A Hundred Spirit Stones, a High-grade Magic Tool (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

After a brief conversation, Second Master Qi Baicang accepted the fact that his junior had suddenly become a genuine Xiu Xian genius. That very evening, he personally prepared a table full of Spirit Food, and the two celebrated properly.

Afterward, Qi Chuan returned to his room. Once he had calmed down, he cultivated for several hours before lying down and sleeping soundly.

He rose rather late the next day. When Qi Chuan stepped out of his room and was preparing to head to the Spirit Field to get some work done, he saw a Flying Carpet speeding toward his family's Independent Peak from afar, with a figure standing upon it.

"Is someone looking for us?"

Qi Chuan was somewhat curious, unsure whether the visitor had come for him or Second Master.

Under Qi Chuan's watchful gaze, the Flying Carpet finally descended onto an open patch of ground nearby, and a figure stepped down from it.

The figure looked like an ordinary old man, his face carrying a faint smile as he looked at Qi Chuan.

Yet at the sight of him, Qi Chuan's heart tightened slightly. He had seen this man more than once in the Discussion Hall. The man's seat had always been beside Patriarch Qi Wuyou's, positioned at the center among the Elders. Rumor had it that he was the Qi Family's Grand Elder!

Within the Qi Family, apart from the Patriarch at Foundation Establishment and those Elders at the Late Qi Refining Stage, there was also one Grand Elder.

It was said that this Grand Elder's Cultivation Realm had already reached the Tenth Layer of Qi Refining—the Perfection of Qi Refining.

However, he had always kept a low profile, assisting the Patriarch with various affairs.

"Qi Chuan pays his respects to the Grand Elder!"

Qi Chuan immediately stepped forward and bowed.

At this moment, Second Master heard the commotion and came outside as well. Seeing the Grand Elder's arrival, he was startled and promptly stepped forward to pay his respects too.

"Mm..."

The Grand Elder nodded faintly, then looked toward Qi Chuan and smiled. "I have not come for any other reason. I have brought you a reward from the family."

"A family reward?"

Qi Chuan and Second Master exchanged a glance, both of them somewhat surprised. They had never heard anything about a reward.

"That is right. Qi Chuan, you secured the Inner Sect Quota allotted to our family by the Wind Moon Sect. In the future, when you enter the Wind Moon Sect to cultivate and compete against the sect's geniuses, the Qi Family naturally cannot leave you without even a little support." The Grand Elder smiled.

Then, he patted an inconspicuous storage pouch at his waist. A small gray dagger and an embroidered pouch floated into the air.

"This is a High-grade Magic Tool and one hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones, bestowed upon you by the family."

With a sweep of the Grand Elder's sleeve, the gray dagger and embroidered pouch drifted over before Qi Chuan.

Looking at the items before him, delight filled Qi Chuan's eyes.

He had not expected that winning the Inner Sect Quota would earn him a family reward, and such a generous one at that.

He was finally about to possess the first Magic Tool of his life—and it was even a High-grade Magic Tool.

There were also a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones. Going by his previous salary of two Low-grade Spirit Stones a year at the Early Qi Refining Stage, how many years would he have needed to save that much? Of course, he was now at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, in the Mid Qi Refining Stage, and his annual salary had risen to four Low-grade Spirit Stones.

"Thank you, Grand Elder!"

Qi Chuan immediately clasped his hands and accepted the Magic Tool and Spirit Stones.

Watching from the side, Second Master was happy for Qi Chuan, though a trace of wistfulness appeared in his eyes as well.

He also had a Magic Tool, but naturally it was no High-grade Magic Tool—merely an ordinary Low-grade Magic Tool. As for a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones, he had never possessed so many in his life.

This time, his junior's hands had suddenly become well supplied. After entering the Wind Moon Sect, Qi Chuan would no longer be constrained at every turn. He could be considered to have gained some foundation.

"There is one more matter."

Having bestowed the reward, the Grand Elder looked at Qi Chuan and said solemnly, "Once you enter the Wind Moon Sect, you will cultivate as an Inner Sect Disciple. However, above the Inner Sect Disciples are the True Disciples."

"Becoming a True Disciple gives one the chance to come into contact with a Foundation Establishment Pill, which can greatly increase the odds of successfully reaching Foundation Establishment. Thus, after joining the Inner Sect, you should cultivate diligently. If an opportunity arises, do your utmost to strive for True Disciple status."

"If you cannot become a True Disciple, you may also keep an eye out in the Inner Sect for news of Foundation Establishment Spirit Items. If there is any, you can notify the family."

Qi Chuan nodded. "Understood, Grand Elder. I will remember it."

Since there was a True Disciple status above the Inner Sect, he would naturally strive for it if the chance arose. What was more, True Disciples might have the opportunity to come into contact with a Foundation Establishment Pill. Once he successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, his Lifespan would double outright, allowing him to live for more than two hundred years.

