The stalks of wheat swayed, hanging heavy. A flash of cyan light swept across their stems with a rustling sound, and the small patch of plants grew much more vigorous and spirited.
Bai Zichen formed a seal with his fingers and swept them lightly. A verdant glow flowed from his fingertips. After just a few breaths, he was already panting and felt utterly exhausted.
"Whoa, Brother Chenn, you're amazing! You learned the Wood God Skill so quickly! If my parents find out, they're definitely going to lecture me again."
When Chubby heard that he had successfully learned the Wood God Skill, he had dragged him to the edge of the Spirit Field first thing in the morning, saying he wanted to see it for himself.
Bai Zichen knew his own situation best. It had taken him a full forty days just to get the hang of the Wood God Skill, which was actually quite slow.
He wasn't like other children who studied based on whims, working hard one day and slacking off the next. He had diligently poured a great deal of time and energy into it, which only proved that his talent for this Support Technique was limited.
Still, it was the first Magic he had ever learned. Seeing how the wheat before him changed after he cast the spell, he couldn't help but feel a small sense of accomplishment.
"Has there been any news from the Clan Leader and the others?"
"Nah. My dad said the Qingfeng Sect sent out another team of disciples. Even the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall went personally. It's a huge affair." Chubby nonchalantly flicked a marble in his hand, sharing the news he'd gathered with his good friend. "Brother Chenn, your talent is so good. Are you planning to join the Qingfeng Sect in the future?"
"The Qingfeng Sect... We'll see. Their standards for accepting disciples are incredibly high, especially for disciples from Cultivation Families like us."
Although Bai Zichen knew the Qingfeng Sect was a massive organization and that their Cultivation Techniques and cultivation resources far surpassed anything the Bai Clan could provide, he didn't particularly yearn to join.
Perhaps it was because a Sect felt less reassuring than his own Clan, full of a sense of the unknown.
"It'd be great if I could reach the Qi Refining Fourth Layer before I'm twenty-five. I've already talked it over with my dad. When the time comes, I'll join his trade caravan. I'll get to go to different places every month and meet all sorts of people. Now that's an interesting life. If you really made me stay in my room and cultivate for ten days or half a month at a time, I couldn't stand it."
Chubby lay back on a pile of firewood, squinting as he imagined his future.
"Of course, it would be even better if I had a fateful encounter and became a Sword Immortal! My childhood dream has always been to master Sword-Controlling Cyan Nether and become a super-powerful Sword Immortal!"
"You'll get your chance. Doesn't the Clan have several Refining Methods for Flying Swords? When you grow up, you can ask an Elder to refine one for you."
A faint smile touched Bai Zichen's lips. The price of a Flying Sword far exceeded that of other Magical Artifacts of the same tier. Besides its formidable offensive power and its use as a Flying Magical Artifact, a large part of the reason was that becoming a Sword Immortal was a childhood dream for many. People were paying for the sentiment.
"Forget it. How would I ever be qualified for one of the Clan's Flying Swords? If I had to save up Spirit Stones on my own, I'd be better off using them to buy Elixirs."
For once, the ever-optimistic Chubby gave a wry smile. A young man who had embarked on the Immortal Path was, after all, much more mature than an ordinary mortal of the same age. "Brother Chenn, you have Three Spiritual Roots. If you're lucky in the future, you'll have a chance to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. If you really make it, don't forget to give me a hand."
Chubby had the worst aptitude, with Five Spiritual Roots, which was why he said he'd never be in line for one of the clan's Flying Swords, no matter what.
His lazy and carefree attitude toward all matters of cultivation was perhaps also because he knew that no matter how hard he tried, it would be difficult for him to achieve anything significant on the Immortal Path.
"Foundation Establishment is too lofty a goal. We should first think about how long it'll take us to reach the Qi Refining Second Layer."
Bai Zichen also lay back on the pile of firewood, sinking halfway into it. It was soft and fluffy, and actually quite comfortable.
"By the way, speaking of Flying Swords, do you know how the Clan distributes them? Is it based on Cultivation level or potential?"
"Heh, Brother Chenn, you've asked the right person! I pestered my mom about this before the new year until I got it all figured out."
