'So that was how it was. Foundational spells couldn't be cultivated recklessly. They had to be combined, with the ability to form a divine ability taking priority.'
'The arrangement and combination of these spells, as well as the order of the tricks involved, were precisely the Daoist sects' secrets never passed on to outsiders.'
'Without an inheritance, a Rogue Cultivator who didn't understand the mysteries might fill all seventeen spell slots, only to discover that not a single divine ability could be formed. That would be a real disaster. By then, they might truly have no choice but to cripple their cultivation and start over. Otherwise, there would be no hope of advancing.'
'Besides that, the grade of the divine abilities formed, as well as how many divine abilities one could form, was also the greatest source of the disparity in combat power among Divine Ability Cultivators.'
With an ordinary inheritance, one could only combine and refine a single divine ability—and it would be low-grade.
With a superior inheritance, one could refine three or four divine abilities, each of astonishing power.
The difference in strength this represented was truly terrifying.
Zhong Shenxiu pondered secretly, feeling that he had gained a great deal.
As expected... pretending to be a Divine Ability expert was the right choice. No one would normally tell Su Daozhi such top-secret information. Otherwise, he would have walked into a dead end without even knowing why.
He pondered secretly and discovered that of the three Gang Sha Realm cultivators present, Daoist Linghe was deep in thought yet still carried an air of confidence. Clearly, he wasn't afraid of this. After all, with the Daoist Arts of the Cloud Mirror Sect, he had hope of reaching the divine ability stage and even forming a Golden Core.
Sword Wielder Lu surprisingly didn't look too frightened either. Perhaps the inheritance he had obtained already explained this.
Old Crow, on the other hand, was truly dumbstruck. Clearly, no one had told him about this before.
And he had already cultivated to the level of Swallowing Eight Yangs. He had completed more than half of the Gang Sha Realm and could be said to be nearly set in his ways.
As for crippling one's cultivation and starting over, that was the worst choice. Not to mention whether he would still have the opportunities, time, or Daoist Secret required...
Simply crippling his own Daoist Arts could cause fundamental damage to the body. After all, those streams of astral qi and Killing Intent had long since been refined into his body.
"Senior, save me! Senior, please save me!"
The paper crow that was Old Crow wailed incessantly, begging again and again.
"Too late, too late."
The White Bone Scholar's face was indifferent as he slowly shook his head. "Your foundation is already set. Unless you cripple everything and switch to my White Bone Dao Method, how could I save you? Even if you were willing to do that, I might not be willing to accept you as my disciple."
Old Crow couldn't help but fill with despair.
Flying Phoenix Nun glanced at the silent Zhong Shenxiu and suddenly said, "Actually, there is still some hope. Fellow Daoist's inheritance is crude and lacks a method for gathering divine abilities, but that doesn't mean all of Fellow Daoist's spells are useless... If you can find a divine ability that happens to match the Yin Sha Spell you already possess, then specially refine a Yang Gang Spell. Even if you can only form a single low-grade divine ability, you could still enter the divine ability realm. It's just that..."
Zhong Shenxiu shook his head, knowing what she had left unsaid.
How secret was a cultivator's fundamental spell? How could Old Crow be willing to reveal it publicly?
Besides that, whether he could find a suitable divine ability method was another major problem.
Unless Old Crow was a disciple of some great Daoist sect. The larger the sect, the more spells and divine abilities it had collected, and the greater the chance of making up for his shortcomings.
But if he came from such a great sect, he would never have fallen into this state.
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior. Thank you for your guidance."
Old Crow was grateful to the point of tears, yet filled with regret.
His path was already more than half fixed. He feared that he truly had no hope of forming a divine ability. If he had heard these words when he was young, things would absolutely never have reached this point.
Even if the art of folding and cutting paper was incredibly powerful, allowing him to run rampant through the Gang Sha Realm, so what?
Without becoming a Divine Ability Cultivator, a cultivator's lifespan barely changed. Once his years were up, he would still become nothing more than a handful of yellow earth.
"Little swordsman, what brings you here?"
After the White Bone Scholar finished speaking with a smile, he looked toward the Lu Clan Swordsman, clearly intending to clear the room.
Divine Ability experts naturally had their pride. Even Daoist Linghe, with the backing of his sect, was barely worth their notice, let alone a Rogue Cultivator.
