Yin-Yang Reversal Spirit Sand, Moon-Watching Spirit Rabbits

Slay Dongyang Zi and destroy the Azure Wood Sect?

Golden Core Edict?

Me?

Lu Xuan paused slightly, then laughed dumbly. "Senior Brother, you jest. I am but a mere Qi Refining cultivator—how could I speak of Golden Core?"

This topic, this goal, was far too grand.

Though he possessed the Ancient Characters on the Jade Disc and had some confidence in cultivation, imagining Golden Core while still in Qi Refining was still rather like reaching for the stars.

As for "slaying Dongyang Zi and destroying the Azure Wood Sect," that was even more distant.

He had never even heard Dongyang Zi's name, nor did he know where the Azure Wood Sect was located.

How could he possibly undertake such a pointless act as "slaying Dongyang Zi and destroying the Azure Wood Sect"?

Though the Immortal Cult valued life and human bonds, nine years of companionship hardly warranted an act of such immense power, did it?

Senior Brother Lin's expression turned solemn. "Naturally, you cannot do so today, Junior Brother. But what if, one day in the future, you truly achieve Golden Core?"

Lu Xuan smiled. "If one day I truly attain Golden Core, I will surely remember Senior Brother's request today. We may speak of it then."

Even in mere speculation, Lu Xuan did not commit himself too fully.

They could speak of it then.

Senior Brother Lin sighed, seemingly aware that his words had been inappropriate. He immediately said apologetically, "My thoughts have been unsettled these past few days. Perhaps I spoke wildly. Junior Brother, please forgive me."

"But I truly came today to ask Junior Brother for a promise."

"As for myself... I fear I have no hope of avenging my Lineage."

"But perhaps Junior Brother can. I searched through the ancient records: among the thirty generations of our cult, all those who succeeded in the Second Grand Rite went on to achieve extraordinary things. Junior Brother succeeded in the Second Grand Rite; you must surely be a seed of immortality."

"I am a mortal and no longer have the strength. I can only rely on this slight bond of classmates to invest in a Golden Core seed. Perhaps there may still be a sliver of hope in the future."

"I am not forcing Junior Brother, nor am I trying to provoke you, much less flaunting my background and misfortunes to win sympathy. I am simply truly helpless, seeking a thought to cling to."

As he spoke, Senior Brother Lin took a jade box from his robes and placed it before Lu Xuan.

"I had originally thought that if I succeeded in the Second Grand Rite, I could use this item to aid my cultivation and seek a method of revenge myself."

"But now, I have no use for it. I am willing to give it to Junior Brother, in hopes that you may attain the Great Dao."

Senior Brother Lin opened the jade box. Within lay a thumb-sized grain of gray spirit sand, chaotic in color, as though yin and yang had fused together.

A look of surprise immediately appeared on Lu Xuan's face.

"Yin-Yang Reversal Spirit Sand?"

"Where did Senior Brother obtain such a spirit item?"

This was a rare marvel.

Yin meant female.

Yang meant to govern.

It meant that the female governed all things—hence the saying of a hen announcing the dawn—but its deeper meaning was yin and yang reversed, male and female indistinguishable.

And this Yin-Yang Reversal Spirit Sand was a rare item capable of reversing a cultivator's yin-yang spiritual qi.

Once this sand was activated, it could directly transform all of a cultivator's spiritual qi into spiritual qi of reversed attributes. Moreover, every technique cast would carry the power of reversal, making it exceedingly profound.

If activated when one's spiritual qi was exhausted, it would not only restore that spiritual qi in an instant, but also wield the might of reversed attributes, catching an enemy completely off guard.

Furthermore, this spirit sand was of excellent quality and could be activated three times, enough to resolve three deadly crises.

This was not a treasure a failed Qi-Refining Grand Rite participant should possess.

Senior Brother Lin sighed faintly. "Though my Lineage suffered a calamity that claimed its talented members, we had also received offerings. Naturally, our clan possessed one or two treasures. When I fled for my life in panic that day, I could not carry many treasures with me. Only items like this spirit sand remained by my side. Today, I am willing to gift it to Junior Brother, to forge a good connection and seek a faint chance."

By now, Senior Brother Lin's purpose was very clear.

Gift the spirit sand, forge a good connection, seek a chance for revenge.

It was an extremely unequal wager.

Could a mere grain of spirit sand really buy the destruction of an entire sect?

