Xu Changxing had not expected to receive this kind of treatment himself.
He hurriedly capped the bottle, his eyes shining as he said:
"Master must have won quite a haul this time.
Tsk, tsk. Joining the Setting Sun Sect really was the right choice.
Hmm, I wonder what benefits Master can secure for me now that he has the Spring Renewal Art..."
While he excitedly muttered to himself, Liu Chenyu was staring blankly in his own cave abode.
Looking at the jade slip in his hand, Liu Chenyu murmured:
"Why did my third disciple use sword intent to carve a restriction into this?
How am I supposed to undo it?"
The sword intent inside the jade slip was indeed weak enough that Liu Chenyu could easily disperse the restriction with his strength.
The problem was that the sword intent had penetrated the jade slip. If he broke it by force, the slightest carelessness would shatter the entire slip.
Liu Chenyu agonized over it for quite a while, but ultimately could not swallow his pride and ask his disciple to undo it.
He gritted his teeth. "I refuse to believe that I, a dignified mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, can't break my own disciple's restriction!"
Unwilling to admit defeat, Liu Chenyu sent his true essence straight into the jade slip.
A moment later...
Crack! Crack, crack!
Amid a series of crisp sounds, cracks spread across the jade slip.
Liu Chenyu stared blankly at the shattered jade slip in his hand and muttered:
"That brat is a monster. How did he carve such condensed sword intent into a jade slip?"
While he stood there in a daze, a soft cough suddenly came from outside the courtyard.
At the sound, Liu Chenyu's pupils abruptly contracted, his eyes filling with disbelief.
He immediately rose and raced to the doorway, where he indeed saw a figure that left him stunned.
"Grand-uncle Master, why have you come in person?" he asked incredulously.
The visitor was Shi Haoyan, the Spirit Transformation Ancestor who had led Xu Changxing in sweeping through the Wood-Attribute Secret Realm during one of the simulations.
Shi Haoyan said calmly, "Your disciple's cultivation art bears quite a resemblance to that of an old friend of mine.
I happened to have nothing to do, so after receiving your message, I came to take a look.
Where is the jade slip your disciple sent?"
"Uh..."
The corner of Liu Chenyu's mouth twitched, and he instinctively hid the hand holding the jade slip behind his back.
Only then did he realize that doing so before a Spirit Transformation Ancestor seemed utterly pointless.
Sure enough, Shi Haoyan gave him an odd look.
"You actually couldn't break the restriction your disciple carved into the jade slip?
Tsk, tsk. This lad certainly has promise.
Come, take me to see this young disciple of yours."
Xu Changxing was sitting cross-legged, waves of potent sword intent surging from his body.
He had just taken the Spirit-Nurturing Pill Liu Chenyu had sent him.
The Spirit-Nurturing Pill's effects were quite fierce. The moment he swallowed it, he felt his Divine Sense expanding rapidly.
Had Xu Changxing's foundation not been so solid, the surge of medicinal power might well have left his head spinning.
He hurriedly circulated the Spring Renewal Art, attempting to suppress the Spirit-Nurturing Pill's medicinal power with his cultivation art, only to find that it had little effect.
Just as the Spirit-Nurturing Pill's medicinal power grew increasingly violent, inspiration struck, and he began condensing his sword intent.
Under the suppression of his sword intent, the Spirit-Nurturing Pill's medicinal power did indeed become much gentler.
A long while later, Xu Changxing slowly opened his eyes.
Then he froze.
Two people had somehow appeared before him.
"Master? What brings you here?"
Xu Changxing rose and bowed, astonishment written across his face.
Liu Chenyu wore an odd expression. "Your sword intent is already this fierce. No wonder... uh..."
"No wonder what?" Xu Changxing asked curiously.
Liu Chenyu waved a hand. "Never mind that for now. Let me introduce you.
This is my Grand-uncle Master, Shi Haoyan. He is very interested in the cultivation art you practice."
Xu Changxing hurriedly bowed. "Disciple Xu Changxing greets the patriarch!"
Shi Haoyan waved a hand. "No need for such ceremony. You practice the Spring Renewal Art, correct?"
"Yes! That is indeed the cultivation art this disciple practices."
"Then would you be willing to offer it to the sect?"
Xu Changxing paused slightly at his words. "Of course this disciple is willing.
I already recorded the cultivation art in a jade slip and had the young Daoist attendant deliver it to Master."
As he spoke, his gaze instinctively shifted to Liu Chenyu, only to find that his master seemed somewhat embarrassed.
Did I just say something wrong?
Xu Changxing was momentarily taken aback.
Before he could figure out what was going on, Shi Haoyan smiled. "That jade slip was destroyed.
If you are willing to offer this cultivation art, record another copy.
Naturally, you won't go unrewarded."
"Yes!"
Xu Changxing nodded, took out a jade slip, and once again began inscribing it with his Divine Sense.
A moment later, he respectfully handed the jade slip to Shi Haoyan.
Shi Haoyan accepted it and examined it briefly, then said with a complicated expression:
"Back then, that old fellow told me that anyone could practice his cultivation art, and anyone who practiced it could acquire spiritual roots.
I always thought he was a fool talking of dreams.
To think he really did create this cultivation art."
Beside him, Liu Chenyu's pupils contracted at those words.
"How could such a cultivation art exist in this world?
Wouldn't that mean even peddlers and porters could cultivate?"
Shi Haoyan waved a hand. "It doesn't quite go that far.
It is still no easy matter for those without spiritual roots to begin practicing it.
Besides, this cultivation art can only nurture spiritual roots up to the fifth grade."
Only then did Liu Chenyu breathe a little easier.
But immediately afterward, he grew excited again. "Even so, this is an extraordinary cultivation art.
Grand-uncle Master, Changxing has rendered an extraordinary service to the sect this time!"
Shi Haoyan said calmly, "Rest assured, I certainly won't shortchange this disciple of yours.
Once I return, I will credit him with ten thousand merit points.
As for the rest..."
He paused briefly, then turned to Xu Changxing.
"That old friend of mine left behind a secret realm.
I explored it back then, but could make neither head nor tail of it.
Once this competition is over, accompany me on a trip into that secret realm.
There should be some natural treasures there that will benefit you.
If the rewards aren't enough, I will make up the difference."
Sure enough, I still have to go to that secret realm to collect the rewards...
Xu Changxing had not expected that, after taking a winding detour, he would end up back on the path from his earliest simulations.
He was still quite curious about that secret realm, which he had only ever seen described in words.
He immediately bowed. "Thank you for your support, Patriarch!"
Shi Haoyan nodded. "I will come for you in half a month."
With that, he transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the horizon.
Only after his figure had completely disappeared did Xu Changxing and Liu Chenyu both breathe a sigh of relief.
Although Shi Haoyan had not deliberately released any oppressive aura, the presence of a Spirit Transformation Ancestor was unfathomably deep.
Both Xu Changxing and Liu Chenyu had felt immense pressure.
Before you continue