CHAPTER 413: CHAPTER 408: DIVINE MECHANISM HUNDRED REFINEMENTS! LATE NASCENT SOUL STAGE!_1

The idea of the Dusk Treasured Light began to take root, showing Jia Ren a glimmer of hope.

He had never liked the idea of fighting stronger enemies by skipping ranks; he preferred to crush his foes, winning through solid and reliable means. Not being able to crush his enemies was far too risky. If the plan for the Dusk Treasured Light were successful, it would artificially create a "Dusk" zone, striking at the enemy’s Spiritual Power and nature’s spiritual energy right at the source. For Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivators who performed Divine Skills that drew upon nature’s spiritual energy, the Dusk Treasured Light could be considered their nemesis. Even if it didn’t reach the scope of the Age of Dusk, weakening the enemy’s spiritual energy so they couldn’t fight for long was also a decent choice. Although the idea was good, there was unfortunately no real reference point, and he still needed to create a similar Magic Artifact or Magical Treasure to achieve this effect. A single Magic Artifact or Magical Treasure wouldn’t suffice; various lights would need to be used in combination, with the lights forming components that assembled to create the Dusk Treasured Light.

The fog in Jia Ren’s mind cleared, his eyes brightened, and he finally found a solution.

This was the path he would take after mastering the Treasure Light Body Refining Technique. On the day when the Treasure Light reached its peak, how powerful would it become?

Jia Ren recorded the Inscription of Magical Treasures and the Refining Technique he would use for reference.

He noted down the methods he had exchanged for and found the little old man guarding the second floor.

"Are you sure you want to exchange for so many cultivation techniques?"

"Biting off more than one can chew isn’t wise. Specializing in one cultivation technique is the only way to have a long journey ahead."

"The Lingbao Sect is an Artifact Refining sect; refining artifacts is your best choice," the old man asserted, lecturing endlessly.

Earning Lingbao Sect Contribution was no easy feat, and he didn’t want Jia Ren to waste it needlessly.

"Thank you for the warning, elder, but my mind is made up. How much Lingbao Sect Contribution for everything?" Jia Ren wouldn’t change his mind for anyone.

The old man didn’t persuade him further and took out a blank Jade Slip, beginning to record.

"The Infant Breath Pill and Dust Settling Pill alchemy recipes cost fifteen thousand Lingbao Sect Contribution."

"Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements, one hundred thousand Lingbao Sect Contribution."

"Various Artifact Refining methods... in total, two hundred ninety-three thousand Lingbao Sect Contribution."

Lingbao Sect Contribution came quickly but also went quickly.

In the blink of an eye, almost four hundred and ten thousand Lingbao Sect Contribution was spent, leaving him with one hundred thousand in hand.

Lingbao Sect Contribution was just a number; its true value was only realized when converted into something needed.

Jia Ren left the Spirit Law Pavilion satisfied, carrying over a hundred Jade Slips.

He didn’t stop along the way and hurried back to his Cave Abode.

With the mundane matters affecting his cultivation resolved, he could now cultivate in peace.

Ancestor Ji Kong, his nominal master, wanted him to challenge the Tongtian Tower and complete the final procedure to be ranked as a True Disciple.

Promotion from an Inner Sect disciple to a True Disciple would grant him at least one Spiritual Treasure, elevate his status, and even secure him an independent Cave Abode within the sect. This was a tremendously good fortune; under normal circumstances, Jia Ren would naturally wish to be promoted to True Disciple. However, times had changed. The Shimo Sect and the Lingbao Sect were locked in a massive war, the battle raging furiously, with neither side giving quarter. The battlefield was a meat grinder; once one was deeply mired in it, it was hard to leave unscathed. The moment he was promoted to True Disciple, especially being of the Heterodox Lineage, he would undoubtedly be drafted for the war. Jia Ren just wanted to cultivate in peace; becoming a True Disciple would bring more disadvantages than benefits. The longer he could delay, the better. If he could delay until the war between the Shimo Sect and the Lingbao Sect was over, all the better.

After hanging a sign indicating closed-door cultivation outside his Cave Abode, Jia Ren entered the Mountain and Sea Pearl to study his gains.

The Infant Breath Pill, needless to say, was an extremely precious elixir that enhanced the Spiritual Root Aptitude of one’s descendants. The example of the Heavenly Treasure Body was a precedent. Although luck played a part, it still demonstrated the value of the Infant Breath Pill to some extent.

He first took out the alchemy recipe of the Infant Breath Pill for study.

Refining this elixir required the flesh and Demon Core of an Infant Carp as the primary ingredients. The other auxiliary ingredients were Thousand-Year Spiritual Medicines, but they paled in comparison to the Infant Carp.

