NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20
Chapter 20: One Year
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Name: Jiang Ming
Cultivation base: 81st Extreme Golden Core Realm
Cultivation method: Grand Path Almighty Method Sutra
Spell: Ten Thousand Sword Technique, Cold Breeze Sword Technique, Timely Spring Rain, Rolling Earth Dragon, Wood Control
Special ability: Great Akasa Formless Sword Qi, Great Akasa Steps
Item: Human Path Records, Basic Formation Almanac, Basic Talisman Almanac, Noble Robe, Flowing Cloud Sword, five Enlightening Tea Leaves, 220 years of cultivation
Jiang Ming’s condition remained largely unchanged. There were no obvious physical changes after he consumed the human spiritual fruit, but he could clearly sense the inner changes.
Previously, he had accumulated 80 years of cultivation. Now that he obtained another 140 years of cultivation, he had more than two centuries worth of cultivation. It was a terrifying number.
Apart from the five Enlightening Tea Leaves, he also obtained the special ability, Great Akasa Steps. Based on the name, it seemed to complement the Great Akasa Formless Sword Qi.
“Should I try to break through now?” Jiang Ming considered it for a moment before he dismissed that idea.
It had been almost a year. When the time came, he would have amassed even more years of cultivation. At that time, he would be able to stabilize his cultivation base.
Jiang Ming looked at the soil, but he did not till it. He had already harvested seven Mu of crops, after all. Although he was not particularly tired, he wanted to rest.
Jiang Ming returned to the rooftop and picked up the teapot. With a wave of his hand, a trickle of water flowed into the pot. Then, he placed the three leaves that his master had given him into the pot. After setting the teapot down on the table, he joined his palms together. With that, the water in the pot heated up swiftly. The sound of bubbling water rang faintly in the air soon after.
After pouring himself a cup of tea, he lay back on the rattan chair. The mountain breeze caressed his face as he watched the flowing clouds in the sky. The mountains in front of him seemed to be leading carefree lives in his eyes.
“It’d be nice if I have a few maidservants to give me a massage,” Jiang Ming mumbled to himself, “It’d be perfect if I have a cellphone and a projector as well!”
4
Jiang Ming sighed. Nothing was completely perfect in life.
1
He took two sips from the teacup before he waved his hand. A book materialized in his hand, and he began to read it.
…
Zhiyang Peak.
After Yue Cheng returned to his Peak, he went to his study immediately. His eyebrows were furrowed as he put his mind to work.
“Who killed Junior Brother Zuo Han? He was killed with a single strike; he couldn’t even fight back or call for help. Just how powerful is his murderer? Since he went to Chuyang Peak, there are no Elders around except for that fool, Gu Hai. Which expert in the sect has a reason to kill him? Junior Brother Zuo Han had always maintained a low profile so he doesn’t have any enemies in the sect. Was his identity exposed? However, if he was exposed, he should’ve been captured and interrogated. This is really giving me a headache.”
Yue Cheng massaged his temples. When he recalled Zi Linglong’s performance today, he was filled with shock and disbelief again. “She’s a peerless cultivator. She’s comparable to a God Body or a Saint Body. If she’s in the Qingyun Sect, she’ll be the Holy Daughter. She has an incomparably bright future. She’s only turning 11 so her mind is still fickle. There’ll be great benefits if I take her under my wings. How can I recruit her to my side?”
Yue Cheng began thinking of ways to recruit Zi Linglong. In the end, he decided to wait.
“This is a crucial time. It’s better for me not to act for now. I should focus on investigating Grand Elders who cultivate sword techniques. With that, I’ll be able to find out if any of them is the murderer.”
After a moment, Yue Cheng finally decided to stop thinking about these matters for now.
…
The next day.
On Taiyang Peak.
Zi Linglong had learned a lot about her phoenix bloodline from the Sect Master. She was also given books to read; they were about developing her bloodline power. She had asked to be brought to the Sun Pit after that.
