Seeking Immortality in a Bizarre World

Chapter 389 - 384 Kuruo Huasheng Jue! Lingbao Refinement Method!_1

Jia Ren cultivated diligently every day, advancing his Cultivation Level.

A year passed, and Xiao Mang Mountain only sent one corpse.

This was a Cultivator who had died after exhausting his lifespan. His life had been a waste, as he never inherited any true teachings. In the end, he merely managed to become a Steward of the Medicinal Garden and died without ever breaking through to the Divinity Transformation Stage.

The Cultivation Technique he learned was called Kuruo Huasheng Jue, a Wood-type Cultivation Technique that could absorb the medicinal potency of plants with Spiritual Nature to nourish Spiritual Medicines. It plundered the essence of plants and herbs to nourish Spiritual Medicines, aiding their accelerated growth. As a method for cultivating Spiritual Medicines, it could be considered a divine art.

The top Sects in the Mysterious Realm mostly had similar techniques, even cultivating special Cultivators dedicated to growing Spiritual Medicines. Great Sects relied on this method to more easily obtain precious Spiritual Medicines, in an unending supply.

As expected of the Lingbao Sect! Jia Ren thought. Another powerful Cultivation Technique so soon. Regrettably, what I wanted to practice was a technique that used Magical Treasures and Spiritual Treasures to rapidly improve my Cultivation Level. Practicing Cultivation Techniques with the aid of Magical Treasures, along with the Spirit Devouring Treasure Art Divine Skills, would be double the pleasure.

He wouldn’t practice this Cultivation Technique himself. Instead, he handed it over to the Second Nascent Soul of his Insect External Incarnation, which specialized in cultivating, managing, and planting Spiritual Medicines.

In addition to Kuruo Huasheng Jue, there were Divine Skills like Everything Revives, secret techniques like Spring Breeze Spiritual Rain Spell, and others specifically for cultivating Spiritual Medicines and Spiritual Objects. With a full set of secret techniques for cultivating Spiritual Medicines, the future growth of Spiritual Medicines would accelerate.

"Daoist Jia, this is refined Heiming Emperor Gold."

Wei Chi Gong brought a piece of Spiritual Material, with no smile on his face. Since handing over the Soul Control Pill, nothing has happened to this day. This is enough to prove the pill hasn’t taken effect. Is the Soul Control Pill a False Core? Or was the plan exposed? The plan failed, and I still require Jia Ren to refine materials. Wei Chi Gong felt somewhat guilty. If it weren’t for needing Jia Ren, this could be a real problem.

Wei Chi Gong hadn’t restricted Jia Ren’s methods, fearing Jia Ren would go all out against him in a desperate struggle, so he could only try his best to collect the refinement methods for Spiritual Treasures.

"I nearly bankrupted myself to purchase the refinement methods for Spiritual Treasures," Wei Chi Gong said. "This method is called the Earth Spiritual Treasure Refinement Method. It records thirty-two types of Spirit Treasure Inscriptions, as well as the refinement methods for eighteen Spiritual Treasures, and over two hundred Inscriptions of Magical Treasures..."

A Jade Slip was sent over, recording a method for refining Spiritual Treasures. Wei Chi Gong had kept his promise and finally exchanged for the method to refine Spiritual Treasures.

Jia Ren was overjoyed. The thing I desired is finally within my grasp!

With the Soul Transformation Treasure, Spirit Treasure Inscriptions, and the refinement methods, along with a God Transformation Level Demon Soul, everything was ready. I can prepare to refine the Spiritual Treasure! He had waited too long for this moment.

"Why is there only half of the Spiritual Treasure Refining Technique?!" Jia Ren exclaimed as he took the Jade Slip, his divine sense probing into it, his smile gradually fading.

Wei Chi Gong began to laugh. "My resources were insufficient; I only managed to exchange for half of the Treasure Refining Method. Once I’ve gathered enough wealth, I’ll naturally exchange for the rest for you."

Normally, when exchanging for the method to refine Spiritual Treasures, it’s the entire Spiritual Treasure Refining Technique that is traded. It’s not like selling things at a stall; who would be willing to sell it piecemeal? Jia Ren thought.

Wei Chi Gong had, in fact, exchanged for the complete Earth Spiritual Treasure Refinement Method, but he deliberately withheld the full details. Jia Ren has no means to retaliate, even if he wants to turn against me. I’ll give him only half of the Earth Spiritual Treasure Refinement Method. If he wants the other half, won’t he have to work honestly for me? The failure of the Soul Control Pill is regrettable, but the Earth Spiritual Treasure Refinement Method will be my new means of control. The day I give him the remaining half of the Earth Spiritual Treasure Refinement Method will also be the day this person outlives his usefulness and is eliminated.

