Seeking Immortality in a Bizarre World-Chapter 508 - 503 Sequence Rewards, Sharpening Stone_1
The Divine Skill Whims of the Heart was similar to Danger Perception, but there were certain differences between the two. Both could allow one to prepare in advance when danger approached, thereby avoiding the peril. Danger Perception only arose when danger was about to strike, triggering a response to deal with the imminent threat. When someone plotted against oneself, Whims of the Heart could produce a premonition; at higher levels, it could even foresee the source of the danger. The timing of Whims of the Heart was earlier than Danger Perception, making it easier to prepare defenses.
Compared to the two, Jia Ren preferred Whims of the Heart. By the time Danger Perception identified an issue, in most cases, one would already be trapped and could only react passively. Before leaving an area, as long as there were no Whims of the Heart, it signified that there was no danger, or the danger was so minor that it was still within controllable limits. It prevented the occurrence of danger to the greatest extent.
The Spirit Law Pavilion had never documented Whims of the Heart. Otherwise, Jia Ren would have learned such a life-saving Divine Skill, capable of foretelling and avoiding danger, at the first opportunity. Whims of the Heart was only one of many Divine Skills unheard of before. The missing "Dao Heart Devil Seed Body" and "Grand Freedom Demon Body" were both included, and both emphasized the need to pass an assessment to learn them.
The Dao Heart Devil Seed Body involved transforming into a demon through the Dao. Cultivators with a poor mentality were extremely susceptible to falling into the Demonic Path, so the Sect was reluctant to expose its disciples to a method that could lead to their downfall. The Grand Freedom Demon Body involved condensing a rare Heart Demon clone, nurturing a Heavenly Demon with a Heart Demon. The weakness of the Heart Demon clone was that it intensified the influence of the Heart Demon Tribulation. During critical moments, a rebellion by the Heart Demon could draw a Heavenly Demon from the legacy, spelling death for the cultivator.
Beyond the common Divine Skills, the list included many abilities from the Demonic Path: "Primal Demon True Body," "Black Demon Death Light," "Demon Heart Soul Devouring Technique," "Yin-Yang Soul Transference Technique," and more. Demonic Path Divine Skills had to be learned by passing an assessment. The Divine Skills previously seen in the Lingbao Sect had only been revealed because the Lingbao Sect permitted disciples to learn them. If the Lingbao Sect did not want disciples to learn them, they naturally would not have sent them to the Spirit Law Pavilion. Even those from the Demonic Path needed to be applied for and reviewed before learning.
Jia Ren had mastered many Divine Skills. His newly acquired Net of Law and Weaving Technique were only at a beginner’s level. This was not to mention Whims of the Heart and other Divine Skills like Law of Heaven and Earth and Three Heads and Six Arms, at which he was less proficient. He had no plans to practice Divine Skills from the Demonic Path. Jia Ren only transcribed the Whims of the Heart Divine Skill and did not linger long before leaving hastily.
In the time to come, Jia Ren prioritized learning Whims of the Heart.
「A month flew by in the blink of an eye.」
It was time to participate in the combat trials. Jia Ren inquired about the ranking sequence and corresponding resources.
For the first rank in the Divinity Transformation Stage Combat Law Sequence, the rewards each term (three years) are one hundred Top-quality Spirit Stones, a month of cultivation in the Origin Spirit Pool, and ten million Lingbao Sect Contribution points. If one maintains the first rank for three consecutive terms (nine years), they can obtain a Supreme Spirit Treasure, three portions of Supreme-grade Spiritual Material, and choose any Great Divine Power to learn.
The second rank each term receives eighty Top-quality Spirit Stones, fifteen days of cultivation in the Origin Spirit Pool, and five million Lingbao Sect Contribution points. Maintaining the rank (top two) for three terms grants a choice of Supreme Spirit Treasure, two portions of Supreme-grade Spiritual Material, and the option to select one top-tier Divine Skill to learn.
The third rank gets fifty Top-quality Spirit Stones each term, ten days of cultivation in the Origin Spirit Pool, and three million Lingbao Sect Contribution points. Maintaining the rank (top three) for three terms can earn a Supreme Spirit Treasure, a portion of Supreme-grade Spiritual Material, and the option to select one top-tier Divine Skill to learn.
