Preparing to Depart

Chapter 49: Preparing to Depart

Guan Yan's words left Ning Ri speechless. He awkwardly changed the subject, saying, "Haha… Right, Elder Guan, what brings you here today?"

"Oh…" Guan Yan chuckled, "Actually, you might not know this, but I'm here every day."

Ning Ri: "."

"So, I should be the one asking you," Guan Yan said. "Patriarch Ning, what business do you have at Heavenly Heart Pavilion today?"

Ning Ri replied, "This disciple wishes to exchange for some heavenly treasures and earthly materials, um… preferably of equivalent value to my own."

As soon as he said this, Guan Yan immediately understood, a look of realization dawning on his face. "You… you're going somewhere, aren't you?"

Ning Ri blinked, then nodded with an air of profound wisdom, "Yes, that's right."

"I understand."

Guan Yan nodded, then flicked his finger. A soft light shimmered, a soundproofing spell that would block out all sound from inside and outside. He explained, "Patriarch Ning, it's best not to let other disciples know about your intention to go to the Yin De Sect."

Ning Ri was taken aback. "Why is that?"

Could it be that he's worried about disciples from the Heaven Defying Sect following me to harm me?

He thought the Heaven Defying Sect didn't have this kind of internal strife common in traditional cultivation…

Guan Yan explained, "You are currently the youngest Patriarch in the Heaven Defying Sect, and the most powerful being to ever become a Patriarch so quickly."

"The Outer Sect disciples are inexperienced and might become fanatically devoted to you. If they were to try and emulate you out of admiration, that would be problematic."

Guan Yan's flattery left even the powerful Patriarch Ning speechless. "Uh…"

Guan Yan continued, "We still have no way of knowing how the Yin De Sect measures one's 'Life Price,' but based on the situations of others, the Yin De Sect will likely set your Life Price at the cost of a typical peak Qi Refining cultivator."

"However, given your special constitution and your ability to reach peak Qi Refining, I imagine this will significantly increase your Life Price."

Ning Ri: "Huh? My aptitude is so poor, and it still increases the price?"

Guan Yan said seriously, "It is precisely because your aptitude is poor yet you can reach peak Qi Refining that it proves you are an extraordinary individual. You possess an indomitable will, exceptional wisdom, outstanding perseverance, and tenacious resolve, all of which have enabled you to reach this point."

"These positive virtues, deeply rooted in human nature and impossible to ignore, have shone with admirable brilliance throughout history, in all times and places. They should also be a part of your 'Life Price.'"

As he spoke these words, Guan Yan's face was open and honest, his expression devoid of any pretense, speaking entirely from the heart.

Ning Ri was somewhat dazed by the flattery, but he still remembered to complain, "Huh?"

"So, if that's the case, good people will have their price increased when they join the Yin De Sect?"

He then added a disclaimer, "I'm not saying I'm a good person; I'm just an ordinary person."

Guan Yan ignored his disclaimer and replied, "That should be the case. After all, it is the Yin De Sect; targeting good people is quite normal."

Ning Ri sighed, "Alright then…"

Perhaps it would be better to reset my attributes and join the Yin De Sect…

Then, under Guan Yan's guidance, Ning Ri entered and headed towards the mining area.

Since Guan Yan was aware that Ning Ri had inscribed a 'Brain Storage' on his artifact, which allowed the artifact spirit to grow a brain, he instructed Ning Ri to refine his own artifact to hand over to the Yin De Sect.

This way, even if it wasn't worth his Life Price, the Yin De Sect wouldn't kill him; at most, they would allow anomalies to invade Ning Ri.

However, Guan Yan also emphasized that Patriarch Ning possessed exceptional wisdom and keen insight, and mere anomalies would be no match for him…

Ning Ri walked away fearfully, feeling as though Guan Yan was practicing a Heaven-Defying Method of flattering the Heavenly Dao, constantly praising it until it exploded.

