Half-Year Deadline

Half an hour later, Number Thirteen, Southwest Street.

At the stone table before the courtyard, Bai Jing and Lin Changsheng sat facing each other.

"First, congratulations, Junior Brother. You've finally broken through to the Dao Platform Realm." Lin Changsheng smiled.

"I was the one holding everyone back. Among the newcomers, I'm practically one of the last to break through."

Bai Jing gave a bitter smile.

Speaking of which, he had spent extra time raising the Golden Cauldron's grade to Purple Gold. Otherwise, he would have been confident of breaking through more than a month ago.

Of course, condensing a Purple Gold immortal foundation was of utmost importance. Breaking through a little later did not matter.

"Junior Brother, did you know you nearly joined Array Dao Mountain back then?" Lin Changsheng's words made Bai Jing pause slightly, and he could not help asking in surprise, "Oh?"

"During the assessment, Junior Brother displayed remarkable talent in the Array Dao. Array Dao Mountain had long set its sights on you. But I, your Senior Brother, also thought highly of you, so I had Senior Disciple Yun personally go to Array Dao Mountain and place you under my Spiritual Elegance Peak. You don't mind, do you?"

"Of course not. Being able to enter Shangqing Mountain is already an immense immortal fortune. Besides, all of you Senior Brothers here have never treated me poorly in the slightest." Bai Jing immediately shook his head.

In his original plans, entering one of the three great immortal mountains had been the best choice. Array Dao Mountain had not been among his goals.

Of course, after learning of the power of array cultivators, he had also developed some thoughts about the path of formations.

But Spiritual Elegance Peak was not lacking in the least. Whatever the other immortal mountains had, this place would not lack either.

Lin Changsheng nodded. "Rest assured, Junior Brother. Whatever Array Dao Mountain possesses, you will have as well. You will not be inferior to those Array Dao disciples in any respect."

As he spoke, he spread open his palm. Spiritual light flickered within it, and then three booklets appeared out of thin air.

Lin Changsheng handed the top booklet to Bai Jing. "This is Star Array Formation. You previously went from Minor Star Array to cultivating Star Array Basics, so I imagine you also wished to practice the Star Array and the most powerful Heavenly Cycle Star Array."

At the sight of the booklet, Bai Jing was delighted. He had long admired this formation, but recently he had been busy with his path of spiritual cultivation, and his Array Dao cultivation had been delayed considerably.

Next, Lin Changsheng handed over the other two booklets: Geng Metal Array Basics and Yi Wood Array Basics.

His expression turned grave. "The Star Array is related to the Heavenly Cycle Star Array and is an immensely destructive formation. Whether to cultivate it or not depends entirely on an array cultivator's preference. But these other two foundational formations are ones you must study and cultivate with care. It would be best if you attain entry, or even mastery, within half a year. This concerns your future Dao path."

"Oh?" Bai Jing cried out in surprise again, his face full of confusion.

Yet Lin Changsheng merely smiled and shook his head. "I do not know much about the path of formations. You only need to follow your Senior Brother's instructions and cultivate diligently. Half a year from now, someone will give you the answer."

"Half a year from now?"

"That's right. Half a year from now, an elder of Array Dao Mountain who has attained great accomplishment in the Array Dao will emerge from seclusion. He will teach and resolve doubts for new array cultivators like yourselves, as well as some Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters about to condense their Array Dao Inner Cores. It will count as a rare Seeking Dao Gathering for array cultivators."

"At that time, an Array Dao Great Power will expound the Dao and give lectures, guiding you on how to condense an Array Dao Inner Core."

"Senior Brother, how long will this Seeking Dao Gathering last?" Bai Jing asked.

"Seeking Dao Gatherings have traditionally lasted anywhere from several months to a year. They may also last two years or even longer."

Hearing this answer, he could not help but ponder in secret.

Since he had chosen the path of formations, there was no reason to abandon it halfway.

So he had to attend the Seeking Dao Gathering.

But the path of spiritual cultivation was also of paramount importance, with even less reason for delay.

Especially since he possessed a Purple Gold immortal foundation and the potential of a True Saint. He still needed to obtain the other two Heaven Scrolls.

