Panel Attributes and the Spirit Pool Baptism

Afterward, the three chatted a while longer. Zhao Yuanhao and Lu Mingxuan left one after the other, and Lin Chen returned to Bamboo Melody Pavilion.

Liu Yun was sorting several newly delivered stalks of Concentration Grass in the courtyard. When she saw Lin Chen return, she bowed respectfully.

"Young master."

"Mm." Lin Chen nodded. "Anything important today?"

"Steward Sun sent word that the Spirit Pool Baptism will begin in six months. If you have time, he asks you to visit the Bamboo Grove at the foot of the mountain to discuss the arrangements," Liu Yun replied.

The Spirit Pool Baptism was an opportunity granted to warriors of first-class potential after they joined the Four Seas Merchant Guild. It could cleanse their sinews and bones and improve their martial aptitude. Lin Chen remembered it well.

But the Spirit Pool opened only once every ten years. He had waited three years on Spirit Mist Mountain, and at last there was news.

"I understand."

Lin Chen nodded slightly, then said after a moment's thought:

"Also, keep an eye out for news about the underground ruins in the Eastern Wilderness. If you hear anything new, however small, write it down and report it to me."

Lin Chen did not intend to go, but he did want to quietly watch how the matter unfolded. After sparring and discussing swordsmanship with Zhao Yuanhao so many times, he could hardly ignore it.

"Yes." Liu Yun accepted the task.

Lin Chen then entered the cultivation room.

Inside, a wisp of milky-white spiritual essence had formed in the Spirit-Eye Spring Pool and was slowly circulating at the center of the water vein.

Rather than refine it immediately, Lin Chen summoned his Character Panel with a thought.

[Character]: Lin Chen

[Age]: 33/458

[Life-Bound Divine Artifact]: Starshatter Sword (Tier 3, Ordinary)

[Realm]: Profound Martial Realm, Second Layer (2200/7590)

[Sword Dao]: 10% Sword Intent (2863/10000)

[Martial Arts]: Three Revolutions Profound Origin Art (First Revolution), Thundercloud Sword Art (First Layer), Windwalker (Beginner), Golden Bell Shield...

[Idle Gains]: Approximately 211–226 experience points per month

[Remaining Experience]: 4389 points

This was how far three years of diligent cultivation had brought Lin Chen.

His cultivation had reached the second layer of the Profound Martial Realm. He had mastered Flowing Cloud, the first layer of Thundercloud Sword Art, and had taken his first steps in Windwalker.

Studying sword techniques and sparring and discussing the Dao with his fellow disciples on Spirit Mist Mountain had also steadily increased his Sword Dao experience.

Near the end of the second year, an Earth Martial Realm sword cultivator had lectured on the Sword Dao at Dao Cliff, displaying vast Sword Intent. The insight Lin Chen gained that day alone sent his Sword Dao experience soaring by more than a thousand points.

"Not bad progress."

"I've accumulated over four thousand experience points again."

"But should I put them into my cultivation and break through to the third layer of the Profound Martial Realm, or raise my Sword Dao to 20% Sword Intent?"

Lin Chen pondered the question in silence.

"Forget it. I'll visit Sun Rong first and see what he wants to discuss about the Spirit Pool Baptism. Has something changed?"

After a long while without an answer, Lin Chen stopped dwelling on it.

He turned toward the wisp of milky-white spiritual essence in the spring pool. With a single breath, he drew it in and refined it into one hundred experience points.

Early the next morning, Lin Chen left Bamboo Melody Pavilion and followed the winding mountain path toward the foot of the mountain.

After three years, he knew Spirit Mist Mountain like the back of his hand.

As he descended the stone steps, mist curled around the mountain and spiritual energy filled the air. Birds occasionally swept overhead, their cries clear and bright.

Before long, Lin Chen reached the lush Bamboo Grove at the mountain's foot.

Deep among the bamboo stood a simple bamboo house where Sun Rong usually handled affairs.

"Young Master Lin Chen, you're here."