Chubby's gloomy mood came and went quickly. He was soon back to gleefully showing off his knowledge. "The Clan only has one type of Flying Sword, the Ink Bamboo Sword. But it's divided into two grades. The difference is whether the main material, the Profound Ink Bamboo, is Tier One Mid Grade or Tier One Top Grade."
"The Ink Bamboo Swords sold to outsiders are naturally the inferior ones. The good ones are kept within the Clan. On average, we can squeeze out one Ink Bamboo Sword every five years as a reward for a Clan Cultivator."
"According to the precedents set over the years, the clan member who receives the Flying Sword must meet a few criteria: be under thirty years old, have a good chance of breaking through to the Late-Stage Qi Refining in the near future, and have made outstanding contributions to the Clan. Brother Chenn, if you're really set on an Ink Bamboo Sword, you can start planning for it in a few years."
An inferior-grade Ink Bamboo Sword sells for five hundred Spirit Stones in the Market, and a Top Grade one would only be more expensive. For an ordinary Clan Cultivator relying on their own savings, it's an unattainable dream.
'Early-Stage Qi Refining cultivators get a stipend of two Spirit Stones a year. Mid-Stage Qi Refining gets five a year. You only get twenty Spirit Stones from the Clan once you reach the Late-Stage Qi Refining. Simply relying on clan benefits to save money is way too slow. It's just as I thought before—the best way is to master a profitable trade to get rich quick.'
'If there's a real chance to get an Ink Bamboo Sword, of course I have to fight for it.'
'The path of cultivation, the struggle for that sliver of a chance at eternal life, is a process of contention—contending with others, with the heavens, and with the Great Dao itself.'
"It's a deal, Chubby! In the future, if I become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, I'll buy you a shop in the most central location of the Qingfeng Sect's Market! You can sell whatever you want and be a happy businessman!"
The Qingfeng Sect's Market attracted the largest flow of Cultivators in Black Mountain County. Every shop there could be called a Treasure Basin, with countless goods flowing in and being sold.
The annual rent for any random shop was over a thousand Spirit Stones, to say nothing of buying out the lease permanently. That would be an astronomical sum.
Influenced by Chubby's emotions, Bai Zichen got carried away and spoke his heart's desire aloud. His greatest dream right now was to become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
To live for two hundred years, to become an influential figure in Black Mountain County, and at the same time, to truly possess the power to protect himself.
...
"Break! Break! Break!"
The lean Daoist pointed with three fingers, and three beams of golden light shot out with an irresistible, Giant Power, completely piercing through the Void Penetrating Sword Array. The Swordsmanship that had been radiating Sword Light abruptly ceased.
Only then could one clearly see that the three golden lights were three palm-length Golden Shuttles. They had struck the very core of the Sword Array, causing it to malfunction.
After ten days of continuous attacks that ceaselessly consumed the Void Penetrating Sword Array's Sword Qi, and after the Cultivation Families had sacrificed more than thirty lives, the Sword Array was finally on its last legs. The thought of the Treasure that might be hidden on the third level of the Five Mountains Temple made the lean Daoist's heart burn with fervor. He formed a seal with all ten fingers, his entire body's Magical Power surging, and slapped down. The entire mountain trembled.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Instantly, more than ten beams of Sword Light shot out from the Cave Mansion. The lean Daoist intercepted half of them with a wave of his large hand, but five or six beams were too fast and streaked past him.
It was the critical moment of breaking into the mansion. To allow the Sect Disciples to enter first, the Cultivation Family's teams had been swapped out. Those now directly facing the Sword Light were all Qingfeng Sect disciples.
The first two disciples in the front had no time to react before the Sword Light claimed their lives, and they collapsed to the ground.
Seeing the remaining Sword Light about to fly far away, and with the few beams he had caught in his hand still jumping and struggling restlessly, he couldn't spare an ounce of concentration. He could only roar in fury, "You imbeciles! Hurry up and work together to stop these Flying Swords! If even one gets away, the Ancestor will have your heads!"
A few purple-robed Elders finally reacted, summoning their Magical Artifacts and tangling with the beams of Sword Light, attempting to suppress and capture them.
As the Grand Array dissipated, five small, mound-like hills that shimmered with a metallic luster slowly appeared before everyone. And beside them, a towering stone Stele, suffused with the aura of ancient times.