The Storage Bag was taken away the moment it appeared.
Great Xia's senior leaders brought in Zhang Weiguo to channel spiritual power into it and open it, then took out everything inside.
The dazzling array of brilliant treasures nearly blinded them.
"Mystic Spirit Liquid, capable of directly increasing cultivation. What a treasure!"
"A Spirit-Seizing Pill, raising cultivation by one minor realm without side effects. A divine pill!"
"A Blood Spirit Fruit, one of the heavenly materials and earthly treasures. Consuming it can improve both the body and cultivation in every respect!"
"Cultivation methods for the five elements. Comrade Lu said in his letter that choosing a cultivation method suited to one's spirit root attributes makes cultivation faster. Comrade Weiguo has a wood spirit root, so he should switch to this Yi Wood Everlasting Spring Instruction."
"The other comrades should also practice cultivation methods matching their spirit root attributes."
Those other comrades were people with heavenly spirit roots discovered in subsequent tests, all of whom had embarked on cultivation under guidance.
There were only three of them.
Only one in ten thousand people possessed spirit roots.
For heavenly spirit roots, another one-in-ten-thousand chance had to be added on top of that.
In the actual cultivation world, spirit roots with two attributes were already considered excellent cultivation aptitude.
For Great Xia's ten million servicemen to produce a full four people with heavenly spirit roots, including Zhang Weiguo, could already be called flourishing national fortune.
Aside from those with heavenly spirit roots.
There were twelve people with superior-grade spirit roots of two attributes.
Eighty-nine with middle-grade spirit roots of three attributes.
Three hundred and thirty-five with inferior-grade spirit roots of four attributes.
One thousand two hundred and forty-six with trash-grade spirit roots of five attributes.
With limited resources, those with five, four, or even three spirit roots could only serve as cultivation reserves, registered for future deployment.
Those with superior-grade spirit roots of two attributes waited quietly for orders in safe houses.
They might be added to Great Xia's cultivation team at any time.
Of Great Xia's current four cultivators, Zhang Weiguo had the highest cultivation, at the Qi Refining Third Layer.
The other three had begun cultivating later, so they remained at the Qi Refining First Layer.
After deliberations, Ji Chang'an and the other senior leaders of Great Xia reached a decision.
They would train Great Xia's first cultivator, Zhang Weiguo, to become the leading figure of the nation's cultivation team.
Thus, they tilted resource allocations in his favor.
Mystic Spirit Liquid, Jade Marrow Fruits, Blood Spirit Fruits, pills, and everything else were supplied to him first.
This also caused Zhang Weiguo's cultivation to soar rapidly.
Another half month passed.
He actually broke through two realms in succession, soaring from the Qi Refining Fourth Layer to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.
In another world.
Lu Chenxing was even more outrageous.
Four cultivators with heavenly spirit roots cultivated day and night without rest, feeding cultivation back to him.
His cultivation soared as though he were riding a rocket.
Qi Refining Fifth Layer, Qi Refining Sixth Layer, Qi Refining Seventh Layer, Qi Refining Eighth Layer...
In a mere half month, he crossed four realms in succession.
Such progress frightened Lu Changfeng and the others so badly that they almost began questioning their lives.
Was cultivation really this easy?
In fact, much of the credit belonged to the resources the Lu Household's three Foundation Establishment cultivators had given him.
At least two of those realms came from the Mystic Spirit Liquid, Blood Spirit Fruits, Jade Marrow Fruits, and Spirit Augmenting Pills.
With ample resources, it was perfectly normal for cultivation to rise a little faster.
Lu Chenxing's had merely risen a little faster still.
During this period, a piece of news spread rapidly in all directions through the efforts of people with an agenda.
It continued to gather momentum.
The Lu Household's patriarch had comprehended the way of the sword immortal and led his people out to seize half the Wang Household's resources in the Mystic Wood Forest.
Several powerful Foundation Establishment forces nearby immediately set their sights on the Lu Household.
"A sword immortal? To think Lu Changfeng, the Lu Household's patriarch, had such ability!"
"A venomous snake that endured in silence for years became impossible to guard against once it awoke. The Wang Household became its first victim."
"It seems we must send people to keep a close eye on the Lu Household's movements, lest they strike at us."
"Rather than sit and wait for others to come killing at our doors, we should take the initiative. While the Lu Household has yet to grow..." The speaker drew a hand across his throat. "Lu Changfeng might have comprehended the way of the sword immortal because he obtained a related inheritance. If we..."
