Chapter 321: Flowing Shadow Stone, Trading Techniques

Chapter 321: Flowing Shadow Stone, Trading Techniques

This wasn't Chu Ning's first time visiting the Divine Sound Valley. The last time he had come was when Di Yan had passed away, and Chu Ning had used an illusion technique to deliver the news.

The place was named after a valley, but it was only a valley at the outer entrance of the sect. Within it were peaks of various sizes.

Chu Ning landed at the mountain gate at the valley's entrance, and immediately two Foundation Establishment cultivators greeted him.

When they saw that Chu Ning was a Golden Core cultivator, they courteously asked, "Senior, this place is Divine Sound Valley. May I ask what brings you here?"

"I have a friend named Wu Rongfeng who is currently cultivating here. I have come at her invitation," Chu Ning replied.

After hearing Chu Ning's response, one of the cultivators smiled and said, "So you're here at the invitation of Master Wu. Please wait a moment, senior, while I inform her of your arrival."

As he spoke, the cultivator activated a message talisman.

Not long after, two figures flew out from the valley.

From a distance, Chu Ning recognized both of them.

One was Wu Rongfeng, and the other was Meng Ling, whom he had met before at the Snow Mist Valley.

They had also seen each other at the Long Sky Palace, but they had only exchanged brief greetings without further conversation.

Chu Ning was a little surprised to see her here as well.

As he was thinking about this, the two women flew up to him.

"Chu, we've been waiting for you!" Wu Rongfeng smiled at Chu Ning, her expression filled with deep meaning, leaving him puzzled.

Before he could reply, Meng Ling bowed slightly to him and said, "Chu, it's nice to see you again."

"Meng, likewise," Chu Ning returned the bow and then smiled, "It's been years since we last met, and I see you've reached the mid-Golden Core stage. Congratulations."

"Thank you, Chu," Meng Ling replied.

Wu Rongfeng, standing beside them, smiled and continued the conversation, "Chu, Meng just broke through recently and came out of seclusion a few days ago. This mountain gate isn't a suitable place for a long chat. Let's go inside and talk more."

With that, Wu Rongfeng took the lead and flew into the valley, while Meng Ling stayed back and flew alongside Chu Ning.

"Back at the entrance of the Snow Mist Valley, I wanted to thank you in person for your help, Chu. I've been meaning to express my gratitude," Meng Ling said.

"You're too kind, Meng. I was just trying to get out of the valley back then," Chu Ning replied, feeling a little puzzled by her excessive politeness.

"By the way, Wu told me that you asked her about Nine Ritual Gold and Stardust Sand. Have you managed to gather those materials over the years?" Meng Ling asked.

"Yes, I've collected both of them," Chu Ning answered, a thought occurring to him.

Divine Sound Valley seemed to have better information sources than him. When he was refining the Golden Spirit Sword, it was thanks to Wu Rongfeng's information from the valley that he had succeeded.

Although he had prepared in advance for refining the Water Spirit Sword, he still lacked one or two materials after all these years.

He could ask the valley for information, and perhaps he would gain something.

Meng Ling looked surprised to hear that Chu Ning had obtained both materials.

At that moment, Chu Ning spoke up, "By the way, Meng, I'm currently looking for a few other materials. If it's not too much trouble, could you help me inquire about them?"

Hearing this, Meng Ling's eyes lit up, and she asked eagerly, "What kind of weapon refinement materials are you looking for, Chu?"

"Flowing Shadow Stone and Green Wave Cold Iron," Chu Ning replied, stating the two materials he still lacked.

Upon hearing these names, Meng Ling's face turned thoughtful. "These two are quite rare. I'll have to make some inquiries within the sect."

"In that case, thank you for your help, Meng," Chu Ning said with a smile and a bow.

Meng Ling returned his smile but didn't reply. Instead, she began to introduce him to the Divine Sound Valley.

Although Chu Ning had visited the valley once before, that time he had been hastily led inside and out by a cultivator, so he didn't know much about it.

Now, with Meng Ling's introduction, he gained a deeper understanding.

Like most sects, different halls and pavilions served different functions.

However, the peaks in the Divine Sound Valley were larger, so the cultivators tended to be more concentrated.

Moreover, according to Meng Ling, female cultivators made up about 70% of the sect.

"Seventy percent?" Chu Ning was surprised. He had known that the Sky Sound Valley had a high number of female cultivators, but he hadn't realized the proportion was so high.

No wonder most of the Divine Sound Valley cultivators he had met were female.