Since Jia Ren had reverted the Infant Carp to its ancestral form, the Holy Infant Carp, the situation was different, so the original recipe couldn’t be directly applied.

He began to modify the Infant Breath Pill’s alchemy recipe based on the properties of the Holy Infant Carp’s flesh.

That was one task. Secondly, he intended to use the Holy Infant Carp’s flesh to create an elixir that could enhance Spiritual Root Aptitude. The Spirit Law Pavilion had no corresponding elixirs, so he could only rely on his own research for this. Jia Ren had consumed Infant Carp flesh before and was exceedingly familiar with its properties. While creating an elixir to enhance Spiritual Root Aptitude might take a long time, researching and refining the Infant Breath Pill wouldn’t be an issue. The Holy Infant Carp possessed an Immortal Physique, its flesh regenerating endlessly. As long as he continuously harvested its flesh, he wouldn’t need to worry about raw materials for elixirs in the future. Every Infant Breath Pill, if it were to circulate, would be enough to make even Refining Void Ancestors go mad, willing to trade Spiritual Treasures for one. Unfortunately, this was destined to be an item not for sale. The Holy Infant Carp was a secret that must be treated cautiously and never divulged.

Jia Ren spent his days cultivating the Heavenly Treasure Primordial Spirit Technique to advance his Cultivation Level, while also researching the Infant Breath Pill and the Dusk Treasured Light.

He returned to his usual routine, meditating and cultivating daily, exerting his utmost effort to improve his Cultivation Level.

The Insect External Incarnation and the Xuan Beast Avatar weren’t idle either, also striving in their cultivation.

The Insect External Incarnation, for its part, cultivated daily without fail and progressed rapidly. Ever since it no longer had to focus on the Spirit Medicine Garden and nurture Spirit Insects, it devoted itself entirely to cultivation.

The Xuan Beast Avatar took over the duties of the Insect External Incarnation. After daily cultivation, it would use its Innate Divine Power of Nature and the Spring Breeze Spiritual Rain Spell to speed up the growth of the Spiritual Medicine. The Kuruo Huasheng Jue wasn’t limited to plundering the essence of flora to accelerate the growth of Spiritual Medicine, though that was indeed the fastest method with the highest catalytic efficiency. The Xuan Beast Avatar, using the Art of Thriving, could also speed up the growth of the Spiritual Medicine.

With the combined application of its Innate Divine Power of Nature, the Spring Breeze Spiritual Rain Spell, and the Art of Thriving, the Spiritual Medicines flourished, a single day’s growth equivalent to ten days for ordinary Spiritual Medicine.

If this state could be stably maintained, a hundred years of growth would be comparable to that of a Thousand-Year Spiritual Medicine.

「In the blink of an eye, six years had passed.」

During these six years, it was inconvenient for the Insect External Incarnation to appear, so all miscellaneous matters, including the Corpse Collector’s duties, were handled by the Xuan Beast Avatar.

He didn’t lack Cultivation Techniques or Divine Skills. However, without sufficient time to practice them all, he wasn’t eager to learn new secret techniques and Divine Abilities.

Jia Ren had been steadily secluding himself for cultivation, undisturbed by external affairs.

"This is Junior Brother Jia’s Cave Abode?"

"Tsk, tsk. He’s certainly taken an unconventional path, establishing his own Cave Abode on Xiao Mang Mountain. It is indeed tranquil."

"Recently, the number of corpses sent to Xiao Mang Mountain has been increasing. Junior Brother hasn’t recruited any help and handles them all alone. He’s clearly trying to avoid the sect war."

"This junior brother is truly a marvelous person."

A man and a woman appeared on Xiao Mang Mountain, arriving together. The male cultivator murmured to himself.

Two grey-robed cultivators brought seven incomplete corpses, severely tainted by demonic energy.

A white-robed youth’s hands shimmered with spiritual light as he mended the corpses before finding a suitable burial spot for them.

"Junior Brother Jia, we are both disciples of Master Ji Kong. This is your Ninth Senior Sister, Immortal Hui Ling."

"I am your Seventh Senior Brother. You can call me Qing Ge."

The two looked towards Jia Ren, sizing him up.

His cultivation level doesn’t match. How is he only at the Early Golden Core Stage? According to the information we received, Jia Ren is a Mid Nascent Soul Stage cultivator.

"I have informed my true form; he will arrive shortly."

After the Xuan Beast Avatar finished speaking, it looked towards the Cave Abode.

The long-sealed doors of the Cave Abode creaked open, and a figure in a green robe emerged, exuding the Spiritual Power Fluctuations of a Mid Nascent Soul Stage cultivator.

