Seeking Immortality in a Bizarre World-Chapter 477 - 472: Sky-reaching Spirit Treasure Reward, Jiao Dragon King’s Egg!_1
Fang Qiming had sabotaged the Samsara Valley’s plans and even dared to reinforce the Shenxiao Sect. Who else would they target if not him? Claiming credit might be thrilling for a moment, but he senselessly threw his life away. Fang Qiming’s death isn’t worth sympathy. It’s a pity that the credit and rewards he falsely claimed have now fallen into the laps of the Samsara Valley.
Essentially, it was as if the Samsara Valley had robbed me of my treasures. I’ll note down this grudge for now. Once I reach the Mahayana Realm, I will naturally come to settle accounts with them.
Jia Ren could not find the high-level Spiritual Materials he wanted at the stall and left the place with a look of helplessness.
He returned to the Refining Workshop and took out the God-binding Chain to study it.
Spirit-level Refiners have only made public the methods for refining Spiritual Treasures, not including those for Sky-reaching Spirit Treasures. Without reaching the corresponding level, the method for refining Sky-reaching Spirit Treasures will not be made public.
The Demon-Sealing Spirit Tower had reached Virtual Refining Stage Completion. One step further, and it would become an Integration Stage Spiritual Treasure.
The Body Integration Realm is a threshold. At this point, a Lifebound Spirit Treasure can either be further upgraded as a Spiritual Treasure or choose to ascend to a Sky-reaching Spirit Treasure.
Spiritual Treasures and Sky-reaching Spirit Treasures have essential differences. Since I’ve taken this path, I must walk it without looking back.
Sky-reaching Spirit Treasures naturally obscure their presence, their Sky-reaching Spirit Patterns remaining hidden. Only when a conscious connection is established with the God-binding Chain and it is activated can these patterns manifest.
Jia Ren’s first step was to transcribe the incomplete Sky-reaching Spirit Patterns he had recorded. This transcription was incomplete. Upon reaching the Spiritual Treasure level, the Spirit Patterns inscribed during refinement already fuse completely with the materials. Even when they manifest externally, only a small part is visible.
It is not an easy task to deduce a Spiritual Treasure solely from the manifested partial Spirit Patterns, let alone a Sky-reaching Spirit Treasure.
Jia Ren planned to take the transcribed, incomplete Sky-reaching Spirit Patterns, optimize and improve upon them; it wasn’t impossible that he could form suitable Spirit Treasure Inscriptions this way. By continually refining and optimizing them, success would surely come one day.
Over the following period, he devoted himself entirely to comprehending the God-binding Chain. Each time he activated the God-binding Chain, he further optimized the transcribed, incomplete Sky-reaching Spirit Patterns. A new Spirit Treasure Inscription was already taking shape.
Using this type of Spirit Treasure Inscription as the core, Jia Ren would have no problem creating a replica of the God-binding Chain at the Spiritual Treasure Level. As for how much power it could retain, it was difficult to estimate without actually refining it.
"It’s time to submit the Dragon Evil-Suppressing Liquid again."
Jia Ren estimated the time, left the Refining Workshop, and headed straight for the Internal Affairs Hall.
"What? You’re not collecting it anymore?"
This shocking news came as a significant blow to Jia Ren. Although he had long anticipated this day, the end of the Dragon Evil-Suppressing Liquid task still made him extremely upset. The only consolation was that he had been prepared for it and only had three bottles in stock, so the loss wasn’t significant.
If the Dragon Evil-Suppressing Liquid is no longer required, does that mean the matter with the Jiao Dragon Secret Realm has been resolved? Has Ancestor Ji Kong returned?
Just as he was pondering how to handle this, his Identity Token lit up.
"Disciple, your master has returned, and I have brought you a Flood Dragon Egg as well."
A Flood Dragon Egg? Although it wasn’t a live young Flood Dragon, Jia Ren was still very satisfied and immediately rushed to Ancestor Ji Kong’s Cave.
There were no obstructions at the Cave, and he entered smoothly.
Jia Ren had just arrived at Ancestor Ji Kong’s Cave when several senior brothers, who were there to visit, greeted him with welcoming smiles and warm salutations.
"Junior Brother Jia is here? I’m thinking of refining a Spiritual Treasure in a while. Other than the Heavenly Fire God Cover, what other Spiritual Treasures can Junior Brother Jia refine?"
