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Chapter 37: Repairing Magic Artifacts and Blocked Cultivation Manuals
Chapter 37: Repairing Magic Artifacts and Blocked Cultivation Manuals
Elder Qi was known for her stern demeanor and tendency to keep a low profile, making her a rare sight to most disciples.
Xiao Chen had been brought to meet her once by Shen Simyue. The entire exchange lasted only two brief exchanges.
"Since you’ve joined Azure Water Peak, focus on cultivating diligently. Self-discipline and strength are what matter most. How is your living arrangement? Is everything satisfactory?"
"Disciple, I’ll keep your teachings in mind. The environment here suits me well, and I’m fully content."
"Good. If you have questions, consult Simyue more often. Simyue, spare some time to guide him. Anything else? If not, return to your cultivation."
Elder Qi’s tone was icy, revealing neither approval nor disdain—a stark contrast to the warm, outspoken figure she’d seemed when she’d defended him earlier.
Shen Simyue later reassured Xiao Chen: "Don’t take it to heart, Senior Apprentice-Brother Xiao. Master treats everyone this way. Her nature is simply cold, but she’s truly kind-hearted."
Time passed, and a full month slipped by.
Elder Qi had once decreed that new disciples joining Azure Water Peak must remain on the mountain for their first month. During this period, they were to solidify their cultivation realm, reacquaint themselves with their magic artifacts, and personally transcribe the Inner Sect Handbook three times for submission by month’s end.
Most of the handbook’s content revolved around sect rules and etiquette, but two key points stood out.
First: Inner sect disciples failing to break through to the Foundation Building stage before turning thirty would be reassigned to outer sect duties, managing menial tasks. Xiao Chen, however, was unfazed—he’d long surpassed this threshold.
Second: Inner sect disciples received a monthly stipend of five spirit stones for cultivation. Beyond this, acquiring better cultivation manuals, magic artifacts, spirit pills, and the like required completing tasks at the Merit Hall to earn contribution points for exchange.
Alternatively, spirit stones could be directly converted into contribution points, albeit at a steep rate—two spirit stones for one point, while redeeming points for stones yielded only half the value. Unless one hailed from a wealthy family like the Jiangs, such a loss was rarely justified.
Xiao Chen now spent his days secluded in his courtyard, studying the handbook, refining his magic artifacts, and reviewing his cultivation techniques. Though no senior disciples visited, he found solitude comfortable, relishing the freedom.
He’d used this time to thoroughly familiarize himself with his artifacts. Besides nurturing the Golden Light Pearl and Evergreen Sword with mana daily, he’d poured green wood spirit essence into the Green Gourd to repair it. By channeling mana to accelerate its absorption, the gourd’s recovery exceeded expectations.
While the Green Gourd once required only a single mana thread to activate, it now demanded two to summon the green wood spirit general within. Typically, mana consumption correlated with an artifact’s power potency: low-grade artifacts needed one thread, mid-grade three, and high-grade nine. The gourd’s increased demand signaled its restoration toward mid-grade status. Xiao Chen estimated another two or three infusions of essence would complete the process.
Knock Knock Knock!
"Senior Apprentice-Brother Xiao, are you in?" Shen Simyue’s voice rang from outside.
Xiao Chen hurried to open the door. "Senior Apprentice-Sister Shen, come in!"
But as he opened it, he noticed her furrowed brow—a clear sign of trouble.
Her voice dipped apologetically: "I’m so sorry, Senior Apprentice-Brother Xiao. The scripture pavilion still claims the cultivation manual suited to your spirit roots hasn’t finished engraving yet…"
Her voice trailed off, but Xiao Chen’s keen hearing caught every word.
Since their meeting with Elder Qi, only two people had visited him that month: a servant disciple delivering spirit rice and Shen Simyue, who’d come three times.
First, she’d brought two pots of spirit flowers to enhance his courtyard’s energy and promised to secure his new manual.
Second, she’d returned to apologize for the delay.
Now, this third visit brought the same frustrating news.
"I’ll push them again", she flushed, clearly embarrassed.
Xiao Chen, however, had pieced things together. "Senior Apprentice-Sister Shen, who oversees the scripture pavilion? Is it related to the Jiang family?"
She hesitated. "The scripture pavilion is managed by Elder Li. I’m… not sure about their relationships."
The sect’s policy allowed inner disciples to claim a spirit-root-aligned mystic-rank cultivation manual from the scripture pavilion. Yet no deadline existed for engraving it—a loophole the Jiang family exploited. A month’s delay, coupled with Shen Simyue’s hesitation, confirmed Xiao Chen’s suspicions.
"Forget it", he shrugged. "I’m fine with my current manual. Even if they gave me a new one, I wouldn’t switch."
His words held truth. The Yellow-Rank manual he possessed could cultivate him to Foundation Building, while mystic-rank texts offered no advantage. The Yang Qi Tuna Method, amplified tenfold by his hex, had propelled him to late Lian Qi stage faster than expected. The Jiangs’ obstruction was a futile effort.
Yet Shen Simyue misread his calmness: "I’m sorry, Senior Apprentice-Brother Xiao. Master asked me to care for you, and I…"
"Wait", he interrupted. "I mean it—I don’t care. I was already accepted by Elder Chen. I don’t need their manual."
He silently added another grievance against the Jiang family. A gentleman bides his time. I’ll settle this debt soon enough.
Changing the subject, he asked: "By the way, Senior Apprentice-Sister Shen, since the month’s over, can I leave the mountain now?"
As an inner disciple, he could now choose a cultivation art. For weeks, he’d set his sights on one path alone: alchemy.
(End of Chapter)
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