Jia Ren looked at Wei Chi Gong, his expression turning cold. How could I not see through Wei Chi Gong’s little schemes?

He raised his right hand high and slapped Wei Chi Gong across the face. He hadn’t turned against Wei Chi Gong over the Soul Control Pill because he was waiting for the Spiritual Treasure’s refinement method. To think he could control me with the Spiritual Treasure’s refinement method? Does he really think I’m a clay figure to be manipulated at will?!

The strength of the Black Dragon Ming King Body in its normal state was astonishing. With one strike, he sent Wei Chi Gong flying, his cheek caving in.

"Within three days, I want to see the other half of the Lingbao Refinement Method," Jia Ren stated coldly. "Otherwise, bear the consequences!"

This fellow just never learns, always pushing his luck. Does he really think he has the ability to control me?

Wei Chi Gong’s left cheekbone was deformed, a large flap of mangled flesh hanging from it, blood continuously flowing from the wound. His eyes, filled with hate, glared at Jia Ren, his twisted face resembling a Malevolent Ghost.

"How dare you!" Wei Chi Gong roared. "Even with the status of a mere Handyman, you have the audacity to strike me?! Do you know the price of insubordination in the Lingbao Sect?! Kneel down now!"

Wei Chi Gong was so furious he was on the verge of losing his senses. A lowly Handyman daring to lay hands on an Inner Sect Disciple of the Lingbao Sect! How incredibly audacious! The pain on his face filled him with rage, almost driving him mad.

It was forbidden to attack each other within the Lingbao Sect, not to mention a Handyman striking a disciple of the Lingbao Sect. The price was severe—if not death, it would be akin to being flayed alive.

Jia Ren said nonchalantly, "Why don’t you go ahead and report me to the Enforcement Hall? The worthless life of a Handyman in exchange for the future of an Inner Hall Disciple of the Hall of Artifice—quite worth it."

Isn’t it obvious who’s controlling whom? This fellow still hasn’t figured it out. Jia Ren thought. If it weren’t for the profit gained from extracting ’Fire Wasting’ from Spiritual Materials and the method for refining Spiritual Treasures, Jia Ren wouldn’t have bothered being civil with him. Once the refinement of Spiritual Materials ceased, the lies would unravel on their own. This was what Wei Chi Gong feared the most, always wanting to control Jia Ren and use him.

Wei Chi Gong stared intently at Jia Ren, his teeth almost breaking from clenching.

Give in? Without the means to control Jia Ren, how could he continue to work hard for me? After handing over the Spirit Treasure Inscriptions and the refinement methods, who knows what other demands he might make? Human greed is like an abyss. Giving away one’s weakness to another only leads to being stripped to the bone and drained of marrow. I don’t want to gamble, and I certainly won’t.

The cost of completely falling out was too grave; Wei Chi Gong dared not imagine the consequences. He found himself caught between a rock and a hard place, each step taken with great difficulty.

Just as Wei Chi Gong and Jia Ren faced off, tensions running high like drawn swords and nocked crossbows, an uninvited guest arrived at Xiao Mang Mountain.

A Grey Robed Miscellaneous Duties holder saw the two confronting each other and was stricken with fear. "Jia Ren, you’ve got some nerve, daring to lay hands on a disciple of the Lingbao Sect?! Sir, please rest assured, I’ll immediately notify the Enforcement Hall!"

He ran off, worried that Jia Ren, seeing no way out for himself after being witnessed, might turn on him.

Jia Ren’s expression was calm and composed as he lifted his gaze to Wei Chi Gong. It was Wei Chi Gong, however, who became anxious.

Once we’re in the Enforcement Hall, facing their methods, my secrets will inevitably be exposed. Wei Chi Gong wasn’t ready for that. This matter absolutely cannot be revealed!

"Come back!" Wei Chi Gong shouted. "This was... my own doing!"

To save himself, Wei Chi Gong had to protect Jia Ren first.

The Grey Robed Miscellaneous Duties holder stared in utter confusion. Is he out of his mind? Hitting himself? This isn’t within the Enforcement Hall’s jurisdiction. Meddling would only bring trouble upon myself.

"What brings you here?" Jia Ren asked the handyman. "Is there yet another new corpse?"

