Seeking Immortality in a Bizarre World-Chapter 447 - 442 Elder Brother’s Relics, Cataclysm Talisman_1
"I’ll introduce our Junior Brother on his behalf," Zhuo Chengdao said. Sensing the gazes of his fellow brothers and realizing many had never met Jia Ren, he hurriedly added with a smile, "This is your Senior Brother Qingge, also known as your Ninth Senior Brother."
Qingge nodded to Jia Ren. "We have already met; there’s no need for introductions. Junior Brother, the Heavenly Fire God Cover you refined is a supreme grade Spiritual Treasure. I’ll be relying on you for my future Spiritual Treasures."
"This is your Fifth Senior Brother, Guang Wu."
A man built like an iron tower nodded at Jia Ren but did not speak, remaining silent and aloof.
"This is Second Senior Brother, Zong Wu."
Zong Wu was a lean middle-aged man with an extremely steady presence. "It’s truly not easy for the Ji Kong Lineage to produce an Artifact Refiner."
"Lastly, this is Big Senior Brother Yu Lin. Aside from our master, he is the Ji Kong Lineage’s other Void Refinement Cultivator."
The final man introduced had long arms and a distinguished air about him, with a trace of brilliance in his eyes.
Big Senior Brother is a Void Refining Stage Cultivator?
Not knowing how long this person had been studying under their master, reaching the Lianxu Stage was not surprising for the Lineage’s Founding Senior Disciple.
"Not only does Lingbao Sect require protectors, but also Artifact Refiners—a cornerstone of the Sect. You’re wasting your talent in the Heterodox Lineage," Yu Lin said warmly, without the airs typical of a Void Refinement Cultivator. His status as a Transient Void Cultivator was on a different level from ordinary True Disciples. Having become a High-Order Cultivator, within Lingbao Sect, he already had the right to accept True Disciples of his own.
"Thank you for your guidance, Big Senior Brother," Jia Ren said. "As the most recently joined junior brother, I will need to rely heavily on my senior brothers in the future. If you have any needs regarding the refining of Spiritual Treasures, I will certainly do my best to assist." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
The relationships between disciples and masters in orthodox Sects are the most stable. If one can handle the relationships with fellow Senior and Junior Brothers well, the benefits are boundless.
"That’s exactly what I was waiting to hear!" Senior Brother Zong Wu, with a beaming smile, warmly came forward and clapped Jia Ren on the shoulder. He had suffered numerous setbacks in refining Spiritual Treasures, and now, fortune had finally turned in his favor.
While a few casually conversed, Ancestor Ji Kong appeared without notice. His eyes swept over everyone as he said, "Everyone is here."
Everyone is here?
What about Senior Sister Huiling?
"Six people from the Ji Kong Lineage died in the Secret Realm Battlefield, a necessary sacrifice for the Sect..." Ancestor Ji Kong said, his voice filled with sorrow and his tone somber.
A secret message entered Jia Ren’s ears. It was Zhuo Chengdao’s voice: "Ninth Senior Sister, Immortal Hui Ling, was Ancestor Ji Kong’s beloved granddaughter. It was unexpected that she would die in the Secret Realm Battlefield."
Jia Ren remained silent. He held a grudge against Ancestor Ji Kong for sending him into the Secret Realm Battlefield. Only now, realizing that Ancestor Ji Kong had unsparingly sent even his beloved granddaughter into the Secret Realm Battlefield, did he understand the Ancestor’s selflessness in this matter. He hadn’t, out of personal affection, kept Immortal Hui Ling back to avoid the battle.
Immortal Hui Ling died in the Secret Realm Battlefield. Not even her fragmented soul was brought back. Reviving the dead is not an easy task. Only those with preserved Divine Souls have the potential for resurrection. Neither Immortal Hui Ling nor the other deceased Senior Brothers had their Divine Souls retained.
"Return your fallen disciples’ belongings to their Sects and families," Ancestor Ji Kong instructed.
Five streaks of light landed in the hands of the five; these were five Spirit Storing Bags and Jade Slips. Each Spirit Storing Bag corresponded with a Jade Slip, which contained recorded information.