Normally, they wouldn't even bother coming to the Black Mountain Gathering. They would simply devote themselves to secluded cultivation.
It was only because of Zhong Shenxiu that things had become so lively.
"I also have a request. I wish to ask a senior to help me travel to Poison Dragon Cave and hunt forty-nine Poison Pythons!"
The Lu Clan Swordsman spoke. He actually wasn't asking for Geng Jin Sha Qi. Perhaps he had already obtained it?
"The serpents in Poison Dragon Cave are mutated species, and Venerable Poison Dragon is there as well. He is also a Divine Ability expert and has refined a Poison Dragon Sword. He isn't someone to provoke."
Flying Phoenix Nun asked with interest, "Little swordsman, do you want to take the Poison Pythons for cultivation or artifact refinement? And what price can you pay for this?"
"How about a piece of Thousand Year Cold Iron?"
The Lu Clan Swordsman didn't lose his nerve. He replied, "This is an excellent material for refining flying swords. If you help me hunt the Poison Pythons, you might not even provoke Venerable Poison Dragon."
"Discuss it another time! You can leave."
The White Bone Scholar waved his hand as though driving away a fly.
The Lu Clan Swordsman's body stiffened. Then he fell silent, rose, and left.
"Heh heh, I thought he was a true Sword Cultivator—when a common man grew angry, blood would splash five paces away." The White Bone Scholar shook his head and sighed.
"Those who are too rigid break easily. I actually think highly of him. If he can obtain a Sword Cultivator manual, his future will be limitless." Flying Phoenix Nun pointed toward Old Crow with a beaming smile.
No matter how unwilling Old Crow was, he could only rise and take his leave.
"Young Master Shenxiu, shall the three of us speak privately?"
The White Bone Scholar said with a chuckle, completely ignoring Daoist Linghe beside him.
"I..."
Daoist Linghe grew anxious. "Senior hasn't answered this junior yet..."
"Sorry, I've always been used to roaming free and dislike being bound by sect rules..."
Zhong Shenxiu waved his hand.
If he could exchange some items for an inheritance, that would naturally be excellent. But joining the Cloud Mirror Sect for that, and being strapped to the same war chariot, would not be so good.
What he had gained today had already satisfied him greatly. He wouldn't be afraid of being cheated in the future either.
As for a cultivation inheritance? With the strength of a Divine Ability Cultivator, he might be able to obtain one through plunder—or even by directly killing someone and searching their soul.
"This junior takes his leave."
Daoist Linghe had a temper as well. His thoughts churned around a single sentence: Once I become a Divine Ability Cultivator too, I'll make sure you learn how formidable I am.
But he couldn't resist at this moment, so he left as well.
Seeing this, Flying Phoenix Nun released an artifact. It took the form of a Brocade Handkerchief, radiating multicolored light that transformed into a curtain of radiance and enveloped the three of them.
"Beneath this Five Cloud Brocade of Heavenly Flowers, we can speak freely. No one will be able to eavesdrop." Flying Phoenix Nun giggled.
"Indeed, the immortal maiden's methods are marvelous." The White Bone Scholar clapped his hands and laughed.
"May I ask why the two of you are being so cautious?" Zhong Shenxiu looked at the scene without the slightest unease and asked with a smile.
"There is naturally only one matter that could make Divine Ability Cultivators like us act so cautiously: how to form a Golden Core." Flying Phoenix Nun answered.
"Oh?"
Zhong Shenxiu narrowed his eyes slightly, as though they had released a flash of light.
In reality, as a fourth-tier professional, even if he obtained a Strange Object of Heaven and Earth that could assist with forming a core, he still couldn't advance to the fifth tier.
The systems simply didn't match!
"Have you ever heard of True Lord Dragon Tiger?"
The White Bone Scholar offered a hint.
"That first expert among Rogue Cultivators, the one only a step away from forming a core? Of course I've heard of him." Zhong Shenxiu nodded.
"This matter rests on him. The opportunity involved is absolutely enough for all of us to share. Fellow Daoist isn't the first person we've approached." The White Bone Scholar laughed heartily.
"So the two of you are working together." Zhong Shenxiu suddenly understood. "What are the details?"
"As the saying goes, one must not speak deeply with a shallow acquaintance. Let's discuss another deal first."
Flying Phoenix Nun said, "For example, the inheritance Fellow Daoist needs... Hee hee, I'm sure it won't disappoint you."
Before you continue