Xiao Mang Mountain was desolate and quiet; the majority of Cultivators were reluctant to visit this graveyard. The Grey Robed Miscellaneous Duties holder’s presence here most likely meant a new corpse had arrived for burial.

Reminded by Jia Ren, the Grey Robed Miscellaneous Duties holder smacked his forehead as if awakening from a dream and said hastily, "I almost forgot! The External Affairs Director of the Lingbao Sect wants to see you."

The External Affairs Manager was the Steward in charge of external affairs, wielding enormous authority, his position second only to that of the Lingbao Sect Elders.

Jia Ren was befuddled. What happened? I don’t know the External Affairs Manager. What could he want with me? I’ve been acting discreetly. My Insect External Incarnation has been using the Corpse-Eating Bizarre Pill within the Mountain and Sea Pearl to obtain the Cultivation Techniques and Divine Skills of the deceased. It shouldn’t have been leaked. Did information about my refined Spiritual Materials get out?! That’s a possibility. Wei Chi Gong has been coming here constantly. If anyone attentive paid a bit more attention, they could have detected something amiss. If it were the latter, it would be the Internal Affairs Manager or a Cultivator from the Enforcement Hall coming for me, not the External Affairs Manager. He racked his brains but couldn’t understand.

When Wei Chi Gong heard the External Affairs Director was looking for Jia Ren, he thought his own affairs had been exposed. Panic, fear, and trepidation overwhelmed him. The very thing I feared most has finally happened... This is my last straw. How do I resolve this? I’ll have to leave it to Jia Ren’s wisdom...

He quickly grabbed Jia Ren’s Taoist Robe, his eyes full of pleading. "Don’t talk nonsense. As long as we can get past this, I can give you the second half of the Earth Spiritual Treasure Refinement Method."

"I don’t want to be deceived," Jia Ren said flatly. "Otherwise, you will bear the consequences." He felt extreme disgust towards Wei Chi Gong and quickly set up a soundproof barrier to prevent their conversation from being overheard.

The Grey Robed Miscellaneous Duties holder watched with a strange expression, hearing nothing. For some reason, I get the feeling their roles are reversed. It’s like Jia Ren is the actual disciple of the Lingbao Sect, and Wei Chi Gong is the one taking orders...

"We can go now!" Jia Ren said, not bothering further with Wei Chi Gong, and gestured for the handyman to lead the way.

Shaking off the odd thoughts, the Grey Robed Miscellaneous Duties holder walked ahead, with Jia Ren following. The journey took them past the Handyman courtyards of the West Hall, heading towards the main eastern gate of the Lingbao Sect. Handymen from each district had movement restrictions; the Steward of Xiao Mang Mountain in the West District, for example, could only operate within the West District. Without someone to lead him, Jia Ren couldn’t have reached this place.

Jia Ren saw a purple-robed middle-aged man who had clearly been waiting for some time. The man carried an air of authority, his eyes constantly surveying Jia Ren.

"Appearances can be deceiving," the man said. "Your Cultivation Level isn’t low. Why would you choose to be a Handyman?"

Anyone who saw Jia Ren’s information would be utterly confounded, the man thought. He gave up competing for the path of a Protector just to stay in the Lingbao Sect as a Handyman? This fact alone—that even Nascent Soul Cultivators competed to be Handymen for the Lingbao Sect—was enough to make the External Affairs Director proud of his Sect.

"May I ask why the Director has sought me out?" Jia Ren asked, remaining alert. He was unclear about the reason the External Affairs Director had for seeking him out. If a Late-Stage Deity-Transforming Cultivator wanted to attack me here in the Lingbao Sect, my chances of escape would be slim.

"You don’t know?!" The External Affairs Director looked at Jia Ren with an odd expression. How could he possibly not know about something so significant? "Ah, I nearly forgot. The Lingbao Sect has internal prohibitions; your Token is too low-level to receive external information."

The Lingbao Sect imposed these restrictions on Handymen to prevent them from leaking important information, which could lead to trouble. True disciples of the Lingbao Sect were not subject to such limitations.

"Hand over your Grey Order."

"Here’s your new Token!"

A white Token was handed over and placed in Jia Ren’s hand. Along with it was a White Taoist Robe bearing the Lingbao Sect’s insignia. Jia Ren was not unfamiliar with the white Token and White Taoist Robe; they were items exclusive to official disciples of the Lingbao Sect.

Could it be...?

The External Affairs Director of the Lingbao Sect looked at Jia Ren’s incredulous eyes, his face beaming, and said with a smile, "Starting tomorrow, you will be an Inner Sect Disciple of the Lingbao Sect!"