With that said, Ancestor Ji Kong vanished from sight.
Jia Ren’s consciousness sank into the Jade Slip, which contained the details of his Sixth Senior Brother. The Spirit Storing Bag held the modest belongings left behind by the Sixth Senior Brother, along with Lingbao Sect’s compensation for the deceased disciple. These items were to be delivered to his descendants. If there were no family members, a ceremonial tomb would have to be erected in their honor. The Sixth Senior Brother wasn’t an ordinary Cultivator; he had a family clan behind him, one that he had established himself.
The five did not linger and quickly departed.
"Master rarely assigns us tasks; we must complete this properly," expressed one.
"Junior Brother, would you like to join us?"
As the two left Ancestor Ji Kong’s Cave, Zhuo Chengdao followed, beaming. Having another person meant they could look out for each other. It just so happened that he had inadvertently acquired a Cultivator’s Cave. Sharing the spoils with his brothers was also a way to thank Junior Brother Jia for his help. He still had not repaid the favor of Jia Ren saving his life earlier. Surviving several near-death experiences in the Secret Realm Battlefield, thanks to the Heavenly Fire God Cover, meant he was increasingly indebted to his Junior Brother.
"Elder Brother Zhuo, can you take care of Master’s task on my behalf?" Jia Ren looked toward Zhuo Chengdao and transmitted his voice secretly. The war between the Shimo Sect and Lingbao Sect had just ended. After all, times were not entirely peaceful. Jia Ren did not wish to leave the Sect until he reached either the Lianxu Stage or the Body Integration Realm.
Ah, the Mahayana Realm would be even better...
Given his pace of cultivation... and the speed at which he could cultivate in the Supreme Demon-sealing Tower, the Body Integration Realm seemed far off, but the Lianxu Stage was achievable within a century or two.
Leaving the Sect at the Lianxu Stage was much safer than during the Divinity Transformation Stage.
He had ways to rapidly improve himself, so there was absolutely no need to ’take risks.’
He only had to cultivate steadily and safely.
Zhuo Chengdao looked at Jia Ren with a strange expression. As they were not strangers, he quickly understood his Junior Brother’s intentions.
"It’s just leaving the Sect; there’s no danger!"
"The incident with the Dark Demon Sect was an accident; all the Demon Sects have been wiped out!"
"As a powerful Sect that defeated the Shimo Sect, none of these people dare to provoke Lingbao Sect!" he patiently and earnestly advised.
Seeing that Jia Ren remained silent, Zhuo Chengdao understood that he hadn’t taken it in.
"For other matters, as long as Junior Brother Jia speaks up, I will definitely help."
"This is the first time Master has assigned us a task. Six senior brothers and sisters died. For such an important task, I don’t want to let Master down."
"If you and I, as brothers, act together, we will be safe and sound."
Jia Ren sighed, understanding that it seemed he couldn’t avoid the matter. Having an extra person to share the risk indeed served to distribute the danger.
"With our hearts united as brothers, we can cut through even gold."
The cooperation in the Heiyuan Secret Realm last time had been quite pleasant. Zhuo Chengdao was not the type to hold them back, and Jia Ren was happy to act together.
"I still need to prepare a bit."
Although Jia Ren said this, he didn’t head straight to his Cave. Instead, he went to the booths in front of the Spirit Law Pavilion. He had seen many Fifth Rank Talismans at the booths. Previously, he hadn’t planned to leave the Sect, and coupled with his intention to upgrade the level of the Talismans later, he hadn’t made a move yet. Since he was about to leave the Sect, it was natural to prepare a few more types of Talismans as a safeguard.
Indeed, buying Talismans after the Sect warfare turned out to be an excellent choice.
The prices of Talismans have dropped?
With the end of the war between Lingbao Sect and Shimo Sect, the well-informed Lingbao Sect disciples received news through various channels. Such news had long since spread far and wide. The direct effect was a slide in the prices of Spiritual Treasures and consumable Talismans.
