CHAPTER 415: CHAPTER 410 HERETICAL TRUE TRANSMISSION! FORCED CONSCRIPTION!_1

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Jia Ren did not refuse and nodded with a smile.

The three of them headed toward the Northern District of the Lingbao Sect, passed through the Miasma Swamp, and arrived at the sight of the Five Meridian Peaks. The five peaks, resembling a human hand, varied in height and size. The central peak was the tallest, like a person’s middle finger. Next were the ’index finger’ and ’ring finger,’ corresponding to the Heavenly Punishment Lineage and the Primordial Chaos Lineage, respectively. Lastly, there were the ’thumb’ and the ’little finger’; the former corresponded to the Suppressing Trickery Lineage, and the latter to the Heterodox Lineage. These two guarded the Spiritual Treasure, Heavenly Punishment, and Primordial Chaos Lineages, protecting them from within.

One hundred thousand years ago, Bizarre Demons proliferated. Few Cultivators had the means to contend with these creatures and were powerless to resist them. The Lingbao Sect, with its vast array of Soul Transformation Treasures and Magical Treasures for sealing Strange Beasts, was considered preeminent. Most sects could only struggle for survival under the demons’ dominion, seeking help from the Lingbao Sect and attaching themselves to it to remain alive. At its peak, the Lingbao Sect was known as the foremost sect of the Mysterious Realm, with widespread allies and treasures as vast as the sea. Void Refinement Cultivators vied to donate treasures, hoping to get their descendants admitted into the Lingbao Sect.

Which sect can prosper indefinitely?

After the Bizarre Demons were successively sent to the Sealed Land, the Mysterious Realm was freed from their threat, and the Lingbao Sect’s status rapidly declined. The sect’s amassed wealth attracted covetous eyes; numerous powers allied with various sects, leading to several major wars. While the once-glorious Lingbao Sect emerged victorious, it suffered severely, inevitably sliding toward decline. Today, the Lingbao Sect is still among the top sects of the Mysterious Realm, but it is no longer at its zenith.

The Suppressing Trickery Lineage, the ’thumb’ that once led the Lingbao Sect to prosperity, has now become the weakest branch. The ’little finger,’ the Heterodox Lineage, has risen to prominence, second only to the Celestial Treasure Main Meridian.

Now, while the peaks still stand, the people have changed.

Jia Ren arrived at Heterodox Peak, following Senior Brother Qingge and Senior Sister Huiling into the Heterodox Hall.

"Senior Brother Feng, this is a new disciple who has just joined the sect."

Only one Cultivator, exuding a sense of solitude, was seated in the Heterodox Hall. With the Lingbao Sect and the Shimo Sect at war, most of the Divine Transformation Cultivators from the Heterodox Hall, who formed the main force protecting the Lingbao Sect, had gone to battle. Within the hall, an armless Divine Transformation Cultivator sat quietly in meditation on a wooden chair. Sensing their arrival, his eyes snapped open, Razor Sharp as a drawn sword. This was undoubtedly some kind of extraordinary heterodox Divine Skill.

"Uncle Jikong’s new disciple?"

"Interesting!"

"Are you finally willing to become an Outer Path Peak true disciple?" Senior Brother Feng’s gaze was peculiar, as if he had already heard about Jia Ren’s reluctance to advance to True Disciple.

"Here is your Spirit Storing Bag."

A yellow leather bag was lifted by an invisible force and brought before Jia Ren. All Divine Transformation Cultivators in the Lingbao Sect possessed a Spirit Storing Bag. This item was far more valuable than a River Mountain Bag, with over ten times the space. If it were the old Jia Ren, he would definitely have tried to replicate such an item. The Mountain and Sea Pearl was of a significantly higher grade than the Spirit Storing Bag, its internal space expanding as its grade increased. His need for storage space had thus been minimized.

Jia Ren accepted the Spirit Storing Bag, his spiritual sense entering it without resistance. The space inside was roughly one hundred thousand cubic meters, containing white elixir bottles, a purple Taoist robe (a Spiritual Treasure-level replica), and a True Disciple Token.

"Holding the Heterodox True Disciple Token, you may go to the Internal Affairs Pavilion to select a Spiritual Treasure and construct your Cave Abode."