As if he had sensed Lin Chen's arrival, Sun Rong opened the door and came out with a warm smile. Three years had passed, but the steward looked unchanged—still every bit as shrewd and capable.

"Steward Sun." Lin Chen cupped his hands.

Sun Rong nodded slightly and stepped aside. "I sent word a few days ago. I hope I didn't interrupt your cultivation?"

"Not at all. Cultivation requires a balance of effort and rest." Lin Chen entered the bamboo house and took a seat in a bamboo chair.

The furnishings were simple: a bamboo table, several bamboo chairs, and a few landscape paintings on the walls. The place had something of a recluse's retreat about it. Sun Rong brewed a pot of tea, and its fragrance rose in gentle wisps.

"This is some Cloudmist Spirit Tea I recently acquired. Please, try it." Sun Rong poured Lin Chen a cup, then sat across from him.

After a few pleasantries, Sun Rong turned to the matter at hand.

"I asked you here today about the Spirit Pool Baptism."

Lin Chen set down his teacup, his expression growing serious.

"Please, go on."

"The Spirit Pool Baptism is set for six months from now."

Sun Rong spoke slowly. "Three others will enter the Spirit Pool alongside you."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. "Who are the other three?"

"We don't know yet, but one person each will come from the Azure Cloud Sect, Mystic Moon Pavilion, and Medicine King Valley."

Sun Rong spoke unhurriedly.

At that, Lin Chen's eyes flickered.

He knew of the Azure Cloud Sect and Mystic Moon Pavilion. Both were first-rate powers in Cloud Province, on par with the Four Seas Merchant Guild.

Medicine King Valley, though a second-rate power, excelled at alchemy, and its influence was not to be underestimated.

But...

"Why are people from other sects being allowed into our Four Seas Merchant Guild's Spirit Pool Baptism?"

Lin Chen voiced his doubt.

Sun Rong smiled, as though he had expected the question.

"It's a long story."

He took a small sip of tea. "The Spirit Pool Baptism is an opportunity unique to our guild, but other sects have opportunities of their own. The Azure Cloud Sect's Sword Dao Secret Realm and Mystic Moon Pavilion's Moon Lake Baptism, for example, can both help warriors break through bottlenecks and grow stronger."

"The Four Seas Merchant Guild was built on trade. We believe in exchanging what each side has to offer. We made an agreement with several powers to trade a limited number of places when our opportunities have room to spare, so we can nurture our young talents."

Sun Rong paused briefly, then continued:

"As for Medicine King Valley, I don't know the details. It seems they paid a price by refining a batch of pills and obtained the final place in the Spirit Pool Baptism."

Lin Chen understood.

In the end, it was an exchange of benefits. The Azure Cloud Sect and Mystic Moon Pavilion had presumably offered equivalent places in their own secret realms, while Medicine King Valley had traded pills for the opportunity.

"As expected of the Four Seas Merchant Guild. You certainly don't let convention bind you," Lin Chen remarked.

An ordinary sect would reserve such an opportunity for its own disciples and never let outsiders lay a finger on it.

Sun Rong smiled and went on.

"That's exactly why I asked you here today."

"The spiritual liquid in the pool is formed from a thousand years of medicinal potency fused with the essence of the earth. It has the remarkable power to wash the marrow, refine the bones, and improve aptitude. But there is only one pool of it. When all four of you enter, how much each person gains will depend on your own abilities."

Lin Chen understood.

On the surface, the Spirit Pool Baptism was an opportunity shared by four people. In truth, it held a hidden contest: there was only so much spiritual liquid.

"So what you mean is..."

Lin Chen's gaze sharpened.

Sun Rong's expression turned solemn, and he shook his head.

"Guild rules are clear. Since we've granted places to all four sides, we must treat everyone fairly. We cannot show favoritism."

"But Young Master Lin has cultivated on Spirit Mist Mountain for several years. It's only natural that you might have some advantage from knowing about the Spirit Pool..."