Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1611: 867: Entering Purple Cloud Mountain, Mixed Element Qi Great Capture (3)

The boundless western mountains extended without end, when abruptly, a speck of starlight flickered into view at the horizon's edge.

That starlight hurtled forward at tremendous speed, traversing half the vault of heaven in merely over ten breaths before reaching the skies over Late Sun Valley, then diving straight down.

In a flash, the starlight dispersed, and suspended in the air materialized a handsome young Daoist with features as refined as jade.

His eyes gleamed like radiant stars, while his simple white Daoist robe draped flawlessly over him, lending him the air of an exquisite young master descended from the heavens.

The young Daoist gave a respectful bow toward Zhao Sheng, his voice warm as he said, “I am Shen Tu Jue, arriving without invitation today. I hope, Junior Zhao, you won’t mind.”

Zhao Sheng bowed back, letting out a hearty laugh, “Haha, so it’s Senior Brother Shen Tu from Righteous Mountain. I’m Zhao Chonghe, paying respects to Senior Brother Shen Tu. Come on in!”

Shen Tu Jue offered a faint smile and promptly strode through the void, reaching the seventh-floor pavilion in just two steps.

Witnessing this, Zhao Sheng clapped his hands sharply and called out, “Wood Spirit! Show yourself at once!”

His words had barely fallen when a azure radiance burst forth from the floorboards.

The light shimmered and vanished, revealing a three-foot-tall elder clad in green robes, emerald leaves sprouting from his head.

“Wood Spirit reports for duty. What commands does Master have?”

“Hurry and gather some fresh spirit fruits to host our guest!”

“Yes! I’ll fetch them right away.”

Wood Spirit drew himself up and morphed into a streak of blue light, vanishing seamlessly into the floor.

In truth, Wood Spirit’s original form was a jade spirit tree nearing ten thousand years old, which had been enlightened by a cultivator, awakening its spiritual nature. Since then, it served as the steward of Late Sun Valley.

Once Zhao Sheng settled into the valley, Wood Spirit acknowledged him as master, tending to his daily needs while managing the spirit fields and exotic flora within.

“This way, Senior Brother Shen Tu!” Zhao Sheng guided Shen Tu Jue to the jade table, where they took seats facing each other.

Next, Zhao Sheng seized the Nine Dragon Jade Pot along with two jade cups, pouring spiritual tea into them.

He slid one cup forward to his guest and retained the other.

Lifting his jade cup, Zhao Sheng smiled, “Please, Senior Brother Shen Tu!”

With that, he dispersed the rising steam with a breath and sipped delicately.

Shen Tu Jue sampled the amber-hued tea and praised sincerely, “What an enchanting aroma this tea has—it clears the mind and sharpens focus. Truly exceptional!”

Zhao Sheng replied modestly, “Just some rough wilderness tea; you flatter me, Senior Brother.”

He then inquired directly, “May I ask what brings Senior Brother here today?”

Shen Tu Jue smiled at the question, “Junior Zhao, perhaps you’re unaware, but your earlier display caused a huge uproar. Even from three hundred li away at Righteous Mountain, I felt the shock. I rushed over to Late Sun Valley to discover who stirred such a tempest.”

A glint passed through Zhao Sheng’s eyes as he realized the Mixed Yuan Qi Great Capture’s aura had inadvertently alarmed his neighbor.

Before he responded, Shen Tu Jue asked with concern, “Junior Zhao, was that famed technique you employed the legendary Mixed Yuan Qi Great Capture?”

Zhao Sheng nodded faintly, acknowledging, “Senior Brother’s insight is sharp! Yes, it was precisely the Mixed Yuan Qi Great Capture!”

Shen Tu Jue’s face lit up with admiration, exclaiming, “Junior Brother truly bears the Five Elements Spirit Body. Remember, the ‘Mixed Element Qi Cave True Scripture’ demands the Five Elements Body for cultivation. To grasp a Great Divine Power so soon after joining the Inner Sect is extraordinarily rare!

Reflecting on myself, after entering the Inner Sect, I toiled for two centuries before scarcely comprehending the Yuan Magnetic Starlight Escape Technique! Beside Junior Brother, I’m nothing but dull wood—utterly inept!”

Zhao Sheng responded, “Senior Brother jests! The ‘Taiqing Yuanchen Scripture’ ranks among our sect’s supreme Immortal Laws. Its cultivation is the toughest of all sect methods. For Senior Brother to master the ‘Taiqing Yuanchen Scripture’ proves your brilliant talent!”