Meng Ling smiled and nodded, seeing the surprise in Chu Ning's eyes.

As they spoke, Meng Ling and Wu Rongfeng led Chu Ning to a medium-sized peak and then into a small courtyard. Wu Rongfeng took the opportunity to continue the conversation, "Chu, as our sect mainly consists of female cultivators, it may be inconvenient for you to stay just anywhere. This peak is specially prepared for guests from outside. Why don't you rest here?"

Chu Ning nodded noncommittally. He didn't particularly mind where he stayed.

Taking advantage of Meng Ling's absence as she prepared spiritual tea, Chu Ning turned to Wu Rongfeng and asked, "Wu, you and Chang Ling Shan asked me to come to Divine Sound Valley, but I'm not sure what the matter is about."

"It's not urgent," Wu Rongfeng smiled. "In a few days, our sect will be holding a grand competition that takes place once every three years. The last time I looked for you, it was to invite you to witness the event. Since we've met by chance, why don't you stay in the valley to observe the competition first, and then we can discuss the matter afterward."

A flash of confusion crossed Chu Ning's eyes at her words, but he decided against pressing for an answer and simply nodded, "That's a good idea. I've heard of the fame of Divine Sound Valley from the outside world, and I'm curious to see the abilities of your sect's cultivators."

"I hope you won't be disappointed, Chu," Wu Rongfeng said. "With your abilities, you might not find the competition between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators very interesting."

Meng Ling brought a cup of spiritual tea to Chu Ning and said, "Please try this Yuanyang Flower Tea. It's different from the spiritual tea you've tasted outside."

"Yuanyang Flower?" Chu Ning's curiosity was piqued, and he glanced at the teacup. He had never heard of this type of spiritual plant.

In the cup was a flower petal with a unique appearance—half pink and half snow white, resembling a pair of affectionate mandarin ducks.

Meng Ling promptly explained, "The Yuanyang Flower is a unique spiritual flower found only in Divine Sound Valley. It gets its name from its shape, resembling a pair of mandarin ducks snuggling together, graceful and vibrant."

Chu Ning had always been interested in spiritual plants, and this explanation piqued his curiosity even further. He took a sip of the tea, and as soon as it touched his tongue, a rich floral fragrance and spiritual energy filled his mouth.

The floral scent, of course, came from the Yuanyang Flower. But what surprised him even more was the concentration of spiritual energy in the tea, unlike anything he had tasted before.

He had even cultivated spiritual tea himself and asked Bai Ling to help ripen it. Yet, in terms of spiritual energy concentration, those teas fell short of this Yuanyang Flower Tea.

It wasn't a matter of cultivation technique but purely a difference in the plant species.

As Chu Ning swallowed the tea, he could distinctly feel a substantial amount of spiritual energy entering his body. It was comparable to absorbing a strand of spiritual energy while cultivating in a place rich with spiritual energy.

Meanwhile, the floral fragrance lingered in his mouth, a delightful aftertaste.

"This tea is excellent!" Chu Ning praised sincerely.

Meng Ling and Wu Rongfeng exchanged a glance, both wearing satisfied smiles. Clearly, they took great pride in this Yuanyang Flower Tea.

Wu Rongfeng chuckled and said, "This Yuanyang Flower Tea is served only to esteemed guests in our Divine Sound Valley. Meng is an expert at cultivating and brewing this tea. Many cultivators in our sect long for a taste of her Yuanyang Flower Tea but rarely get the chance. I must say, today I'm fortunate to be able to taste it thanks to you, Chu."

Chu Ning was slightly taken aback and turned to Meng Ling, "So, Meng, you're skilled in the way of spiritual plants?"

In the Northern Cold Region, he had rarely come across cultivators who cultivated spiritual plants, partly because he himself rarely interacted deeply with other cultivators. And perhaps, due to the abundance of cultivation resources, it was less common here than in the Western Alliance Continent, where he had spent most of his time.

"I know a thing or two about it," Meng Ling nodded, a spark of light flashing in her eyes. "Hearing your tone, Chu, it seems you're also interested in spiritual plant cultivation?"

Chu Ning saw no reason to hide it, "Indeed, I've cultivated spiritual plants for a period of time in the past."

"That's wonderful!" Wu Rongfeng quickly interjected with a beaming smile. "Chu, I have some matters to attend to these next few days. Since you're already here, why don't you let Meng show you around the sect before the competition?"

Chu Ning nodded. He had figured out that Wu Rongfeng had asked him to come to Divine Sound Valley, but he wasn't sure what it was about. It didn't seem like an urgent matter, and he wondered what her intentions were.