As for Foundation Establishment Spirit Items, they were presumably somewhat inferior to Foundation Establishment Pills, substitutes for those fated to miss out on the pills.

After saying a few more words to Qi Chuan, the Grand Elder soon rode the Flying Carpet away.

As they watched the Flying Carpet disappear into the distance, longing appeared in the eyes of both Qi Chuan and Qi Baicang. This Flying Carpet was a Flying Magic Tool, even more expensive than ordinary Magic Tools.

"In two more months, the Wind Moon Sect will recruit new disciples. I will presumably head to the Wind Moon Sect then. I can use these two months to familiarize myself with this Dagger Magic Tool."

Qi Chuan stroked the gray Dagger Magic Tool in his palm as he pondered.

This was a High-grade Magic Tool, quite precious. Generally speaking, even Late Qi Refining Stage cultivators might not possess a High-grade Magic Tool if they were poor, and could only carry a Mid-grade Magic Tool for protection.

High-grade Magic Tools possessed considerable power.

"However, the Grand Elder gave me this Magic Tool without telling me its name. Since that is the case, I will name it myself. It shall be called... Flying Ash!"

"After all, this is my first Magic Tool. It needs a better meaning. Flying Ash means that all enemies who dare invade in the future will vanish into smoke and ash."

To manipulate a Magic Tool, one needed to master the Object Manipulation Technique.

Qi Chuan currently only knew Basic Five Elements Spells and had yet to learn the Object Manipulation Technique, so he needed to visit the family's Exchange Pavilion to exchange for it.

Thus, the next day, Qi Chuan arrived at the Exchange Pavilion and once again met the Exchange Pavilion Elder.

"What would you like to exchange for this time?"

Looking at Qi Chuan, the Exchange Pavilion Elder did not begrudge him a smile. Unlike before, Qi Chuan could now be considered a Foundation Establishment Seed of the Qi Family. The Elder could show him a little consideration, rather than treating him as merely an ordinary Family Disciple as before.

"I would like to exchange for an Object Manipulation Technique," Qi Chuan said directly.

"An Object Manipulation Technique? Are you planning to learn how to manipulate a Magic Tool?" The Exchange Pavilion Elder smiled upon hearing this. Evidently, he also knew that the family had bestowed a Magic Tool upon Qi Chuan.

"That is correct," Qi Chuan said.

"If that is the case, I suggest that you exchange for a copy of the family's Qi Refining Spell Compendium. It contains quite a few commonly used spells. Aside from the Object Manipulation Technique, there are also the Spirit Calming Technique, Wind Control Technique, Spirit Eye Technique, Freeze Technique, Quicksand Technique, Levitation Technique, Sound Transmission Technique, Invisibility Technique, and more. They are all very practical." The Exchange Pavilion Elder thought briefly before speaking.

"Is that so... Fine, then I'll take a copy of the Qi Refining Spell Compendium." Qi Chuan ultimately nodded in agreement.

His Fireball Technique and Water Arrow Technique had already reached the Major Accomplishment Stage, while his Golden Skin Technique, Earth Wall Technique, and Wood Vine Technique were also close to reaching the Major Accomplishment Stage.

Once these spells reached the Perfected Stage, breaking through to the Perfection Stage would require a great accumulation of time. It was not something that could be accomplished in a short while.

Therefore, he might as well learn some other spells.

After all, as a qualified Xiu Xian practitioner, he needed to master these commonly used spells as well. They had many uses in all the ordinary aspects of life.

The Qi Refining Spell Compendium cost ten Low-grade Spirit Stones.

After handing over ten Low-grade Spirit Stones, Qi Chuan soon received the Qi Refining Spell Compendium from the Exchange Pavilion Elder.

After briefly flipping through the neither thick nor thin Qi Refining Spell Compendium in his hands, Qi Chuan nodded slightly. Without dwelling on it further, he put it away.

After thinking for a moment, he added, "Oh, right, Elder, give me three Spirit Quenching Pills as well."

The Elixirs he had been using to assist his cultivation had already run out. It was time to replenish them.

Spirit Quenching Pills were Elixirs he had seen on the exchange list previously provided by the Exchange Pavilion Elder. They were suitable for consumption during the middle and later stages of Qi Refining, and their effects were quite good.

However, they were also rather expensive. One Spirit Quenching Pill required five Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Having just been given a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones, Qi Chuan could afford the Spirit Stones needed to buy Spirit Quenching Pills.

The reason he exchanged for only three was that Qi Chuan considered that, after entering the Wind Moon Sect's Inner Sect, he might come across better Elixirs.

There should only be two months left before he entered the Wind Moon Sect. These three Spirit Quenching Pills would merely serve as a transition. Afterward, Qi Chuan would seek better cultivation-assisting Elixirs within the Inner Sect.