Cultivation, Choosing Supreme Arts

After leaving the cafeteria, Bai Jing parted ways with Xu Shan.

Though Xu Shan was a young prodigy, he was also extremely diligent. Especially after receiving some advice from Bai Jing, he had become even more passionate about cultivation.

In his words, he wanted to make a thunderous debut and trample Chen Ping and the other beneath his feet.

Bai Jing, meanwhile, headed to the Pill Pavilion.

The blood cauldron condensed within his body had barely any qi and blood filling it. He needed to replenish a great amount of qi and blood.

Upon entering the Pill Pavilion, the older senior disciple was still reclining in his rocking chair with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep. Only the young senior disciple was busy at work.

"Junior Brother, do you still have Qi and Blood Pills?"

Bai Jing asked when he reached the counter.

"Yes, yes, yes. Ten Ascension Coins per bottle. How many bottles would Junior Brother like?" As the young senior disciple answered, he took several jade bottles from the counter and handed them to a disciple beside Bai Jing.

Bai Jing considered it, then said, "Five bottles."

"And five bottles of low-grade Qi Replenishing Pills," he added.

Over the past half month, he had used up all but one bottle of his Qi Replenishing Pills.

Moreover, of the roughly one hundred and fifty Ascension Coins he had, he was about to spend a full hundred at once.

Ascension Coins truly flowed away like water.

But if he wanted to raise his cultivation as soon as possible, there was no helping it.

"Sure thing!" The young senior disciple brightened. This counted as a major customer.

"Oh, Junior Brother, would you be interested in becoming a VIP of our shop?" he asked mysteriously.

"A VIP?" Bai Jing froze. Why did that sound so familiar?

He looked at the young senior disciple and asked, "What are the conditions?"

"As long as you spend over five hundred Ascension Coins in our shop, you'll receive a twenty percent discount! Spend a thousand, and you'll get forty percent off!"

"Is there no time limit?"

"Of course there is. Until the assessment ends." The young senior disciple glanced at him. This kid wasn't thinking of continuing to enjoy the discount after ascending the immortal mountain and going to the main shop, was he? As if that could happen.

"Then forget it." Bai Jing gave a bitter smile.

Clang!

He took the bundle from his waist and poured out a pile of exquisitely crafted Ascension Coins.

Then, after accepting ten medicine bottles, he left the Pill Pavilion.

"That's a hundred more Immortal Merit than last time!"

Above the clouds, Lin Changsheng checked his Immortal Merit token, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth.

At last, he would not have to settle for the guaranteed minimum anymore.

"Senior Brother Lin, the Immortal Merit has been issued. How was it?" A figure flashed over—it was Junior Brother Ma Wenze.

"Not bad."

"You must have received quite a lot of Immortal Merit. Bai Jing took first place once, after all." Seeing the smile Senior Brother Lin could not suppress, Ma Wenze felt somewhat envious. He added, "Among all of us, only you and Senior Brother Qin received the most Immortal Merit. People like Senior Disciple Yun and me can only get the guaranteed minimum."

"Only this once. In the final assessment, I'm afraid Qin Yan Sheng will be the only one left smiling," Lin Changsheng said.

Bai Jing had plenty of crafty tricks and had beaten Li Huai'an once through cleverness, but the final assessment depended on hard strength. There would likely be no more miracles. Besides, after suffering once, Li Huai'an would probably never allow Bai Jing to surpass him again.

For some reason, I keep feeling that this kid will bring me a surprise.

Lin Changsheng gazed at the youth before a thatched hut below and thought to himself.

In the blink of an eye, another half month passed.

Buzz!

Before the thatched cottage, Bai Jing sat cross-legged as the Minor Formless Technique began to circulate. Wisps of Morning Glow Spiritual Tide gathered toward him.

This was his daily compulsory practice, and he had never missed a day.

To him, the Talent Tree was the utmost priority.

"Phew..."

Not long after, Bai Jing drew in a deep breath and stopped meditating, completing his morning cultivation.

Then he returned indoors and began that day's training.

Crimson Blood Cauldron (62/100)

I can gain roughly three to four proficiency points each day. In less than another half month, I should be able to complete the advancement.

Bai Jing pondered.

Then he closed his eyes and examined the blood cauldron within.

At this moment, clusters of scorching air rose from the cauldron's surface, while surging crimson bloodwater churned within it.

After being compressed by the blood cauldron, qi and blood became bloodwater and accumulated inside.

Yet the bloodwater within had not filled the cauldron completely. It was still short by nearly half.

"As proficiency rises and the blood cauldron approaches the Azure Cauldron, its exterior has not changed in the slightest, but its interior seems to have become deeper."

Bai Jing remembered that after buying Blood Pills half a month ago, he had filled the blood cauldron with qi and blood.

But now, there was still a considerable amount missing before it could be filled.

The improvement in the blood cauldron's quality must have expanded the space within it.

He searched through the bedside cabinet and took out the jade bottle containing Blood Pills.

"Only one left?" Bai Jing opened the cap, only to discover that a single Blood Pill remained.

He shook his head and put the jade bottle back.

"Forget it. I'll deal with it after the blood cauldron rises another grade."