Ranks four to ten, each year, receive forty Top-quality Spirit Stones, seven days of cultivation in the Origin Spirit Pool, and two million Lingbao Sect Contribution points. Maintaining for three terms earns a portion of Spiritual Material and a choice of a fine Spirit Treasure.
Ranks eleven to thirty, each term, get thirty Top-quality Spirit Stones, five days of cultivation in the Origin Spirit Pool, and one million Lingbao Sect Contribution points. Maintaining for three terms earns a portion of Spiritual Material and a choice of a fine Spirit Treasure.
Ranks thirty-one to one hundred, each term, gain twenty Top-quality Spirit Stones, three days of cultivation in the Origin Spirit Pool, and one million Lingbao Sect Contribution points. Maintaining for three terms allows the acquisition of a Spirit Treasure.
Ranks one hundred to two hundred, each term, are awarded ten Top-quality Spirit Stones, two days of cultivation in the Origin Spirit Pool, and one million Lingbao Sect Contribution points.
Below rank two hundred, each term, are awarded ten Top-quality Spirit Stones, one day of cultivation in the Origin Spirit Pool, and five hundred thousand Lingbao Sect Contribution points.
The higher the sequence rank, the more substantial the rewards. The prizes for the top hundred were not bad and even superior to those for the regular Lingbao Sect True Disciples. The higher the ranking, the more lavish the rewards. The reward for first place was enough to make even Void Refining Stage Cultivators envious. Below one hundred, the rewards were merely consolation prizes, better than nothing.
Upon seeing the rewards, Jia Ren couldn’t help but be moved and considered participating in the competition. Only the rewards for the top three were especially enticing, with the first-place reward being the most attractive. If Jia Ren wanted to compete for first place, he would have to reveal his trump cards. What if the Thornback Tortoise Puppet caught the eye of Sect Master Yun Hu, and he wanted to exchange for the secret of its creation? It would undoubtedly reveal the Peerless Gold Composite and expose the existence of the Golden Dragon. Apart from that, concealing his actual Cultivation Level would probably become difficult as well. And if he really became first in the Combat Law Sequence, he couldn’t avoid the trials of fighting against Demon Cultivators. Perhaps aiming for first place in the Artifact Refining Sequence of the Spirit Treasure Refiners would be steadier, with the least risk.
Under the temptation of the hefty rewards, five Spirit-level Refiners couldn’t help but enter the competition. It was unknown who gave them the confidence to believe they could outperform cultivators skilled in combat. Jia Ren, among the five Spirit-level Refiners, declined to participate, foregoing the combat-related resources. The others not participating was one thing, but Jia Ren’s absence, a master of Law of Heaven and Earth and Jikong’s Finger, was nonetheless disappointing to many. Apart from combat, there was no other chance to witness the ancient Great Divine Power Law, Heaven, and Earth. The first place, maintained for three terms, could learn a Great Divine Power, making it the most eye-catching prize, and the fight for first place would be the most intense.
Two hundred and twenty-three Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators participated in the battle, and the rankings started with a draw. Jia Ren had observed dozens of competitions and had to admit that the combat capability of the Second Spirit Treasure Sect’s cultivators far exceeded that of the Lingbao Sect Cultivators. The different Spells and Divine Skills complemented each other harmoniously, with mastery over the timing in battle and seamless integration of Divine Skills and Spells. The slightest flaw would easily result in defeat. In the battles, there were frequent instances of Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivators defeating Mid-Stage of Soul Transformation cultivators, exemplifying the underdog triumphing over the stronger opponent. Jia Ren didn’t mind spending some time watching the battles to understand the combination of cultivator Spells and Divine Skills and expand his own horizons.
「The combat lasted for five days.」
After which the subsequent battles turned into a demonstration ground for the Second Spirit Treasure Sect. The Lingbao Sect’s top combatant, Jue Wushuang, was defeated and stopped at the fifteenth rank. Nearly a hundred of Lingbao Sect’s Fire Seeds couldn’t make it into the top ten. Jue Wushuang was greatly upset, with a hint of unwillingness in his eyes.
The first rank was named Ji Ning, who possessed the Wind Spirit Physique, practiced the Wind Spirit Scripture and the Divine Skill Inches Apart, Worlds Away, and held a Supreme Spirit Treasure, the Slashing Gang Spirit Sword. He was so fast that Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators could hardly catch him. Ordinary Spells and Divine Skills didn’t even qualify to touch him. Most cultivators facing him couldn’t last more than two rounds and were easily taken down by the Slashing Gang Spirit Sword.