The benefits of being promoted to a True Disciple were evident: a Spirit Storing Bag, a bottle of elixirs for Divine Transformation Cultivators to advance their Cultivation Level, a Spiritual Treasure-level replica robe, and the opportunity to select a Spiritual Treasure. Additionally, there was the eligibility to establish a Cave Abode. Inner Sect Disciples were the reserve talents of the Lingbao Sect. Only by becoming a True Disciple, or reaching the Divinity Transformation Stage, could one be considered a pillar of the sect.

Jia Ren was quite satisfied with the outcome. He put away the Spirit Storing Bag and was about to bid farewell.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Jia. Starting today, your name shall be recorded in the roster of True Disciples, and you will officially become one." Senior Brother Feng smiled and reminded him, "Junior Brother Jia, I forgot to tell you something."

"All Outer Path Peak true disciples must battle the Shimo Sect Cultivators. This is the duty every Cultivator of the Heterodox Lineage must fulfill."

"You have seven days to proceed to the Heiyuan Secret Realm, slay the Demon Cultivators of the Shimo Sect, and uphold the name of our Lingbao Sect."

???

The predicament had come too swiftly, catching him off guard. Jia Ren had guessed that becoming a True Disciple would likely involve being conscripted by the sect to participate in the war against the Shimo Sect; this indeed matched his expectations. But just seven days of respite was utterly exasperating! Becoming a True Disciple at this time was like jumping into a pit of fire.

Is there still time for me to go back to being an Inner Sect Disciple?!

Senior Brother Feng’s tone held a hint of warning. "Defying sect missions results in extremely severe punishments. Beware, Junior Brother Jia."

Jia Ren turned to look at Senior Brother Qingge and Senior Sister Huiling. His ’convenient’ senior brother and sister did not seem surprised, as if they had already known. This was pushing him into a fire pit.

"Senior Brother Feng, Junior Brother Jia is an Artifact Refiner. Can an Artifact Refiner be exempt from participating in the war?" Senior Brother Qingge finally proved useful, stepping up to argue for ’justice’ for Jia Ren.

Artifact Refiners in the Lingbao Sect were still granted some preferential treatment. They wouldn’t be expected to take the lead in battle due to their expertise in cultivation crafts.

Senior Brother Feng glanced at Jia Ren and shook his head. "He has not registered with the Refining Palace, so he is not recognized as an Artifact Refiner by the Lingbao Sect."

"Furthermore... can you even refine a Spiritual Treasure?!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Ren involuntarily shook his head. All his energy had been focused on cultivation, putting aside the advancement of his Soul Transformation Treasure to a Spiritual Treasure. Without deep study and research into the methods of Spiritual Treasures, he had yet to master the techniques of refining them or the Spirit Treasure Inscriptions. He was not confident in successfully refining a Spiritual Treasure.

"If you are not a Spirit Treasure Refiner, there are no special exemptions."

Lingbao Sect Cultivators, upon reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, would visit the Refining Palace and learn some Artifact Refining. Those with insufficient talent would not waste time pursuing advanced studies in Artifact Refining. Ordinary Artifact Refiners were far too common. Only by refining a Spiritual Treasure would one’s status completely change, marking a qualitative leap.

"Can a Spirit Treasure Refiner be exempted from war?" Jia Ren’s eyes lit up, as if he had found a way out. With half a year to study, he could fully comprehend the Secret Record of Treasure Refining, and crafting an ordinary Spiritual Treasure would not be an issue.

This was an opportunity to change his ’fate’!

"If I enter the Refining Palace and become a Spirit Treasure Refiner, can I be exempted from participating in the war?" This was just speculation; he had to hear the answer himself to be reassured.

"Every Spirit Treasure Refiner is exceedingly rare and invaluable. As long as the sect exists, it will do everything in its power to protect your safety."

Jia Ren received a satisfactory answer, and his mood improved somewhat.

It was regrettable that he hadn’t learned to refine Spiritual Treasures. Being forced into it now would likely not work.

"It’s too late to take the assessment."

"Seven days is too short. It’s impossible to refine a Spiritual Treasure." Senior Brother Qingge reminded him, "You won’t be able to escape this battle."

