Chapter 192: Chapter 176: Cultivation, Earth Vein Spirit Puppet

A day later, Lu Zhao returned to the Bixia Sect Mountain Gate. His figure moved like a streak of light, passing silently through the Mountain Sect’s Grand Array without stirring a single speck of dust. Half a quarter hour later, he landed precisely before the Merit Hall.

He walked straight into the hall and found the Inner Sect Steward on duty. Lu Zhao stepped forward and handed over his Inner Sect Steward’s Identity Token. "I’m here to collect my salary. Thank you for your assistance, Senior Brother," he said, his voice steady.

The steward on duty was a serious-faced middle-aged man. He silently accepted the Token, channeling a wisp of Magical Power from his fingertip to inspect it. The Spirit Patterns on the Token representing identity pulsed with light. After confirming its authenticity, he glanced up at Lu Zhao without a word, bent down to retrieve a dark brown Storage Bag, and placed it on the Jade Platform before him with a soft THUD, sliding it over.

"Junior Brother Lu, your salary for the past three years is here: nine Middle-Grade Spirit Stones and thirty-six Water Jade Green Radiance Pills. Please verify the contents." His voice was flat and without inflection, as if performing a routine task.

Lu Zhao nodded as his Divine Sense flowed like water into the Storage Bag. Inside, nine Middle-Grade Spirit Stones, as warm and smooth as jade, lay quietly arranged. The immense Spiritual Qi they contained far surpassed that of Lower-Grade Spirit Stones.

The Pills, meanwhile, were sealed in three exquisite Cold Jade Small Bottles. The bottles were cool to the touch and faintly emitted a white mist. Through the bottle walls, he could see that the pills were perfectly round and full. Faint, blue, wave-like patterns seemed to flow slowly across their surfaces, and a pure and gentle aura of Water Element Spiritual Power washed over him.

He withdrew his Divine Sense and gave another nod of acknowledgment to the Inner Sect Steward on duty. "The amount is correct. Thank you, Senior Brother." He then tucked the Storage Bag away and turned to leave.

After leaving the Merit Hall, Lu Zhao used the Thousand Waters Spirit Transformation Escape, transforming into a stream of water to return to his immortal’s abode. Inside, the Spiritual Qi was as dense as ever, and the air was suffused with pure water vapor and a hint of the Earth Vein’s tranquil aura.

Lu Zhao, however, paid it no mind. He passed through the simply furnished living area and pushed open the door to the inner Quiet Chamber. A meditation cushion lay in the center of the room, and he sat cross-legged upon it as silk-like threads of Spiritual Qi coiled around his body.

He did not immediately enter a state of cultivation. Instead, he focused his mind in quiet contemplation, his brow slightly furrowed as his consciousness sank into planning for the future.

’The next six-plus years need to be meticulously planned.’

’First and foremost is the Trade Assembly, which is more than a year away. I need a Tier Two Water Spirit Stone—it’s the core material for refining the Tier Two Hundred Waters Magic Disc. Once that Magic Disc is complete, it will be one of the keys to a major leap in my combat power during the Foundation Establishment Stage. I absolutely cannot fail to obtain it!’

’Second, my Puppetry skills must advance to Tier Two as soon as possible. A Tier One High-Grade puppet master is enough to look down on most during the Qi Cultivation Stage, but among Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it’s simply not enough. It would be of limited help to me.’

’My plan is to first master the creation of the Earth Vein Spirit Puppet. This is a Tier One High-Grade Wood and Stone Puppet with formidable Defense, as it contains a trace of Earth Vein Power. The difficulty of creating it is considerable.’

’Once my success rate in creating the Earth Vein Spirit Puppet has stabilized, I intend to tackle an even tougher challenge—the Red Fire Spirit Bird! The difficulty of creating this Puppet is among the highest for Tier One High-Grade. If I can improve my success rate with it, it will serve as the most solid cornerstone for my breakthrough to becoming a Tier Two Puppet Master.’

’Third is the practice of my Magic. I have three main priorities:’

’First, the Thousand Waters Hundred Spirits Skill. This is the signature Magic of the Celestial Water Technique, a sublimation born from the fusion of the Hundred Waters Spirit Enhancement Skill and the Thousand Overlapping Waves Skill. I have a feeling that, with my deep foundation in the prerequisite skills and the profound Spiritual Power I now possess at the Foundation Establishment Stage, once I reach the Entry Level with this skill, I could very well reach the Minor Achievement Realm directly!’

’The power of this Magic will be incomparable to the forced fusion I managed during the Qi Cultivation Stage. It will undoubtedly be a potent tool for Magical Combat during the Foundation Establishment Stage. After all, the Celestial Water Technique itself is exceptionally profound. The only reason it isn’t considered a Middle-Grade Cultivation Technique is its lack of a cultivation method for the Golden Core Level.’

’Second is the Blood Shadow Escape. This is my trump card, a life-saving Divine Ability. The 1st Layer, Blood Escape, is no longer enough. Now that I’m at the Foundation Establishment Stage, my Essence Blood is far more abundant than it was during the Qi Cultivation Stage, and the side effects aren’t as severe. I should try to break through to the 2nd Layer. If I succeed, my instantaneous Escape Speed and maximum escape distance will both increase dramatically! At a critical moment, that’s as good as an extra life!’

’Third is the Thousand Waters Spirit Transformation Escape. This is the exquisite Escape Technique that complements the True Water Spirit Transformation Skill. The 1st Layer is already extraordinary. If I can advance to the 2nd Layer, not only will my Escape Speed increase, but my ability to conceal myself in water vapor and travel submerged will also be much stronger. It would be far more convenient for both long-distance travel and escaping from a fight.’

’As for the various protective, enemy-trapping, and burst-power Secret Techniques recorded in the True Water Spirit Transformation Skill, time permitting, I can also select one or two of the more practical ones to study. That would further enrich my arsenal of Magical Combat methods.’

’Magic is as vast as the sea, a complex web of possibilities. I can only proceed one step at a time and must not rush,’ Lu Zhao silently admonished himself. For now, he decided to prioritize his Puppetry training over his Magic, but he would still guarantee an inviolable amount of time for the latter.

’Finally, there is the most fundamental aspect: my Cultivation. Early-stage Foundation Establishment is far from my final goal. These thirty-six Water Jade Green Radiance Pills are the standard Tier Two Pills the Sect provides for Foundation Establishment Disciples. While they can’t match the swift progress gained from Refining Tier Two Spirit Water, their advantage lies in being a relatively stable resource. Their medicinal properties are balanced and gentle, making them easy to refine and absorb.’

’For the foreseeable future, my cultivation should focus on absorbing this batch of Pills. Once they’re used up, or after the Trade Assembly, I’ll reassess the situation and decide whether to refine any new Unsettled True Water. After all, Refining Spirit Water is a drain on both time and one’s Heart Spirit, and I only have two bottles of high-quality Spirit Water that are truly suitable for me left.’

As his train of thought gradually cleared, the formless pressure on his heart eased, like a glimmer of light piercing through a break in the clouds. With a subtle turn of thought, a calm Transmission Sound passed through the Quiet Chamber’s Array Restriction, reaching the ears of Zhao Xiaoshu in the adjacent stone chamber.

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