There was no need to spell it out. Everyone understood the deeper meaning.
Kill and seize treasures.
Exterminate a lineage and steal its inheritance.
Such sordid deeds were far from rare in the cultivation world.
They could not act openly, but in the shadows...
"I hear sword immortals can kill enemies above their realm..."
"Are you afraid, Patriarch Zhao? With all this hesitation, where is the bearing of someone seeking immortality? So what if he can kill above his realm? With our three forces joining hands, why should we fear a mere Lu Household?"
"A sword immortal? He'll still have to die!"
"Sect Master Li, I admire your enduring drive. But this is a matter of great consequence. I must return and discuss it with my lineage's senior members before deciding."
The Zhao Household patriarch's caution drew disdain from Li Taichu, sect master of the Blazing Yang Sect. But they were both at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage and each headed a force, so he still had to show him the proper respect.
He looked at the other man.
The man had been sipping tea from the beginning, putting on an inscrutable air.
"What do you think, Gate Master Qin?"
Qin Wuxiang, master of the Divine Fire Gate, was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. He had remained in this realm for over fifty years and would probably soon reach flawless perfection and look toward the great path of the Golden Core.
He set down his teacup.
He spoke slowly.
"Over these years, our three forces secretly joined hands to wipe out quite a few forces and seize considerable resources. Our prospects may look bright, but in truth, a great calamity is already almost upon us!"
At those words, Zhao Donglai, patriarch of the Zhao Household, and Li Taichu, sect master of the Blazing Yang Sect, were both startled.
They both looked at him and pressed for an answer.
"Why do you say that, Brother Qin?"
Qin Wuxiang shook his head and sighed.
"Alas!"
"Do you remember the Liu Household we destroyed three years ago? One surviving remnant escaped, entered the upper sect, and became a personal disciple under a Golden Core True Person."
Zhao Donglai and Li Taichu sprang to their feet. "Is that true?"
"Where did you get this news, Brother Qin? Why didn't you say anything sooner?"
Qin Wuxiang rolled his eyes.
He had only received the news yesterday. What difference would saying it sooner or later make?
"You two certainly are carefree. After every collaboration, you think you can sleep soundly without a care. Little do you know that ransacking homes and exterminating lineages is precisely what most easily leaves future trouble behind. That Liu Household remnant was away from his lineage at the time. After learning it had been destroyed, he went into hiding. I sent people to investigate for a long time and only obtained his whereabouts yesterday. However, the place he is now is beyond our reach."
The upper sect.
The Crimson Firmament Sect.
A Golden Core sect.
Its sphere of influence spanned a thousand li.
The three forces' territories lay within it as well, and they had to offer a batch of resources in tribute every year. Although the Crimson Firmament Sect would not provide protection when trouble arose, at least it would not itself attack the weaker forces dependent upon it.
That, too, was a form of protection in disguise.
"We're finished. If a True Person from the Crimson Firmament Sect stands up for the Liu Household, won't we be doomed to certain death?"
Zhao Donglai looked as though he had nothing left to live for, while Qin Wuxiang remained relaxed, as if everything were within his grasp. "Don't panic yet, Patriarch Zhao."
"We acted in secret. That Liu Household brat doesn't know who exterminated his entire lineage."
Li Taichu also calmed down.
"We just have to insist we never did it."
Qin Wuxiang smiled. "Clever!"
"So, let's behave ourselves for a while and avoid exposing our identities as bandit cultivators, lest we draw fire upon ourselves."
"As for the Lu Household, and even the Wang Household."
"Let them live a little longer. Once our cultivation reaches perfection before long and everything is assured, it won't be too late to act."
Not just the Lu Household, but the Wang Household as well.
Qin Wuxiang had set his sights on both lineages.
His ambitions were greater.
After a moment's thought, Li Taichu nodded in full agreement.
"That sword immortal Lu Changfeng's combat strength is unknown. Acting now would indeed risk causing too much commotion. Our realms are much the same, and all of us are nearing perfection. Then let's wait until our cultivation advances further before striking."
Zhao Donglai also voiced his agreement.
"A sword immortal's inheritance and the resources of both households might let us glimpse the great path of the Golden Core."
At the words "Golden Core."
A light of longing burst forth in all three men's eyes.
Foundation Establishment granted three hundred years of life; Golden Core granted eight hundred.
For lifespan alone, it was worth every cultivator pursuing it madly.