The time was too short; it was impossible to refine a Spiritual Treasure. There was no room for maneuver.

This is truly a headache; what other solution is there?

Seek the help of one of the High-level Elders of Lingbao Sect to exempt himself from the task? Jia Ren had plenty of items that could attract Void Refinement Cultivators. The easiest to offer was the Infant Breath Pill. After six years of closed-door cultivation, he had refined Infant Breath Pills during meditation breaks and in his spare time. Although he had not tested his replica of the Infant Breath Pill himself, he was certain its effects were several times better than the Infant Carp version. Using this pill to ’bribe’ an Elder from the Heterodox Lineage to resolve the conscription issue wouldn’t be difficult.

But bringing out the Infant Breath Pill would invite real trouble. Given his relationship with Ma Zhongyuan, the old monsters of the Lingbao Sect would associate it with the heaven-defyingly talented Ma Tianbao. This was the best advertisement for the Infant Breath Pill! Few could resist its temptation; countless High-Order Cultivators would come asking for the pill, and his doorstep would be trampled. Facing perpetual visits from Void Refinement and Fusion Ancestors, if he claimed to have only one Infant Breath Pill, would anyone believe him?Rejecting any High-Order Cultivator would invite unbearable trouble.Besides, he risked exposing his secrets, creating endless future problems.

Since Artifact Refining was not an option, and he dared not bring out the Infant Breath Pill, the only choice left was to venture into the Heiyuan Secret Realm.

The three of them left the Heterodox Hall and traveled onward.

"Senior Brother, do you know the current situation of the war between the Lingbao Sect and the Shimo Sect?"

"What kind of place is the Heiyuan Secret Realm? Is it dangerous?" Jia Ren was about to enter the Secret Realm, yet he was completely in the dark about the sect’s current war situation and needed intelligence. If the war’s intensity was low, it meant both sides were exercising restraint, with no intention to escalate. He wouldn’t have to worry about fighting equals only to be ambushed by a Void Refinement Ancestor. If the Heiyuan Secret Realm is too dangerous, with Nascent Soul Cultivators as common as dogs and Void Refinement Cultivators abounding, then I’d better pack up and run as soon as possible...

Senior Brother Qingge was not stingy with information. "The war between the Shimo Sect and the Lingbao Sect is more like... a military drill," he explained. "So far, the highest-level Cultivator to participate in the battle is at the late Divinity Transformation stage; no Void Refinement Cultivators have taken the field."

"The Heiyuan Secret Realm is one of the five major Secret Realm Battlefields with the lowest intensity. Its cultivation limit is Nascent Soul Peak."

"The sect would not knowingly send True Disciples to their deaths."

"Whether you can retreat safely from this battle depends on your own abilities."

"Junior Brother Zhuo Chengdao is also in the Heiyuan Secret Realm. With two brothers teaming up, your safety will be greatly ensured." Senior Brother Qingge also hoped his junior brother would survive and leave, providing future opportunities to refine Spiritual Treasures. Offering guidance was akin to granting a favor. If Jia Ren survived and became a Spirit Treasure Refiner, it would be greatly beneficial to him.

Senior Brother Qingge took Jia Ren to the Internal Affairs Hall and then smiled. "The rest is up to you."

"You can borrow the Intercepting Spirit Needle for at most seven days. Afterward, I too must enter the Secret Realm, and I’ll need this treasure for protection."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Qingge," Jia Ren bowed in gratitude and watched Senior Brother Qingge and his admirer, Senior Sister Huiling, depart.

Jia Ren strode into the Internal Affairs Hall and met the Internal Affairs Manager.

"Congratulations on becoming a True Disciple of the Lingbao Sect." The Internal Affairs Manager was well-informed, having received the news only slightly after Jia Ren. He quickly said with a smile, "You can select two Spiritual Treasures."

"One is the Spiritual Treasure earned from clearing the Tongtian Tower, and the second is the Spiritual Treasure for becoming a True Disciple."

In seven days, Jia Ren would enter the Secret Realm and also have to fight the Demon Cultivators of the Shimo Sect. Selecting Spiritual Treasures had to be done with care. Two additional Spiritual Treasures could improve his chances of survival. Both should ideally be chosen for their life-preserving qualities.