrived at Iron Blood Peak.
Sure enough, a colossal structure loomed ahead, stretching endlessly into the horizon. Upon closer inspection, the entire mountain resembled a heaven-piercing spear thrust violently into the earth.
The summit tore through the cloud layer, gleaming with a cold, unforgiving bluish-black luster. Its surface was rough and textured, resembling the rusted iron scabs left behind by a thousand bloody battlefields.
The peak was divided into seven distinct domains: Sharp Gold Cliff, Sky-Burning Valley, Cold Abyss Ravine, Withered Wood Forest, Mountain-Suppressing Fortress, Wind and Thunder Gorge, and the Mixed Spirit Domain.
Just as Jiang Chen prepared to cross the boundary, a lethal, razor-sharp intent locked onto him.
His Divine Sense swept outward, catching the gleam of a straight-backed saber. Wrapped in a howling gale, the blade cleaved toward him with the blinding speed of a lightning strike.
Jiang Chen remained entirely unmoved. He did not even entertain the thought of dodging, his expression placid as he continued his forward glide atop the Shattered Moon Flowing Frost.
A hairsbreadth before the steel could bite into his flesh, the saber abruptly halted its momentum. It spun gracefully in the air, circling him twice before hovering to a dead stop.
A heartbeat later, a figure materialized from the empty air just behind the hilt.
“Halt.”
“Who goes there?”
“Iron Blood Peak is restricted ground. None may enter uninvited!”
Jiang Chen brought the Shattered Moon Flowing Frost to a gentle halt. He calmly sized up the stranger before offering his introduction. “I am a core disciple of Green Wood Peak, the sole Cultivation Envoy, Jiang Chen.”
The man before him was exceptionally lean, yet it was not the frailty of starvation. It was a sharp, predatory leanness, defined by a clean and ruthless bone structure.
His features were cold and angular, his jawline sharp enough to cut glass.
He possessed a high, straight nose bridge and lips pressed so thin they were barely a trace of a line.
His jet-black hair whipped wildly in the mountain winds.
He wore a short martial jacket, the front lapels fastened tightly with two lapis lazuli buttons.
A wide sash bound his waist, from which a dark, unadorned wooden scabbard hung at his left hip.
His trousers matched the dark hue of his jacket, the cuffs bound tightly at the ankles to reveal a pair of Wind-Treading Boots.
He radiated an intense aura of detachment-not out of arrogance, but the restless detachment of a blade forever ready to be drawn and discarded.
Hearing Jiang Chen’s introduction, the man’s voice rang out with crisp authority. “I am a core disciple of Iron Blood Peak, and this year’s Peak Guardian. Ling Chenye!”