"He knows a lot more; he even practices Alchemy!" A voice full of sarcasm rang out. Second Senior Brother Zong Wu, who had drawn near, seemed to recall something upon hearing the speaker—Ancestor Ji Kong—and his expression subtly changed.
"All of you, leave!"
Jia Ren had a strong premonition that a storm was brewing, the pressure becoming immense. He no longer even wanted the Flood Dragon Egg; he just wanted to slip away.
"Jia Ren, stay!"
Zhuo Chengdao gave Jia Ren a sympathetic but helpless look and left with the other senior brothers.
The entrance to the Cave closed, and a Formation rose. It was a clear setup, like closing the door to beat a trapped dog.
"Master, your disciple has come to pay his respects, wishing you fortune as boundless as the East Sea and longevity comparable to the heavens." Jia Ren realized the situation was dire, so his words became sweeter as he hurriedly paid his compliments.
"I am a high-ranking cultivator of the Lingbao Sect, with resources far exceeding those of cultivators from ordinary families and sects. Yet, I’ve been surpassed in cultivation realm by someone! Tell me, isn’t that humiliating for me?" Ancestor Ji Kong approached with a stern face, carrying an imposing aura like an impending storm.
Jia Ren’s hair stood on end. He felt both angry and indignant. Zhuo Chengdao, you sold me out?! He absolutely could not admit to this!
His mind raced; he would never admit to such a thing. "Master, who said that? This disciple will definitely teach them a good lesson and help Master vent his anger!"
Ancestor Ji Kong did not respond to that but instead coldly said, "You can even refine the Dragon Evil-Suppressing Liquid, typically made by a Spirit Class Alchemy Master. Quite the accomplishment!"
"Such excellent talent in Artifact Refining and techniques is wasted on you!"
"If I don’t teach you a harsh lesson, you won’t learn to cherish what you have!" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
The pressure piled on with each word, becoming suffocating. Ancestor Ji Kong had already reached the pinnacle of the Lianxu Stage. His aura was far beyond what Fei Zhong of the Dark Demon Sect, who had pursued Jia Ren, could compare to. Even within the Lingbao Sect, he ranked among the foremost in combat power at the Lianxu Stage. Such a powerful cultivator, tempered through countless life-and-death battles, was truly extraordinary.
Facing this danger, Jia Ren’s mind raced. "Master, you’ve misunderstood my sincere intentions."
"I knew Master had entered the Jiao Dragon Secret Realm and hadn’t returned for a long time. I was constantly worried that an accident might have occurred in the Secret Realm."
"This whole affair started because of me. If not for that, Master wouldn’t have entered the Jiao Dragon Secret Realm."
"I then chanced upon information about the Dragon Evil-Suppressing Liquid and suspected this matter was connected to you, Master. I believed this was the best way I could help you, the utmost I could do..."
Jia Ren spoke with such genuine emotion, it was as if those had truly been his thoughts at the time...
"Are you sure you weren’t just after the Sect’s contribution rewards?!" Although Ancestor Ji Kong said this, his tone was no longer as cold as before.
"My intentions are as clear as the sun and moon, Master," Jia Ren responded with utter conviction.
At this, all of Ancestor Ji Kong’s anger vanished, and his formidable aura completely receded. Now, Jia Ren had become his most cherished disciple. He merely wanted to teach him a lesson or two, not truly harm him or expel him from the Sect.
"You’ve had a hard time!"
"As I’ve said before, Alchemy is ultimately an external path. You have exceptional talent in both Artifact Refining and techniques; you must not neglect them. From now on, you mustn’t waste any more time on Alchemy."
This was also Ancestor Ji Kong’s true intention. He had planned to reprimand and persuade him so that he would remember this lesson. Recalling how his disciple, worried for his safety, had toiled day and night to refine the Dragon Evil-Suppressing Liquid—which ultimately allowed him to deal with the True Dragon Evil sooner and return—how could he bring himself to punish such filial piety?
"I will engrave Master’s teaching in my heart."
Anyway, I do my Alchemy inside the Heaven and Earth Mountain and Sea Pearl where you can’t see me. Verbally agreeing is no problem.
"Master, what exactly happened in the Jiao Dragon Secret Realm? Why have you only returned now? Could it be related to the Dragon Evil?" Jia Ren had long suspected something was amiss with the Jiao Dragon Secret Realm and felt doubtful.