The Sun Pit was the source of a spiritual fountain. The experts of the sect gathered natural spiritual qi and qi from the ley lines in the area using a Grand Formation. Then, they added various spiritual medicines to construct this divine spring. At this place, cultivators could speed up their cultivation and improve their bodily constitutions. It was a wondrous place.
The reason Zi Linglong had decided to reveal her talent and strength was so she could come to this place.
“Linglong, you shouldn’t rush when it comes to cultivation. You have great potential, but you’re young. You need to gain more experience. Try to stay in the Golden Core Realm a little longer and enter the extreme state. If you can reach the fifth or sixth extreme, it’ll be extremely helpful in the future if you want to become an immortal or live a long life…” The Sect Master advised Linglong tirelessly in an affable manner.
Linglong listened to him and nodded like a chick pecking grain from the ground. Then, she walked to the pit and sat down cross-legged before activating her cultivation method and triggering her phoenix bloodline. With that, flames began to surge around her as her body emitted a divine pressure. Her body quickly absorbed the Nature Fluid from the spring as a vortex began to form near her.
“What a speedy absorption rate!” The Sect Master’s eyes lit up when he saw this.
Gu Hai asked worriedly, “Will she be okay?”
“I’ll be here if anything happens,” the Sect Master said reassuringly, “Moreover, there are other Elders here as well. We’ll notice it immediately if something’s amiss. Don’t worry.”
1
Gu Hai could only nod. Then, he asked again, “Will the spring dry up if she keeps this up?”
“If she does that, I’ll be incredibly happy,” the Sect Master replied.
However, he did not know that he could not laugh even if he wanted to when he saw what happened later.
…
At night.
Jiang Ming was still on the rooftop. He watched the stars as he drank the tea he brewed.
A gust of strong wind blew past the mountains, but it became a gentle and cooling breeze after it passed through the Formation. It felt like he was being caressed.
At this time, Jiang Ming’s eyes suddenly lit up. “It’s time!”
[Ding! Congratulations on living on Chuyang Peak for a year and carrying out at least one menial task each day. Reward: 100 years’ worth of cultivation, ten Enlightening Tea Leaves, three Shadowless Needles, and five Enlightening Stones]
Jiang Ming smiled when he heard the system notification. “These are some generous rewards.”
100 years of cultivation was incredibly precious, after all. The ten Enlightening Tea Lives were useful as well. Even the Sect Master would fight for something like this.
[Ding! Shadowless Needle: Invisible when used. Can be used to kill a person discreetly. Cannot be reused. Comparable to a high-grade item]
“Comparable to a high-grade item?” Jiang Ming inhaled sharply. Not even Gu Hai possessed something of this grade. He was certain Gu Hai, a First Seat, only possessed two low-grade items.
“It’s a pity that they’re not reusable. However, they’ll come in handy since they can kill discreetly. If I have no choice but to make a move in the future, I’ll have another option available to me…”
Jiang Ming held the Shadowless Needles carefully in his hands after he brought them out.
‘I should try and master how to use them first…’
It was not difficult to master how to use the needles. With the needles, he was confident about going against Dao Seed experts. He was certain he could even kill them.
‘Not bad. Not bad at all!’
Jiang Ming was in a good mood as he brought out the Enlightening Stones.
[Ding! Enlightening Stone: after activation, the user’s mind will be one with nature. The user will be able to understand the workings of the world and gain insight into the world’s laws. It only lasts for an hour]
The effect was somewhat similar to being in a meditative state. He was happier to receive this compared to other items. It was like an enhanced version of the Enlightening Tea Leaves.
“Did the system give me this because I’m too slow at learning spells and mastering special abilities?” Jiang Ming wondered out loud as he rose to his feet and stretched his limbs.
He raised his hands and grabbed at thin air, acting as though he had the universe in his hand. “When I master the knowledge of the sun and moon’s cycles, I’ll turn the sky into my farm!”
After saying that, he turned around and looked at the ten Mu of farmland with a smile on his face. He had a long road ahead of him to reach his objective.
…
When Jiang Ming finally returned to his room, he sat down cross-legged on his bed.
He knew it was now time for him to achieve a breakthrough.