What Jia Ren wanted to buy were not ordinary Talismans but Transcendence Talismans and Boundary-breaking Talismans. Both of these were Talismans that he was preparing to study. Transcendence Talismans were not for averting general disaster; they were for shielding cultivators from fatal harm. Once a cultivator suffered a fatal injury, the Transcendence Talisman would absorb the damage instead. Furthermore, the cultivator would be transported thousands of miles away by the Talisman. Such Talismans were truly life-saving wonders. The Transcendence Talisman was costly to make. Even with prices dropping, each one was comparable in price to Spiritual Materials.
"The war between Lingbao Sect and Shimo Sect has ended, and you’re selling them at such a high price—are you planning to sell them in the next millennium?"
"Could you give a discount if I buy several?" Jia Ren cajoled patiently, affecting an attitude of considering the other party’s situation.
The booth owner was unmoved, smiling as he said, "The Transcendence Talisman contains Spiritual Materials. They are costly to make, and the annual output is limited. This price is already the lowest within Lingbao Sect; it’s heavily discounted."
After browsing several booths, Jia Ren found there were only three selling Transcendence Talismans, and this one indeed had the lowest price within Lingbao Sect. After hesitating for a moment, he took out three Spiritual Materials and exchanged them for three Transcendence Talismans. Being prepared prevents trouble. Once he learned to make Transcendence Talismans himself, he would be able to maximize cost savings and reduce expenses.
As for the Boundary-breaking Talisman, little needed to be said—it could break through many minor realms and some Formation restrictions, making it very practical. The price was cheaper than Transcendence Talismans, but not by much. A single Talisman cost more than a Supreme Grade Magical Treasure. Jia Ren, as usual, prepared three of them, spending three five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicines. Under normal circumstances, three Boundary-breaking Talismans would be sufficient.
He also purchased several kinds of poison-type Fifth Rank Demonic Beast Materials at the booths and sent them into the Mixed Spirit Poison Pot for unexpected needs.
Having bought quite a few treasures in one go, the Spiritual Materials and treasures in his pockets shrank.
Jia Ren left the place and first went to the Refining Palace to request leave from Wang Jian.
"Master has assigned a task, and I need to leave the Sect to handle it."
Wang Jian laughed. "Times have changed. With the war between Lingbao Sect and Shimo Sect over, the Artifact Refining tasks at the Refining Palace are no longer mandatory. Although the contributions from refining have decreased, the Refining Palace still urges you to exert yourselves for the good of our Sect."
"Of course."
Jia Ren bid farewell to the overseer. With no more pressure for mandatory Artifact Refining, the burden on his shoulders felt much lighter.
In the past, it was rare to see other Spirit-level Refiners in the Hall of Artifice. Most were toiling away at refining, with few people in sight. Now, at last, they had some free time.
"Are you the new Master Jia who recently joined the Hall of Artifice?"
"I was fortunate enough to observe the Heavenly Fire God Cover, and it was astonishing."
"Do you have time? We are having a small gathering in the Hall of Artifice for mutual exchange among peers."
The number of Spirit-level Refiners wasn’t large. A cultivator with an unfamiliar face stood out, inevitably making people think of Jia Ren, the new addition to the Hall of Artifice. Exchange meetings always had Masters and Grandmasters from the Artifact Hall to resolve doubts and facilitate mutual exchanges. Such grand events were always fully attended.
Jia Ren only needed to practice refining to improve his Refining Level; exchanging experiences was less effective than hands-on operation. By spending time and effort on refining, he could reach a peak that others couldn’t. Exchanging experiences was purely a waste of time.
Fortuitously, he had a good reason to decline.
"Unfortunately, Master has just given me a task, and I will have to leave the Sect in a few days, so I can’t make it to the gathering."
Having said that, Jia Ren politely excused himself and left in a hurry.
The ’few days’ was a pretext; he couldn’t guarantee the Sect was free of spies, and this way, any leaked information would be outdated. Master’s task couldn’t be deferred, nor could it be handed off. It had to be resolved as quickly as possible. It was best to leave the Sect swiftly to avoid potential trouble.
Jia Ren contacted Zhuo Chengdao and then said, "Elder Brother Zhuo, I’m all prepared. Without delay, let us set out together!"