If you find this book enjoyable, please remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.

After Ning Ri finished selecting the ores and was about to pay, he discovered that he had only completed Outer Sect missions for the Lotus Pavilion and had very few Contribution Points. Helplessly, he opened his Disciple Token and accepted two Outer Sect missions for Heavenly Heart Pavilion to earn some Contribution Points.

The missions involved sorting ores onto shelves and sorting medicinal ingredients onto shelves.

These tasks would be troublesome for other Outer Sect disciples, as they lacked Ning Ri's knowledge base. However, for Ning Ri, they were not difficult. After two hours of work, having earned Contribution Points, he left Heavenly Heart Pavilion with the ores.

At the Heaven Defying Sect, renting a Refining Furnace required Contribution Points, and the price was much cheaper than external artifact refining locations like Craftsmanship Tower. However, when Ning Ri inquired about the price on his Disciple Token, he found that the token informed him Mo Cuidao had already set up his access privileges.

As long as he presented his Disciple Token, he could use the Refining Furnace for free!

Ning Ri was deeply touched. The bandit elder was truly a good person.

After several hours of work, Ning Ri finished refining his artifact and happily admired his new magic treasure.

It was a long saber with a pitch-black hilt and a gleaming, sharp blade.

A peak Qi Refining magic treasure!

The blade of this saber was a mortal blade coated with spiritual energy. While it appeared from the outside that the blade's power had reached peak Qi Refining, in reality, it only possessed the power of a mortal blade when swung.

The true essence of this entire saber lay in its hilt, which had several small holes. These holes could spray pre-charged ground fire attacks without anyone noticing; this was the saber's strongest attack, which Ning Ri named 'Extreme Thought Holes.'

As for the mortal blade part, it was intended for Ning Ri to practice his blade techniques with during normal times.

Ning Ri had tried using the saber's blade to practice the 'Mortal Blade Technique,' but the 'Mortal Blade Technique' on his panel hadn't gained a single skill point.

This was why he had deliberately made his saber this way!

Ning Ri temporarily named this saber 'Morning Light.'

Firstly, 'Morning Light' symbolized the sunrise, the rising sun, and vibrant energy, signifying Ning Ri's own name, 'Ri' (sun), which was also rising step by step. Secondly, he had frequently used 'Morning Light' stationery when he was buried in study in his previous life, and now that he had to practice his blade frequently, he could also use 'Morning Light.'

If he hadn't taken 'Morning Light' to buy his life, he would have kept it for himself.

Pillars of Cultivation Pavilion.

Ning Ri finally found Zhou Hai, intending to ask for his opinion before heading to the Yin De Sect.

When Zhou Hai saw Ning Ri, he spoke while a line of text appeared on his face: "It seems you don't need to worry about your Golden Core. Will you have twenty-three Golden Cores in your Dantian then?"

This was clearly referring to the Wonderful Pill Workshop incident.

Ning Ri chuckled dryly, "Elder Zhou, please don't tease this disciple. I plan to explore the Yin De Sect. Do you have any advice?"

Seeing that Ning Ri was here for serious matters, Zhou Hai cleared his throat and turned off the text display. "My apologies."

"Do you plan to go to the Yin De Sect after Foundation Establishment or before?"

It was clear that Zhou Hai was going to help Ning Ri strategize.

Ning Ri couldn't help but ponder for a moment before saying, "If I wanted to go after becoming a mortal, what do you think I would need as my 'life price'?"

Zhou Hai: "?"

Seeing his silence, Ning Ri chimed in with a timely, joking laugh, "Haha, Elder Zhou, I'm just kidding. Actually, I was thinking of going in my current state."

Ning Ri felt that it was fine to talk nonsense at the Heaven Defying Sect, which was why he first said he wanted to enter as a mortal.

But at this moment, Zhou Hai suddenly smiled with understanding, "Hahaha, Patriarch Ning..."

"I don't think you were kidding."