Although Chu Ning had some exposure to pill refining, weapon forging, array formations, and talismans from various sects...

...He hadn't encountered any spiritual plant cultivation techniques since leaving Qingxi Zong.

He was genuinely curious about the other sects' methods, so he didn't refuse Wu Rongfeng's suggestion.

The two women chatted for a while longer before bidding farewell and leaving.

Chu Ning was unbothered by his solitude in the courtyard and decided to cultivate.

Although this peak wasn't the main peak of Divine Sound Valley, the spiritual energy here was still plentiful.

Chu Ning didn't cultivate the Nine-Layer Tempering Body Art but focused solely on the Five Elements Chaotic Principles.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Meng Ling arrived at the courtyard where Chu Ning was staying.

"Chu, I hope your stay in Divine Sound Valley has been comfortable so far?"

Chu Ning smiled and replied, "As cultivators, we don't have many demands. The abundant spiritual energy here is excellent for cultivation."

"Your dedication to the path of cultivation is admirable, Chu. I heard from Senior Sister Wu that you often seclude yourself for years at a time. No wonder your cultivation and mystical powers have progressed so rapidly."

As Meng Ling spoke, she reached into her storage bag and took out an object, offering it to Chu Ning.

"Chu, take a look at this. Is this what you need?"

Chu Ning's gaze fell on Meng Ling's hand, where he saw a white stone the size of a fist. It had various patterns on its surface, resembling flowing water.

"Flowing Shadow Stone?"

Chu Ning's eyes lit up as he recognized the stone. It was the very same Flowing Shadow Stone he had mentioned to Meng Ling the previous day, and he was surprised that she had found it so quickly.

"It was a coincidence," Meng Ling explained. "I inquired about it yesterday and found out that one of our sect's senior sisters had it. So, I asked her for it."

As she spoke, Meng Ling handed the Flowing Shadow Stone to Chu Ning.

He gladly accepted it and asked, "May I ask what your senior sister wanted in exchange for this stone, Meng?"

Meng Ling smiled and replied, "I've already given her what she needed."

"If there's anything you urgently need, I have plenty of pill refining and weapon forging materials here," Chu Ning offered.

Meng Ling thought for a moment and said, "I haven't decided what I want yet. You're staying here for a few more days, so I'll take some time to consider it."

Chu Ning agreed, nodding his head, and stored the Flowing Shadow Stone away.

At that moment, Meng Ling invited Chu Ning to her spirit herb garden.

He gladly accepted the invitation, and they flew together for about an hour before arriving at a cave abode within a mountain peak.

"This is my cave abode," Meng Ling said. "Because I love cultivating spiritual herbs, my abode is a bit larger than those of the other senior sisters."

After opening the array formation restrictions, Meng Ling led Chu Ning into the herb garden outside her abode.

Immediately, the fragrance of various spirit herbs filled Chu Ning's nostrils.

"Ghost Lantern Grass, Nine-Winged Flower, Ancient Vine Bamboo, Purple Crystal Fruit..."

Chu Ning unconsciously began to identify the spirit herbs, his eyes scanning the garden.

Meng Ling was surprised as she heard Chu Ning name each spirit herb accurately, and admiration shone in her eyes.

"Chu, you're so knowledgeable about spirit herb cultivation. Even within our sect, there aren't many senior sisters who can identify all these herbs."

"I did spend some time studying this area in the past," Chu Ning replied calmly.

His ability to recognize so many spirit herbs wasn't solely due to his interest in spirit herb cultivation. It was also because he had researched and improved pill formulas, requiring him to understand the various combinations of spirit herbs and their effects.

Although many of the spirit herbs in Meng Ling's garden were unique to the Northern Cold Region, Chu Ning had spent considerable time collecting and researching spirit herbs from this region when he worked on creating pills using demonic beast cores.

As Chu Ning surveyed the garden, he noticed that Meng Ling had planted herbs with differing medicinal properties together, and he asked curiously, "Meng, these spirit herbs have different medicinal properties. Aren't you afraid that planting them together will cause interference and affect their efficacy?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Ling smiled and, instead of answering directly, extended her hand. She performed a series of intricate hand seals, directing them toward several of the spirit herbs.

"Chu, try sensing them again," she said.

Chu Ning did as instructed and was surprised by what he felt.

"The spiritual energy in these spirit herbs seems to be locked in a specific area... No, it's not just the spiritual energy. Even their medicinal properties seem to be isolated and directed toward specific areas of the plants."