Bai Jing shook his head. For now, he was in no rush to fill the blood cauldron with qi and blood.

Next, he checked his Qi Replenishing Pills and found that he still had more than half remaining.

"These pills should last until the Sixth Stage is complete. I just don't know whether they'll be enough to break through to the Seventh Stage." He murmured, then closed his eyes and immersed himself in cultivation.

One morning more than ten days later.

Bai Jing, seated cross-legged on his bed, slowly opened his eyes.

"In the end, I still fell a little short." He sighed softly.

As of today, his Qi Replenishing Pills had been completely used up.

Unfortunately, his cultivation had not advanced another step. He was still just short of the Seventh Stage of the Qi and Blood Realm.

If he had one more bottle of Qi Replenishing Pills, he was confident he could complete the breakthrough within several days.

However, he no longer had spare Ascension Coins to buy Qi Replenishing Pills.

Bai Jing intended to use his remaining fifty-odd Ascension Coins to fill the Azure Cauldron!

Azure Cauldron (2/200)

After these days of bitter cultivation, he had completed the blood cauldron's transformation yesterday, turning it into a great cauldron gleaming with azure light.

"After the blood cauldron became an Azure Cauldron, the qi and blood it can store has increased by at least more than double! In other words, at the same realm, Azure Cauldron cultivators have greater explosive power than Blood Cauldron cultivators! They can definitely last longer too."

"In terms of strength, I'm no weaker than those Azure Cauldron geniuses now!!"

"And once this cauldron fully transforms into a Purple Gold Immortal Cauldron, just how terrifying will it be?"

He smiled, his face full of anticipation.

"Only..."

Bai Jing took out his remaining Ascension Coins, deeply troubled.

Resources, resources!

He had to take on missions to earn Ascension Coins!

Not only did he need to earn enough for cultivation, he also had to obtain one or two supreme arts for the final test.

The pressure truly weighed on him like a mountain.

That evening.

Bai Jing first went to the Pill Pavilion and directly bought five bottles of Blood Pills.

Then, accompanied by Xu Shan, he went to the Hall of Divine Communication.

Bai Jing would not blindly seek to earn Ascension Coins. He needed to see how many he required; otherwise, earning too many would simply be wasted effort.

"Brother Bai, I've been there once before. The most profound ones inside—the supreme arts you called the most expensive—cost five hundred Ascension Coins each. Are we going to learn something like that?" Xu Shan asked as they walked.

"Not necessarily." Bai Jing shook his head. "Five hundred Ascension Coins for one art—let alone us, how many people in this entire outpost can afford one?"

"Our target for supreme arts should be profound... expensive, but not too expensive. Between two hundred and three hundred Ascension Coins."

"Does the Hall of Divine Communication have supreme arts at that price?" Xu Shan thought for a moment, then nodded. "I think so."

Before long, the two arrived at the Hall of Divine Communication.

Inside the hall, people came and went, with disciples gathered in every area.

"There are quite a lot of people. There were barely any when I came last time," Xu Shan said, looking around.

"They seem to be geniuses like Brother Xu," Bai Jing said after surveying the hall as well.

"I'm not like them." Xu Shan snorted and lowered his voice. "After these people break through to the Seventh Stage of Qi and Blood, they come here to learn a supreme art. I heard they're all rushing to complete Level One missions. Their goal isn't the rating—they have their eyes on the rewards from Level One missions, intending to use those rewards to exchange for higher-level supreme arts."

"Completing a Level One mission at Seven-Stage difficulty rewards fifty Ascension Coins, Eight-Stage difficulty rewards one hundred, and Nine-Stage difficulty goes as high as three hundred. No wonder they're tempted. Even I'm tempted. Complete just a few, and life would be quite comfortable," Bai Jing said.

"But have they considered who can actually do it right now, other than Li Huai'an? Even if they only want the rewards, they still need the ability. If their boat capsizes, it won't simply mean mission failure—they could very well be eliminated." Xu Shan shook his head, disapproving of their approach.

Bai Jing said nothing. He looked at Xu Shan, feeling that the other's words and actions now somewhat resembled his own.

A moment later, the two arrived at the supreme arts section.

Following Bai Jing's suggestion, they began searching for supreme arts priced between two hundred and three hundred Ascension Coins.

"Myriad Willow Drifting Wind Palm."

"Gathering the exquisite essence of all palm arts and drawing upon the strengths of countless leg techniques, it may commune with divine spirits. Price: two hundred and twenty Ascension Coins."

Bai Jing picked up a manual, read its description, then put it down.

"Brother Bai, this supreme art suits you very well."

At that moment, Xu Shan approached with a manual in hand.

"Formless Fist!" Bai Jing looked at its name and said, "Is it related to the Minor Formless Technique?"

"Exactly. It only costs two hundred Ascension Coins." Xu Shan nodded. "If Brother Bai learns it, you might reach major mastery very quickly. It is absolutely compatible with you."

Yet Bai Jing shook his head. "Since it is related to the Minor Formless Technique, it must be the first choice for many disciples like me. Then I definitely cannot choose it."

Xu Shan's eyes lit up. "That makes sense!"