Jia Ren waved his hand, and the Xuan Beast Avatar vanished into white light.

"Greetings, Senior Sister Hui Ling, Senior Brother Qing Ge."

He quickly greeted the two Divinity Transformation Stage senior martial siblings.

After six years of arduous cultivation, given the astonishing efficiency of the Heavenly Treasure Primordial Spirit Technique, his Cultivation Level couldn’t possibly have stagnated. Half a year ago, he had already smoothly broken through to the Late Nascent Soul Stage.

The time it took to advance from the Early to Mid Nascent Soul Stage was short, but that could be attributed to my profound foundation and being close to a breakthrough anyway. But to reach the Late Nascent Soul Stage from the Mid Nascent Soul Stage in merely sixteen years... such a cultivation speed is too unbelievable. There’s no guarantee it wouldn’t attract unwanted attention and trouble from those with malicious intent. I won’t take such risks! The best method was to conceal my cultivation level and feign being at the Mid Nascent Soul Stage. With my Divine Skill of the Silent Ancient Well at a Technique-Nearing-Dao Level of proficiency, and possessing the Spiritual Treasure, the Bewildering Spirit Bead, even a Void Refinement Cultivator would find it difficult to see through my concealed cultivation.

"Junior Brother, is this your avatar?"

"Which avatar Divine Skill have you cultivated?" Immortal Hui Ling asked with a surprised expression, seemingly very interested in avatar Divine Skills.

The sect has numerous Divine Skills, but a cultivator’s energy is limited. Most specialize in only one or two Divine Skills and secret techniques. Cultivating too many Divine Skills can hamper progress in cultivation realms—it’s biting off more than one can chew. The Lingbao Sect has many avatar-type Divine Skills, but not everyone learns them.

"The Xuan Beast Avatar," Jia Ren answered, seeing no need to hide a mere steward-like avatar.

"Junior Brother, what kind of Spirit Beast is this?" Immortal Hui Ling pressed on, lacking a sense of propriety and giving off an air of naivety.

"Junior Sister, don’t even think about cultivating this type of avatar."

"The Xuan Beast Avatar’s potential is insufficient; it has no possibility of reaching the Divinity Transformation Stage."

An avatar takes too long to become combat-effective. The Xuan Beast Avatar, in particular, has low aptitude, and its cultivation progresses slowly. It’s different from avatars like the Second Nascent Soul or the Profound Water Avatar, which start at a high level—Nascent Soul Level right from the outset. It’s not easy to cultivate a Spirit Beast into a Xuan Beast Avatar. Adult Magical Beasts are difficult to subdue, and forming a spiritual bond with them is challenging. No one wants the Xuan Beast Avatar they refined to betray its master. Refining a Xuan Beast Avatar requires raising it from a young age. The most significant reason for the decline of the Xuan Beast Avatar is the scarcity of Magical Beasts. High-potential Spirit Beasts are even rarer, almost to the point of extinction.

When choosing an avatar Divine Skill, the Lingbao Sect would definitely not choose the Xuan Beast Avatar.

Immortal Hui Ling, who had initially been interested, immediately lost all enthusiasm upon hearing it couldn’t reach the Divinity Transformation Stage.

Below the Divinity Transformation Stage, all are ants. Dealing with Nascent Soul Stage cultivators is effortless, like crushing an insect. Why waste time and energy cultivating a Divine Skill that amounts to little more than a toy? That’s a waste of life!

"Junior Brother, Master is very dissatisfied with you."

"It’s been a long time since you became his disciple, yet you still haven’t challenged the Tongtian Tower."

"If you don’t go challenge the Tongtian Tower soon, you’re going to be expelled from his tutelage!" Senior Brother Qing Ge said with a teasing expression.

For someone who could ascend to the rank of True Disciple in a single step to not even attempt the Tongtian Tower for six years... this was unprecedented in the history of the Lingbao Sect.

Hearing he might be expelled from the master’s tutelage, Jia Ren’s eyes lit up slightly.

There’s such a good thing?! With the Spirit Devouring Treasure Art in my grasp, a master is dispensable. My relationship with Ancestor Ji Kong is solid, and with Ma Zhongyuan as a connection, he would never actually expel me.

"Some ancestor from a rival lineage found out about your situation and has been using it to mock Master, causing him to lose a great deal of face."

"He gave us a strict order: we must supervise you as you challenge the Tongtian Tower."

"Junior Brother, please don’t make things difficult for your Senior Brother and Senior Sister, alright?" Senior Brother Qing Ge said helplessly. "Just hurry up and become a True Disciple!"