Shen Tu Jue smiled humbly and shifted the conversation to lighter topics.

Through their lively exchange, Zhao Sheng at last grasped the real reason for the visit.

Late Sun Valley harbored a scarce spiritual herb known as the Nine Yin Nine Yang Flower.

It flowered every nine years, ripening fully after eighty-one years.

With this flower as the core ingredient, one could forge a Three-Turn Golden Core named the Infinite Pill.

The Infinite Pill balanced Yin Yang Six Qi, cleansed bodily impurities, and stood as a priceless Spirit Pill.

Shen Tu Jue practiced the ‘Yuan Chen Scripture,’ yet the external starlight proved too fierce and disordered, upsetting his body’s Yin Yang balance and scattering his six qi into chaos—making the Infinite Pill essential for stabilization.

“I’ve only recently arrived in Late Sun Valley, so I’m unclear on how many Nine Yin Nine Yang Flowers have ripened. Senior Brother, hold on; we’ll know once Wood Spirit returns.”

“Haha, Junior Brother’s directness is refreshing!”

Shen Tu Jue smiled and asked, “I possess several hundred Pure Money, some Sun and Moon Pearls, and plenty of Taiqing Golden Pills. What would suit Junior Brother for the trade?”

Within the Taiqing Sect’s Inner Mountain Gate, spirit stones gave way to Pure Money, Sun and Moon Pearls, and Taiqing Golden Pills as trade mediums.

Pure Money requires little explanation; Sun and Moon Pearls were forged from a hundred strands each of Sun Essence and Moonlight.

Sun Essence meant the Great Sun’s Purple Qi, while Moonlight was the Bright Moon Essence.

The Taiqing Golden Pill, a First Transformation Golden Core, was straightforward to refine yet incredibly useful—for replenishing mana, boosting cultivation, nurturing the Divine Soul, and fortifying Primordial Qi.

As a hallmark of the Taiqing Sect, the Taiqing Golden Pill was scarce beyond its gates, drawing throngs of cultivators.

Zhao Sheng pondered briefly before saying, “Pure Money will do for the exchange.”

Scarce had the words left his mouth when azure light surged from the floor between them.

As the glow receded, Wood Spirit reappeared, bearing a hefty wooden tray heaped with spirit fruits such as peaches, plums, and apricots.

Wood Spirit nimbly placed plates of spirit fruits before each of them.

Task complete, Wood Spirit turned to depart but was halted by Zhao Sheng.

“Wood Spirit, tell me: are there ripened Nine Yin Nine Yang Flowers in the valley?”

Wood Spirit paused briefly, then bowed and answered, “To report to Master, seventeen Yin Yang Flowers have matured in the valley. I’ve harvested and stored them securely.”

Zhao Sheng nodded and ordered, “Bring them all here.”

“Yes!” Wood Spirit cried with enthusiasm, crouching to plunge both hands into the floor.

Blue light welled up as Wood Spirit gradually extracted a wooden box from beneath the floor.

Without prompting, Wood Spirit peeled off the sealing talisman, flipped open the lid, and exposed seventeen pristine spirit flowers, white as fresh snow.

At the sight of the spirit flowers, excitement sparked in Shen Tu Jue’s gaze, and he beamed, “I’ll take every one of the seventeen Nine Yin Nine Yang Flowers. Ten Pure Money per flower—does that work?”

Zhao Sheng had no need for these minor spiritual medicines and shrugged off petty haggling over funds.

Thus, he accepted without fuss.

“We’ll go with Senior Brother’s offered rate!”

Shen Tu Jue beamed with delight, promptly withdrawing one hundred seventy Pure Money from his sleeve and tossing them into Wood Spirit’s grasp.

Clutching the money, Wood Spirit dashed gleefully to his master, holding it aloft.

Zhao Sheng flicked his sleeve, sweeping all the Pure Money inside.

Goal accomplished, Shen Tu Jue’s spirits soared, and he eagerly shared Inner Sect gossip, secrets, and tales of marvels, spotlighting top talents and elites among the myriad disciples.

Zhao Sheng absorbed it all keenly, the hours slipping by unnoticed.

As dusk settled, their bond had deepened into fast friendship.

Noting the advancing night, Shen Tu Jue stood to bid farewell.

Unable to detain him, Zhao Sheng saw him off personally from Late Sun Valley.

At parting, Zhao Sheng vowed a future visit to Righteous Mountain.

Shen Tu Jue welcomed it warmly, then dissolved into a streak of starlight and disappeared in a blink.