But to Senior Brother Lin, this too was a wager with almost no hope.

How difficult was it for a Qi Refining cultivator to achieve Golden Core? It was nearly impossible.

Even if Lu Xuan could succeed, Senior Brother Lin would likely have long since died of old age.

But as he had said, aside from making a wager, he had no hope left.

Seeing this, Lu Xuan sighed. "The Golden Core realm is a distant peak, difficult to climb. But Senior Brother must not lose heart either. Our Immortal Cult values life. Perhaps before eighty years have passed, a Golden Core Edict will be issued to destroy the Azure Wood Sect. Or perhaps that sect will perish without being destroyed, Dongyang Zi will die and his Dao dissipate, and the heroic souls of Senior Brother's Lineage will be comforted."

He could not agree to such a wager, even if agreeing now would earn him this rare spirit sand, while "slaying Dongyang Zi and destroying the Azure Wood Sect" could be discussed later anyway, since Golden Core was so remote.

But he would not act in such a way.

One must not lightly speak of reaching beyond one's grasp, nor lightly make promises from a lofty position.

He should honestly cultivate Qi, enter the Sea-Calming Bureau, and if one day he truly reached Golden Core and remembered this matter, he could act then. But he could not promise so easily.

Still, with the spirit item before him, Lu Xuan was unwilling to give up. "If Senior Brother wishes to preserve a thought to cling to and wager on Golden Core, you may seek out other senior brothers and sisters."

"If there is anything I am capable of doing at present, please speak without hesitation."

Hearing this, Senior Brother Lin merely sighed. "As a mortal, what else is there for me besides this thought?"

"Though the other senior brothers and sisters are indeed exceptionally gifted, none possess Junior Brother's looks and bearing. Their chances of achieving Golden Core may not exceed Junior Brother's..."

The reason he had come to seek Lu Xuan today was naturally the result of careful consideration.

First, the ancient records of the cult stated that those who underwent the Second Qi-Refining Grand Rite did indeed attain extraordinary achievements. One achieved Golden Core and entered the Central Jun Heavenly Realm, while two others reached the Forgetfulness Realm.

Though one person had no recorded outcome, of the four, two had reached Forgetfulness Realm and one Golden Core. The odds were indeed extremely high.

Second, Lu Xuan's handsome features and elegant bearing surpassed those of every generation in the Hibernation Academy. With such fine looks, so long as he achieved even a little success, he would become a suitable marriage prospect for aristocratic clans. Perhaps... even a Golden Core Lineage was possible?

In that case, Lu Xuan's chances of achieving Golden Core—or of securing a Golden Core Edict—would be far greater.

Beyond that, there was one more point.

Lu Xuan had failed the first Grand Rite and gone directly to the Red Pine Fief. He was likely the same as himself, having "pawned his flesh."

Such people were willing to sacrifice themselves for the Great Dao, to succeed or die trying. Their minds were flexible, unbound by ritual and law. Their chances at Golden Core should be slightly greater as well.

These three points alone were certainly not enough to ensure Golden Core.

But what else could he do?

He could only use a mortal's mind to speculate on the odds of achieving Golden Core, and struggle to do what he could.

Whether he could avenge his Lineage would depend on heaven's will.

Of course, he was not placing all his hopes on a single wager.

His Lineage still had a few spirit items that could be used for wagers.

"So he chose me based on my looks?"

Lu Xuan felt helpless inwardly. He had not expected that Senior Brother Lin's reason for choosing him was also related to his appearance.

Still, if he achieved something in cultivation and married into a great clan, his possibilities would indeed increase by several degrees.

Speaking of marriage alliances based on appearance, Lu Xuan's heart stirred. He asked Senior Brother Lin, "May I ask, Senior Brother, which clan did you meet when you went to the Red Pine Fief that day?"

Senior Brother Lin did not conceal it and replied frankly, "The Moon-Watching Spirit Rabbits."

Moon-Watching Spirit Rabbits were fertile breeders.

The reason he had gone to the Red Pine Fief that day was not because he lacked funds to exchange for spirit herbs. Rather, he had already calculated everything.

If the Grand Rite truly failed, he would marry into the spirit rabbit clan and bear many descendants. Perhaps one more cultivation seed would emerge, with hopes of Golden Core and the chance for revenge.

The only regret was that after taking human form, these rabbits often had protruding teeth and poor looks.