"Hehe, the several senior brothers who rank at the top seldom stay in the Sect; they prefer to fight life-and-death battles with Magical Beasts. Brother Ji Ning has a record of slaying sixth-rank Magical Beasts three times."
Slaying sixth-rank Magical Beasts? Sixth-rank Magical Beasts were comparable to the Lianxu Stage, and the strength between Magical Beasts was unpredictable. Even the weakest sixth-rank Magical Beast was difficult for Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators to handle. Slaying a sixth-rank Magical Beast three times was enough to prove that Ji Ning’s combat strength exceeded that of an average early Void Refining Stage Cultivator. The second and third place performers were far inferior to Ji Ning; their combat proficiency, clearly honed through life-and-death battles, was worlds apart from that of the Main Sect cultivators.
"Won’t this be too hard on them?"
Above the combat platform, Cloud Tiger and five Void Refining Stage Cultivators watched the battle, ensuring there were no casualties.
"The talent of the cultivators from Source Treasure Cave Heaven is ultimately lacking. Only a few like Ji Ning show promise. The others are limited by their innate potential and will have limited achievements in the future."
"The Fire Seeds sent from the Main Sect have exceptional talent but lack the necessary experience."
"These people are their Sharpening Stones."
The cultivators of the Second Spirit Treasure Sect understood their situation. They harbored animosity towards the Lingbao Sect Cultivators and naturally didn’t want to be stepping stones for others, so they had to work extra hard.
"Only a sword that has been honed is qualified to advance to the Body Integration Realm and Mahayana Realm and lead the Lingbao Sect through trials and tribulations."
The elites picked by the Lingbao Sect, as long as they were not discouraged to the point of no return, would eventually show their true edge. The Divinity Transformation Stage was just the beginning. The road ahead was still far off.
"It’s just..." Cloud Tiger’s gaze shifted to Jia Ren, watching the battle in the distance, a gleam in his eyes. "Jia Ren has an extremely high talent for spellcraft. The conversion of Ancestor Ji Kong’s Ji Kong Palm into Jikong’s Finger was this young man’s remarkable achievement; he is a truly outstanding spellcraft seed."
Ancestor Ji Kong had a habit of showing off. His disciple innovating and improving Ji Kong Palm to Jikong’s Finger was a matter of great pride for him, so it was inevitable that he would flaunt and boast a little. You all look down on Jia Ren? Those with eyes failed to recognize talent; it is I, this old man, who has unique insight. Jia Ren’s reputation had spread to the Source Treasure Cave Heaven even before he entered, winning wide recognition. Cloud Tiger had provided abundant resources, not without the intent of attracting Jia Ren, hoping that he would contend for a position in the Combat Law Sequence and be nurtured into a combat cultivator.
Jia Ren’s senses were sharp. His Whims of the Heart suddenly stirred, and he had a persistent feeling that someone wanted to ’harm’ him—a sense of an ’impending crisis’ that seemed to stem from... Vice Sect Master Yunhu. This is not a good sign.
I’m just here to watch. Why am I being targeted?
He cautiously glanced in Vice Sect Master Yunhu’s direction, not daring to stay longer, and decisively made a swift exit.
"Very sharp senses. His cultivation of Whims of the Heart, in merely a month, has already reached a proficient level."
Such supreme talent in spellcraft not being utilized to learn Spells and Divine Skills for combat is truly regrettable.
"His talent for Artifact Refining is even greater. He became a Spirit-level Refiner soon after joining the Sect, and every Spirit Treasure he refined was, without exception, of exquisite quality."
"The Sect’s inheritance of Sky-reaching Spirit Treasures cannot be severed; it currently lacked successors."
"The Lingbao Sect doesn’t lack protectors and upholders of the Dao; his Artifact Refining talent is even more captivating—he is a future Heaven-reaching Refiner."
After Jia Ren ran off, they understood his attitude and did not force the issue.
"The Combat Law Sequence competition has concluded. You may claim the resources provided by the Sect ahead of time."
The results for the Lingbao Sect’s Fire Seeds were out; they were unquestionably at the bottom level. The number of their cultivators who made it to the top hundred could be counted on one’s fingers.
「The Refining Treasures Sequence competition will begin tomorrow.」
"The rewards for the Refining Treasures Sequence will not disappoint you."
