Chapter 90 - 87: The 2nd Blue Entry
Chapter 90: Chapter 87: The 2nd Blue Entry
For the next few days, Li Yuan spent most of his time cultivating in his residence.
The daytime patrols were mostly handled by Zhao Hu, Zheng Xiaoman, and Sun Liang in his stead.
Li Yuan dedicated the majority of his time to talisman crafting and cultivation.
His progress in talisman crafting was steady. His proficiency with the Fireball Talisman increased the fastest.
He also slowly accumulated experience with Cleaning Talismans and Exorcism Talismans, giving the finished products to Fang He in batches to sell through his channels.
The Microelement Meridian Introduction Skill was the real time-sink.
Each fine meridian was extremely thin and short. The speed at which his Spirit Silk advanced was even slower than in previous days—not because it had gotten harder, but because the remaining micro-meridians were in increasingly tricky locations.
Some were hidden deep in the crevices of his bones, while others were tangled in the corners where fascia and meridians met. The Spirit Silk had to make several turns just to reach their entrances.
Li Yuan patiently worked on them one by one.
Late one night, Li Yuan was circulating the Microelement Meridian Introduction Skill. His Spirit Silk slowly advanced along a micro-meridian hidden in a crevice of his shoulder blade.
This micro-meridian was thinner than any before it. After the Spirit Silk entered, he could barely feel the vessel walls, as if it were moving through a void.
After about half an incense stick’s worth of time, the tip of the Spirit Silk suddenly hit an extremely thin barrier. With a gentle push, it broke through.
In that instant, all the micro-meridians in his shoulder blade were cleared.
Immediately after, an extremely subtle change began to spread outward from his shoulder blade.
It wasn’t a change in a single meridian, but a simultaneous resonance among all the micro-meridians he had already cleared.
The hair-thin meridians inside Li Yuan’s body—from his shoulders and back to his ribs, from his waist and abdomen to the tips of his limbs—were activated one by one by this resonance.
When Spiritual Power flowed through them, it no longer moved in strands but coursed through them all at once, like an extremely fine net being pulled taut.
The circulation of Spiritual Power from his Hundred Veins Returning to Origin Skill changed as well.
Before, the Hundred Veins Returning to Origin Skill could only affect the main meridians and larger branches; the fine meridians had to be worked on separately with the Microelement Meridian Introduction Skill. Now, the two techniques seemed to have connected. After the Spiritual Power from the Hundred Veins skill finished circulating through the main meridians, it would automatically seep into the cleared micro-meridians without any extra guidance.
The density of Spiritual Power circulating in his body instantly jumped a level.
Li Yuan slowly withdrew his power and exhaled a breath of turbid air.
[Cultivation Technique: Microelement Meridian Introduction Skill - Proficient (0/800)]
’I’ve reached the Proficient level.’
Li Yuan clenched his fists, feeling the flow of Spiritual Power within him.
Compared to the Adept stage, the most direct change was the coverage of his Spiritual Power.
Before, when he circulated his cultivation technique, Spiritual Power only traveled through the main and branch meridians. Now, his entire body felt as if it were saturated with a layer of Spiritual Power, and he could even feel a faint Spiritual Wave at the tips of his fingers and toes.
However, he was still a long way from clearing every meridian in his body.
After reaching the Proficient level, his perception of the remaining micro-meridians through the Microelement Meridian Introduction Skill became much clearer. The uncleared spots appeared like dark points within his body—numerous, but each one very small.
If he continued grinding away at this pace, clearing all the micro-meridians before reaching Minor Achievement shouldn’t be a problem.
Outside the window, the sky was already turning pale.
Li Yuan got up, stretched his limbs, and pushed the door open, preparing to go on patrol.
Just as he reached the intersection of his residential area, he saw a familiar figure approaching from the direction of West Street.
Upon seeing Li Yuan, Uncle Qu stopped.
"I was just looking for you."
Li Yuan came to a stop in front of him.
Uncle Qu didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point.
"The rewards for the last mission are in. The Spirit Stones and Contribution Points are separate. The Contribution Points have already been issued, and you can collect the Spirit Stones from the administration office later. There aren’t many, though, because there’s an extra reward. The family approved a spot for you to go to the Treasure Pavilion and pick a Magical Artifact."
Li Yuan’s brow twitched slightly.
’The Treasure Pavilion.’
He had heard the name before. It was the place where the Wang family stored their Magical Artifacts. Unlike the Scripture Pavilion, it didn’t contain Cultivation Techniques or Magic, but proper Magical Artifacts.
"Also, you don’t need to run with the guard team anymore. Just patrol the marketplace," Uncle Qu added. "We’ll see what’s next when there are new arrangements."
Li Yuan nodded.
"Where is the Treasure Pavilion?"
"Not in the marketplace." Uncle Qu jutted his chin to the southwest.
"It’s over at the Wang family’s estate, about a hundred li from the marketplace. I’ll take you there."