"Yes!" Meng Ling nodded slightly.

"This spell is like casting an invisible spiritual energy shield over them. In the later stages, it will be nourished by the spiritual energy absorbed by the spirit plants and can be maintained indefinitely."

Upon hearing this, Chu Ning immediately understood and pointed out, "But in that case, some of the spiritual energy absorbed by the spirit plants will be diverted, and their growth will inevitably be slower."

Meng Ling nodded in agreement, then began performing intricate hand seals, directing them toward the spirit herbs.

"So, if I have time, I'll cast some spirit-gathering spells to make up for it and promote the growth of the spirit plants," she explained.

Seeing this, Chu Ning slightly sensed the speed at which the spirit herbs absorbed spiritual energy.

He found that while there was a noticeable increase, it was still far inferior to his own Xuan Qing Springtime Art.

In fact, even compared to the Greenwood Springtime Art, it was lacking.

"The Qingxi Sect may have its quirks, but these two spells are indeed quite extraordinary," Chu Ning thought to himself, deep in contemplation.

Meng Ling's spell did have its limitations, but it also had its advantages.

If one were to cultivate a large area of the same spirit herb, it would be most efficient to use his method of array formation to divide the area.

However, in Meng Ling's case, where some spirit herbs were limited to only one or two plants, cultivating so many different spirit herbs together would make it inappropriate to use array formations for separation.

Instead, Meng Ling's spell was more suitable.

With this realization, Chu Ning's heart stirred with a sudden idea.

Without hesitation, he performed a series of hand seals, casting the Green Wood Springtime Art.

As the spell landed on the spirit herbs, their rate of spiritual energy absorption noticeably increased after a short while.

"This..."

Meng Ling's eyes widened in surprise at the sight.

"Chu, your spell greatly enhances the spirit herbs' ability to gather spiritual energy!" she exclaimed.

Then, looking up at Chu Ning, she continued, "How about we exchange techniques?"

Chu Ning had already been considering this idea while casting the Azure Wood Springtime Art, so he readily nodded in agreement and replied, "But before we exchange, I have a small condition that I hope you'll accept, Meng.

I learned this spell from a sect, and to prevent it from spreading uncontrollably, we need to swear an oath that binds our hearts.

This spell is only for our personal use and must not be passed on to others."

Although Chu Ning didn't hold deep emotions for the Qingxi Sect, it was still the sect where he began his cultivation journey.

Both the Greenwood Springtime Art and the Mysterious Clear Springtime Art had their unique strengths, and even though he was only demonstrating the former, he didn't want it to become common knowledge.

Meng Ling readily agreed to his request.

"Of course," she said. "Even if you didn't bring it up, I would have suggested it myself.

Although our sect has many guest elders, we rarely share cultivation techniques and spells from outside our sect.

This has become an unspoken rule within our valley."

Without hesitation, both of them took out blank jade slips and began recording the spells they intended to exchange.

Then, they swore an oath, binding their hearts and promising never to reveal the spells to a third party. Only then did they make the exchange.

As soon as Chu Ning received the jade slip, he eagerly began studying its contents.

Like the Green Wood Springtime Art, this spell was quite effective despite its low rank.

With Chu Ning's current cultivation and the innate talent of his Yin Wood Spirit Body, it didn't take long for him to master it.

Although Meng Ling lacked the Yin Wood Spirit Body, the Azure Wood Springtime Art wasn't overly complex, and with some effort, she managed to grasp it as well.

Over the next few days, Meng Ling regularly invited Chu Ning to her cave abode, where they exchanged knowledge about nurturing and cultivating spirit herbs.

It was unclear whether Meng Ling's spirit herb technique originated from the Divine Sound Valley or some other source, but it was different from the one Chu Ning had encountered in the Qingxi Sect.

Through these exchanges, Chu Ning gained valuable insights.

Five days later, the grand competition of the Divine Sound Valley officially began.

Initially, it was just duels between Qi Refining disciples and ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, which naturally held little interest for Chu Ning.

The Divine Sound Valley didn't invite him to witness these early rounds either.

It was only on the final day, when several late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators faced off, that Chu Ning was invited to attend.

This gave him a glimpse into the strengths of the number one major sect in Han Yan Zhou and broadened his horizons, especially regarding their expertise in using various sounds to launch mental attacks.

After the ceremony concluded, Chu Ning finally managed to find Wu Rongfeng, who had been elusive for the past few days, to inquire about the reason for his invitation to the Divine Sound Valley.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end