NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20
Chapter 20: Becoming Azure Cloud Daoist’s Disciple, Gaining the Blessed Spiritual Field
Translator: yikaii Editor: yikaii
Su Xing had gone through so much trouble precisely to become this elder’s disciple.
Although it was only as a named disciple, the benefits would certainly be better than just obtaining the Divine Farmer’s Spiritual Cultivation Technique technique.
So without hesitation, Su Xing bowed and said, “Disciple greets Master!”
Azure Cloud Daoist smiled, stroking his long beard, and said, “Since you have now joined my sect, I have a few gifts for you!”
“The first gift is an immortal technique called ‘Divine Farmer’s Spiritual Cultivation Technique’. I obtained it by chance and have studied it diligently for thousands of years but have yet to perfect it…”
“I see that you have great talent in farming, so I am giving you this immortal technique. If you can master it, you will find your place in this vast world.”
With that, Azure Cloud Daoist handed the jade slip containing Divine Farmer’s Spiritual Cultivation Technique to Su Xing.
“Thank you, Master!”
Su Xing eagerly accepted it, knowing this technique was worth 1 billion energy points! Bringing it out from the simulator would take an unimaginable amount of time, but obtaining it directly in the real world meant he didn’t have to spend any energy.
Azure Cloud Daoist nodded slightly and continued, “The second gift is this three-inch blessed land!”
“Though this blessed land only spans a small mountain of about a hundred zhang in diameter, it is full of spiritual energy, with beautiful mountains and clear waters, making it perfect for you to study the way of nurturing spiritual beings.”
With that, Azure Cloud Daoist pointed with his finger, sending an imprint to Su Xing’s forehead, which merged into his body.
Su Xing felt a connection with the blessed land, able to sense everything within it.
“Does this mean I effectively own this Dungeon and can enter and exit at will?”
Su Xing was once again amazed by his new master’s abilities.
Azure Cloud Daoist then took out a token and handed it to Su Xing, saying, “The third gift is the Azure Cloud Token of the Azure Cloud Sect. Though you are only a named disciple, your status in the sect is not low. Once you reach the Void Returning stage, you can become my formal disciple and go to the Azure Cloud Sect in the Azure Cloud Realm.”
Su Xing accepted the ancient token, feeling slightly excited.
The Azure Cloud Sect was clearly a legitimate cultivation sect, likely filled with numerous cultivation resources. If he could enter the sect, it would be a huge gain.
Unfortunately, Azure Cloud Daoist set a high bar, requiring Su Xing to reach the Void Returning stage before going to the Azure Cloud Sect, which was still far off for him.
After giving the three gifts, Azure Cloud Daoist asked, “Disciple, do you have any other questions?”
Su Xing thought for a moment and said, “Master, I lack a superior cultivation technique… And you mentioned I am suited for pill refining, but I don’t have any pill refining techniques either…”
Azure Cloud Daoist nodded slightly and handed him another jade slip, saying, “I am not well-versed in pill refining, but I have this Trigram Fire Pill Refining Technique, which contains 360 alchemical recipes. It should be sufficient for you to learn.”
(TL Note: The Trigram Fire Pill Refining Technique in chinese is 离火炼丹术. The first word, 离 represents the south direction as well as fire in the Eight Trigrams. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagua)
Su Xing quickly accepted this pill refining technique, knowing how important pill refining would be for him now.
Whether for boosting his own strength or making money by selling pills, it was invaluable.
Finally, Azure Cloud Daoist said, “As for superior cultivation techniques, you must remember that trying to learn too much at once is not beneficial. For now, the Everlasting Spring Technique is sufficient for you to cultivate to the Void Returning stage and will greatly benefit you. Once you have perfected this technique, come to me again.”
With that, Azure Cloud Daoist waved his sleeve and slowly dissipated from the small paradise.
His laughter echoed in the air:
“An aimless Daoist, wandering for three thousand years… How delightful! How delightful~”
Staring at his vanished master, Su Xing was left bewildered.
“Master I am not riding on it yet, don’t leave me”
“Oh damn! I mean my technique is only a partial version! It’s not enough to cultivate to the Void Returning stage!”
(TL Note: Sexual joke that doesn’t translate well. He means that he hasn’t gotten carried yet but the way he said it makes it sound like he’s riding someone)i
Su Xing called out loudly but received no response.
Su Xing’s face immediately darkened, and he muttered to himself, “Damn it! Acting like some reclusive master… why didn’t he even give me a complete cultivation technique?”
Feeling a bit exasperated, Su Xing knew that his Everlasting Spring Technique was only half-complete, not nearly enough to cultivate to the Void Returning stage.
With a sigh, he entered the thatched cottage, hoping his master had left him some other valuable items.
After searching for a while, he only found a few bags of seeds, a worn-out pill refining furnace, and a few hundred spirit stones.
“Seriously… these spirit stones are supposed to get me to the Void Returning stage?”
Su Xing was speechless. The few hundred spirit stones, combined with the 200 he had previously saved, didn’t even total a thousand.
It would be fortunate if they could get him to the Golden Core stage… as for Void Returning, that was still a distant dream!
“Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to simulate hundreds of times, bringing out cultivation each time. Eventually, I’ll break through to the Void Returning stage!”
Su Xing tried to reassure himself.
“But finding the second half of the Everlasting Spring Technique needs to be prioritized…”
Su Xing stroked his chin. The Everlasting Spring Technique originated from that mysterious organization, so to find the second half, he would undoubtedly need to interact with them.
After organizing the modest inheritance his master had left, Su Xing began to carefully examine the “three-inch blessed land.”
As Azure Cloud Daoist had said, this small paradise spanned a hundred zhang in diameter, totaling about 500 acres.
However, much of the land was covered with trees and weeds, leaving only about ten acres of arable spiritual fields.
Nevertheless, this portable paradise was invaluable to Su Xing!
Feeling a connection, Su Xing exited the Azure Cloud Spiritual Field and returned to the real world.
By now, it was late, and Su Xing immediately saw Jin Congxue waiting nearby.
“Su Xing, you’re finally out!” Jin Congxue said excitedly.
After chatting with Jin Congxue for a while, Su Xing asked, “Congxue, those spirit stones are not useful to you but are very important to me. Would you be willing to exchange your fifty spirit stones for fifty catties of spiritual rice?”
Jin Congxue shook her head and said, “I only got these rewards because of your help. I should give you half anyway!”
With that, Jin Congxue handed Su Xing the fifty spirit stones.
Su Xing didn’t hesitate and accepted them.
For Su Xing, spiritual rice could be obtained through farming and was a renewable resource.
But spirit stones were different. Without a known method to obtain more, each one used was a permanent loss, making them extremely valuable.
Jin Congxue glanced at the sky and said, “Su Xing, it’s getting late. Let’s head back to the city.”
Su Xing nodded in agreement and returned to Nanjing City with Jin Congxue.
The time in the Azure Cloud Spiritual Field Dungeon flowed at the same rate as the real world.
It was now November 26th in the real world, and Su Xing’s simulation cooldown had ended. Without hesitation, he chose to simulate again.
“Start simulation!”
【Consuming 1,200 energy points, remaining energy: 2,680 points, no remaining Simulation Chance.】
【Simulation begins!】
【Extracting white talent costs 100 energy points, green talent costs 1,000 energy points. Proceed with extraction?】
“Extract green talent!”
【Ding, congratulations! You have acquired the green talent, Mr Strong!】
(End of the chapter)