Bai Jing thought for a moment, his gaze turning toward Lin Changsheng. He wanted to speak, yet hesitated.

"Is there something else, Junior Brother?" Seeing the hesitation in his expression, Lin Changsheng asked.

In the end, Bai Jing sighed inwardly and shook his head. "Nothing."

He believed that if he revealed his Purple Gold Dao Platform now, the two Heaven Scrolls would be delivered shortly afterward.

But on this cruel road of cultivation, one always had to keep a trump card in reserve.

Everyone saw him as an Array Dao genius, so he would continue playing that role.

His Purple Gold peerless aptitude would serve as the foundation for preserving his life!

After Lin Changsheng took his leave, Bai Jing sat cross-legged in the cultivation chamber, considering his cultivation plans for the next half year.

His priority would be raising his cultivation!

Next would be acquiring the Heaven Scrolls.

Since he had chosen not to reveal his talent, exchanging Immortal Merit was the only path to obtaining the other two Heaven Scrolls.

There were many ways to earn Immortal Merit in Shangqing Mountain, and completing missions was the choice of many.

For disciples with masters, earning Immortal Merit through missions was indeed a good option. But for Bai Jing, it would inevitably waste too much time.

Or he could become a spiritual plant farmer and grow fields for the immortal sect, earning Immortal Merit every month.

Of course, there was another way to earn Immortal Merit: pill refinement, array setting, talisman crafting, and artifact refinement!

These were quick ways to earn Immortal Merit, and for Bai Jing, who possessed the Talent Tree, the so-called threshold of talent did not amount to anything at all.

At this thought, his gaze could not help turning toward a floating bubble within his sea of consciousness.

Dragon Tiger Pill Formula!

He had obtained it during the assessment, yet had never used it until now.

It could finally come in handy!

I'll strive to obtain both Heaven Scrolls within half a year! Bai Jing thought.

The following morning.

Above the pavilion, the golden Morning Glow Spiritual Tide gathered into an enormous vortex and surged continuously downward.

Bai Jing sat cross-legged on the grass, his entire body enveloped by this pure energy.

Within his sea of consciousness, the Talent Tree swayed as if cheering with delight. Compared to the nourishment it had absorbed before, this was at least ten times greater.

Its trunk glimmered with light and grew at a rate visible to the naked eye.

"Phew...!"

Not long afterward, the Morning Glow Spiritual Tide dispersed. Bai Jing opened his eyes, and joy rose in his heart as he looked at the Talent Tree.

Using the Wind Element Heaven Scroll to draw in the Morning Glow Spiritual Tide had made the Talent Tree grow many times faster. Before long, it would likely sprout new branches.

Then he rose, washed up briefly, and headed out the door.

Before long, Bai Jing arrived at the Myriad Pill Hall.

Inside the hall, quite a few people stood at each counter selling pills.

For cultivators, pills were indispensable aids to cultivation.

He glanced around briefly, then went straight to the little Senior Brother's counter.

The familiar little Senior Brother, busy as ever, and the older Senior Brother, languidly yawning, both came into view.

"Junior Brother Bai, long time no see!" The petite little Senior Brother greeted him upon seeing him.

He still remembered an array cultivator disciple with talent.

"Senior Brother, how much are the Spirit Gathering Pills here?" Bai Jing asked directly.

"Does Junior Brother want low-grade or high-grade Spirit Gathering Pills?" the little Senior Brother asked with a smile.

"What are their respective prices?"

"A bottle of low-grade Spirit Gathering Pills costs five Immortal Merit. The spiritual power in this kind of pill is fairly pure, making it suitable for cultivators who have just entered the Dao Platform Realm."

As he spoke, the little Senior Brother took a round pill from a jade bottle. "This is a low-grade Spirit Gathering Pill. Its surface glows with purple light, flawless and intact."

Then he took another pill from a different jade bottle. "This is a high-grade Spirit Gathering Pill. Pill Patterns have formed across its entire body, and the spiritual power within is dense and vast. Its price is also double—ten Immortal Merit per bottle!"