There was even a version exclusively for true disciples?
Li Yu was astonished. He nodded repeatedly while deftly slipping another three spirit stones over.
Ma Song smiled with narrowed eyes and accepted them without a qualm. "You know how things work, junior brother. I wouldn't even bother mentioning this to anyone else. The true disciple version of the Taiyi Scripture has twelve layers in the Qi Refinement realm."
Why were there three extra layers?
Even more curious now, Li Yu hurriedly asked, "May I ask how I could obtain this True Disciple Taiyi Scripture, senior brother?"
Ma Song said, "Since it's the True Disciple Taiyi Scripture, naturally only true disciples have it. I happen to know a true disciple senior brother from Taiyi Peak. He needs a large sum of spirit stones recently. If you miss this chance, he might not be willing to take the risk again."
Li Yu immediately asked the most important question. "How many spirit stones?"
Ma Song held up one finger. Li Yu hesitated.
If he scraped together everything he owned, he could barely muster a hundred spirit stones. But if he bought this True Disciple Taiyi Scripture, he would be unable to take another step afterward.
Li Yu asked, "Senior brother, why does this True Disciple Taiyi Scripture have three more layers than the ordinary version we outer disciples cultivate?"
Having accepted three spirit stones, Ma Song explained patiently, "Qi Refinement is the beginning of cultivation, and also the most crucial realm in a cultivator's life. Your starting point determines the heights you can reach in the future."
"If you attempt Foundation Establishment from the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer, your chances of success are less than one percent. And even if you succeed, ninety-nine percent of you will find your ceiling locked at Foundation Establishment."
"If you establish your foundation from the Qi Refinement Tenth Layer, not only are your chances of success higher, but you also have a ten-to-twenty-percent chance of forming a golden core. Still, your ceiling will essentially be Golden Core Perfection."
"Only by establishing your foundation from the Qi Refinement Eleventh Layer, with its deep roots, do you have any possibility of Nascent Soul Formation."
"As for the Qi Refinement Twelfth Layer, only Primordial Spirit cultivation methods possess it. Establish your foundation at that level, and you'll have the solid roots needed to cultivate a primordial spirit and live forever."
"Although the Taiyi Scripture is only a Nascent Soul cultivation method, Patriarch Jiang Taiyi, who created it, was a heaven-gifted genius. Aside from our sect's Five Primordial Spirit Cultivation Arts, his is the only one with a method for reaching the Qi Refinement Twelfth Layer."
Hearing this opened Li Yu's eyes.
Although he came from an aristocratic clan, his parents had died early, and no one had ever told him any of this. When he chose his Qi Refinement cultivation method, the Transmission Elder had mentioned that the Taiyi Scripture had a very high ceiling. He had never imagined it was this high.
"Doesn't that mean that practically none of the outer disciples who successfully establish their foundations can form a golden core?" Realizing this, Li Yu felt that the sect's higher-ups were utterly shameless.
Outer disciples had no masters. They could only rely on the Transmission Elder's monthly lectures, comprehending and improving on their own. Once they reached the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer, they hurried to find spiritual items for Foundation Establishment. Even if they succeeded through sheer luck, their potential was already exhausted.
"Outer disciples are mediocre people weeded out by the selection process to begin with. If any true gold really has slipped through, the Transmission Elders of the various peaks will give them pointers in private. Besides, that ceiling isn't completely fixed. Those blessed with great fortune can refine natural treasures to replenish their potential and foundations." Ma Song, however, was accustomed to this. As an inner disciple of the main peak, he had long grown used to the strong devouring the weak and the various peaks controlling every path upward.
Outer disciples were merely a necessary part of maintaining the Five Lotus Sect's hierarchy. In the eyes of certain extreme members of the upper ranks, they were no more than menial servants.
And since they were menial servants, there was naturally no need to spend more effort watching over or teaching them.
After hearing this, Li Yu's loyalty to the sect dwindled once again. His interest in the True Disciple Taiyi Scripture, however, grew even stronger.
"If an outer disciple like me learns this True Disciple Taiyi Scripture, will the sect punish me?" Li Yu was still uneasy.
Ma Song said, "Don't worry. Only the three of us will know about this. Once the transaction is complete, we'll each swear an oath. There won't be any risk of a leak."
Cultivators took oaths very seriously. Breaking one would give rise to inner demons, adding to the dangers of breaking through to the next realm.
Li Yu was tempted, but his purse was painfully light.
Ma Song noticed Li Yu's hesitation and immediately sweetened the offer, hoping to close the deal. "Junior brother, that true disciple senior brother just accepted a mission to the Southern Lands. If you miss this chance, he might not be willing to risk it next time. How about this? I like you, so I can forgo my commission and bargain on your behalf. Give me 950 spirit stones, and I'll arrange the transaction for you."
So that one finger had meant a thousand spirit stones!
Once Li Yu understood, he immediately took his leave. "Thank you, senior brother. I'll go back now and borrow from a few junior brothers and sisters I'm close to. I'll do my best to gather the spirit stones and return as soon as possible."
Ma Song was delighted to hear this and took out one of his own communication talismans. "Contact me once you've gathered them."
After leaving the Secret Arts Office, Li Yu was about to throw the communication talisman away. But thinking that it might prove useful someday, he put it away instead. Then he went to the Transport and Husbandry Office, which managed the sect's spirit beasts and transportation.
Zhao was some distance from the Five Lotus Sect. Li Yu could not fly, and traveling there on foot would mean crossing mountains and ridges, taking a considerable amount of time.
The Transport and Husbandry Office rented out spirit beasts capable of traveling a hundred li a day. The price was inexpensive, too: two spirit stones per day.
But Li Yu's injuries had not yet healed, and he was worried about safety along the way. Renting a spirit beast also required a large deposit of spirit stones, so he gritted his teeth and booked a ticket on the next ship to Zhao instead.
The ship was a flying vessel operated by the sect. Here in the Eastern Lands, no force had dared rob a Five Lotus Sect flying vessel in the past hundred years.
Next, Li Yu went to the market at the foot of the main peak and bought pills, talismans, and other necessities, spending most of the hundred spirit stones Li Hun had given him.
That night, when Li Yu returned to Hanging Moon Peak, he was surprised to find someone waiting for him.
Song Lingxi sat on a stone stool outside his cave abode. Her white robes blended with the night, her beauty pure and otherworldly, like an immortal maiden beneath the moon. She raised her eyes toward Li Yu, her brows like distant mountains and her eyes like autumn waters, yet there was a trace of aloof chill about her.
"Cousin, what brings you here?" Li Yu was puzzled. Though the two were on reasonably good terms, this was the first time Song Lingxi had come looking for him of her own accord.
In the past, he had always been the one seeking Song Lingxi's help.
"Yin Ya left the sect alone and went to Kunlun." Song Lingxi did not answer him directly, saying this instead.
Li Yu's heart immediately tightened. He thought Ge Jin had learned that he had not accompanied Yin Ya on his rebellion and had sent her to call him to account.
"My injuries haven't healed..." After Li Yu finished explaining his reasons, Song Lingxi watched him in silence.
Amid that silence, just as Li Yu was steeling himself to say something, Song Lingxi sighed.
For the sake of this cousin's deceased parents, she decided to offer him one last piece of advice. "Yin Ya is blessed with great fortune. You-
"Go with him to Kunlun, and you might be able to change your fate. This is also your last chance to establish your foundation."
Hearing this, Li Yu froze on the spot.
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