Afterward, the two continued selecting supreme arts they liked or found suitable.

In the end, Bai Jing found a supreme art he liked immensely: "Mountain River Arrow!"

"Condense the blood of the mind, gather an arrow of heaven and earth. One arrow can split mountains and rivers, sever sun and moon!"

"None of that is actually included."

"..." Bai Jing was somewhat speechless at that opening description.

He continued reading.

"To cultivate this method, one requires a hundred years of cultivation and must reach the minute realm of qi control. Only then can one command qi into arrows and slay grandmasters with a single arrow. Its greatest flaw is its exceedingly, exceedingly high requirement for inner force."

"Price: two hundred Ascension Coins."

"In the mundane world, this uses inner force. With qi and blood, I can cultivate it just the same—and qi and blood is precisely what I lack least right now!" Bai Jing laughed.

This was the supreme art he had been looking for.

Compared with close-quarters brawling, he preferred being a long-range archer. At the very least, when he sensed danger approaching, he would have a better position from which to flee.

"Mm, this is the one!" Without hesitation, Bai Jing made his decision.

"Brother Xu, have you chosen?" He walked to Xu Shan's side and asked.

"Not yet. I just feel like none of these supreme arts suit me." Xu Shan shook his head.

"It's fine. There are so many supreme arts to choose from—take your time. I'm heading to the formation section."

Xu Shan froze briefly, then nodded. Watching Bai Jing's retreating back, he murmured, "Brother Bai is truly steady!"

On the other side.

"This is the one—Star Array Basics!"

Not long after entering the formation section, Bai Jing found his target.

It was the advanced version of the Minor Star Array, the foundational volume of the Star Array.

"Upon entry, it possesses the power of the Seventh Stage of Qi and Blood. At minor mastery, it can kill Ninth-Stage experts; at major mastery, it can destroy Twelfth-Stage cultivators; at perfection, it rivals the Dao Platform Realm!"

"And it isn't expensive either, only one hundred and thirty Ascension Coins!" Bai Jing smiled faintly.

He had previously cultivated the Minor Star Array and was fairly familiar with this formation. It would probably be easier for him to practice.

Not long afterward.

On the other side, Xu Shan found a supreme art he favored. He directly paid the Ascension Coins and copied out a manual.

The two then left the Hall of Divine Communication.

"Brother Bai truly had foresight. I earned quite a few Ascension Coins with a full armor rating in the second assessment, and I spent another half month doing missions before this. Now, I don't need to spend more time earning Ascension Coins. I can simply cultivate in peace." Xu Shan held the copied manual, smiling broadly.

His cultivation was now at the Seventh Stage of Qi and Blood and close to completion. After breaking through again and cultivating his supreme art to major mastery, he could attempt the assessment missions!

"Alright, let's part here."

Before they had even left the inner district, Bai Jing spoke.

"You still have something to do?"

"Yes, I need to take missions and earn Ascension Coins!" Bai Jing revealed a helpless expression.

"Then I wish Brother Bai all the best." Xu Shan nodded.

Bai Jing then charged into the Ascension Tower and accepted thirteen missions of Fifth Stage difficulty in one go.

With his cultivation and strength having greatly improved, he naturally had far more confidence. His goal was to complete four to five missions a day!

The next day.

Outside the stronghold, accompanied by a violent roar, the Immortal Boat Bai Jing rode turned into a meteor and streaked toward the horizon.

Boom!

At the same time, the bell that heralded changes to the Golden Ranking rang out once more.

Beneath the enormous Golden Ranking stood a youth clad in brocade.

He looked expressionlessly at the sole name on the Golden Ranking.

"That should be enough, right?" Li Huai'an murmured to himself.

On the Golden Ranking:

Name: Li Huai'an

Missions Completed: Seventh Stage difficulty (10), Eighth Stage difficulty (5), Ninth Stage difficulty (2)

Total: 17

Rating: All A

This time, he had learned to be clever. Every mission he accepted was within Yunzhou, greatly saving time while also consuming quite a few of the missions available in Yunzhou.

Bai Jing presumably no longer had any chance of surpassing him.

Time flowed on once more.

Half a month later.

Inside the thatched cottage, Bai Jing's qi and blood churned, runes flickering in and out of sight.

As the Minor Formless Technique circulated without pause, his qi and blood surged violently, reaching a certain critical point.

Boom!

A muffled sound seemed to ring out. Bai Jing's aura abruptly soared, and his qi and blood boiled even more fiercely.

"Seventh Stage of Qi and Blood!"

He opened his eyes, a trace of excitement appearing on his face.

He had not expected that, upon returning to the stronghold to hand in his missions, his breakthrough would come as naturally as water flowing into a channel. He had broken through without the aid of a Qi Replenishing Pill.

Bai Jing let out a long breath, his expression returning to calm as he began consolidating his realm.

As time trickled away, his qi and blood finally settled before long.

"But I still need to keep doing missions."

After finishing his cultivation, Bai Jing counted the Ascension Coins he had earned during this period.

Two hundred Ascension Coins in total.

Then, without stopping for even a moment, he left the thatched cottage and set off on missions once again.