Ancestor Ji Kong opened his mouth, then shook his head and said, "This matter is of great significance. Although you are the discoverer of the Jiao Dragon Secret Realm, I, as your master, cannot reveal it to you."
Though the True Dragon Skeleton was incomplete, it was of immeasurable value. If word leaked out, who knew how many sects would covet it. The Lingbao Sect did not want to invite further complications. After leaving the Jiao Dragon Secret Realm, everyone was placed under a gag order, forbidden from disclosing any information. Within the Lingbao Sect, only a few individuals knew about this.
Moreover, the affair with the Jiao Dragon Secret Realm was not yet truly over. The Evil Qi of the True Dragon Evil was astounding. Even though the Lingbao Sect continuously provided a significant amount of Dragon Evil-Suppressing Liquid, they had not managed to completely resolve it. Feeling its strength wane day by day, and with four Body Integration Realm cultivators and thirteen Void Refining Stage cultivators eyeing it greedily, the True Dragon Evil realized the dire situation and decisively abandoned the True Dragon Skeleton to flee. If not for that, they would not have been able to return to the Sect so quickly.
Without eliminating the True Dragon Evil’s Evil Qi, the Jiao Dragon Secret Realm could not be considered safe and could not be opened to the Sect’s disciples.
"I understand!" Seeing Ancestor Ji Kong’s evasive manner, Jia Ren guessed that there must have been astonishing discoveries.
Could it be... related to a True Dragon?
As his thoughts ran wild, Ancestor Ji Kong spoke, "I’ve learned that you’ve attributed the reward for discovering the Jiao Dragon Secret Realm to me. The Sect will grant a Sky-reaching Spirit Treasure as a reward."
"As your master, I’ll give you two choices. One is that I pick a Sky-reaching Spirit Treasure for you as the reward."
"The other is that I grant you different treasures to compensate for your contribution."
Having two Sky-reaching Spirit Treasures himself, Ancestor Ji Kong naturally wouldn’t covet his disciple’s treasure. Knowing Jia Ren, this boy likely did it because he was worried about attracting trouble by being too prominent. As his master, it was his duty to shield his still-developing disciple from such troubles.
"Master, the God-binding Chain is quite good. Why not give it to disciple?"
What other treasure could compare to a Sky-reaching Spirit Treasure? Seeing that his Master was willing to give him a ready-made Sky-reaching Spirit Treasure, he naturally wanted to seize the opportunity firmly.
Ancestor Ji Kong glanced at Jia Ren and snorted coldly, "This Spirit Treasure has been with me for a long time and is already perfectly attuned to my will. How about I choose a Sky-reaching Spirit Treasure with similar effects for you?"
"Thank you, Master!"
Recognizing the look Ancestor Ji Kong gave him, Jia Ren promptly returned the God-binding Chain. Since he’d already gotten such a good deal, it wouldn’t be right to keep holding onto his master’s God-binding Chain.
After handing back the God-binding Chain, Jia Ren looked expectantly at Ancestor Ji Kong, as if implying something more.
"Rest assured, I didn’t deceive you about the Flood Dragon Egg."
"This Flood Dragon Egg is not from an ordinary Flood Dragon, but is the egg of a Jiao Dragon King."
"Several Fusion Ancestors were extremely keen on it. If not for the fact that the four Ancestors couldn’t agree on how to divide it, coupled with my credit for discovering the Jiao Dragon Secret Realm, and your considerable contribution to resolving... the matters within the Secret Realm, you wouldn’t have been able to obtain this Flood Dragon Egg."
"You should make good use of it, and not disappoint your master’s earnest intentions."
With a flip of his hand, Ancestor Ji Kong produced a golden Flood Dragon Egg easily the size of a washbasin.
Jia Ren reached out to take it, but for a moment, he couldn’t; Ancestor Ji Kong hadn’t let go.
"If you’re unwilling to raise it, I, your master, would be quite happy to take over." Indeed, riding a golden Flood Dragon around would be incredibly ostentatious, enough to make several old rivals die of envy.
"There’s no need for Master to trouble yourself." Jia Ren quickly grabbed it with both hands, his eyes fixed steadfastly on his master—who was being uncharacteristically generous—fearing he might go back on his word.
"COUGH!"
Only then did Ancestor Ji Kong finally let go.