"Now?"
"Now. I happen to be heading there anyway."
The two left the marketplace through the West Gate and followed a dirt road heading southwest, wider than the usual patrol routes.
Li Yuan had never been down this road before. The ground was hard-packed, wide enough for two flatbed carts to travel side-by-side.
It was much more orderly than the untamed paths on the outskirts of the marketplace.
After traveling for several dozen li outside the marketplace, the number of people on the road began to increase.
They sporadically encountered several groups of Cultivators. Some rode Low Tier Spirit Beasts, some flew close to the ground on simple Flying Spiritual Artifacts, and a few Wang family Cultivators in uniform blue-gray robes traveled together, the swords at their waists identical in style.
Uncle Qu walked in front. His steps weren’t hurried, but his pace was quite fast, a gentle breeze pulling both himself and Li Yuan forward.
"The Wang family’s main estate is about a hundred li southwest of Qinghe Marketplace. They occupy a mountain, and beneath it are several affiliated villages and mines."
"Most of the main family’s Cultivators live on the mountain. Outer members and contracted Loose Cultivators live at the foot of the mountain and in a few nearby strongholds."
Uncle Qu gestured with his chin toward the silhouette of a mountain in the distance.
"The Treasure Pavilion is at the foot of the mountain, not on it. The mountain is the family’s core area. Besides the direct lineage and a few elders, ordinary people can’t go up."
Li Yuan glanced at the distant mountain.
It was still very far away; he could only see a grayish-blue outline with a thin layer of mist shrouding its peak.
But even from this distance, he could feel that the concentration of Spiritual Qi there was a notch higher than around the marketplace.
The two walked for the better part of an hour.
The terrain on both sides of the road gradually rose, and the trees grew denser. Occasionally, he could see stone tablets by the roadside, engraved with the Wang family’s crest and some "No Trespassing" signs.
The number of guards increased as well.
At several intersections stood armored, sword-wielding Cultivators, most of them at the Mid-stage Qi Refining realm. Upon seeing Uncle Qu, they would cup their fists and let them pass. Their eyes would sweep over Li Yuan, but seeing Uncle Qu’s nod, they asked no further questions.
After a while, a cluster of buildings appeared ahead.
Unlike the cramped buildings in the marketplace, these were arranged in a staggered fashion along the foot of the mountain. With their gray bricks, black tiles, and upturned eaves, they were much more impressive than the marketplace’s wooden huts. A few stone-paved roads ran through the cluster, their surfaces clean enough to gleam.
Many Cultivators were walking around the area. Most wore the standard blue-gray robes of the Wang family, but occasionally a few Loose Cultivators in different attire could be seen.
Uncle Qu led Li Yuan across a stone-paved road and stopped before a three-story stone building.
The stone building was nearly twice the size of the Scripture Pavilion in the marketplace. A dark wooden plaque hung above the entrance, inscribed with the words "Treasure Pavilion" in a simple, heavy script. Two guards stood at the entrance.
Uncle Qu took a Token from his robes and handed it to the guard at the entrance.
The guard took the Token, glanced at it, then looked at Li Yuan and nodded.
"Go on in. You can browse the first floor freely, but the second floor requires a different token. Your spot only allows you to choose from the first floor."
Uncle Qu took the Token back, then turned and handed it to Li Yuan.
"Go in and choose for yourself. Once you’ve picked something, bring it to the entrance to register it."
After saying that, Uncle Qu left.
Li Yuan walked inside.
The first floor was much more spacious than the Scripture Pavilion.
Rows of wooden shelves lined the four walls, holding not books, but all sorts of Magical Artifacts.
Sabers, swords, shields, rings, tablets, beads, mirrors, flags—the variety was staggering, all of different sizes. In front of each item was a small wooden plaque stating its name and a brief description of its function.
Li Yuan started with the first row on the left, touching each item in turn.
A narrow-bladed shortsword.
No reaction from the panel.
A small black iron shield.
No reaction.
A dark red, spherical bead.
[Equippable Item Detected]
[Item Trait Grade: White]
...
’White.’ Li Yuan glanced at the wooden plaque—Fire Element Bead. Can release a burst of flame when infused with Spiritual Power.
He continued down the row.
A bronze bell. No reaction.
A magical fan. Gray trait.
A flying needle. No reaction.
A rattan shield. White trait.
Li Yuan wasn’t in a hurry, patiently touching one item after another.
Less than twenty percent of the Magical Artifacts in the entire row triggered a reaction, and most of those were White or Gray. Green was extremely rare.
Li Yuan continued forward, moving to a row of shelves against the north wall.
This row had far fewer Magical Artifacts than the previous ones, and they were spaced further apart, with nearly a foot between each item.
Li Yuan’s fingers brushed past them one by one, from left to right.
When his finger touched the fourth item, Li Yuan paused.
It was a mirror.
It was palm-sized and oval, with a frame of dark, smoothly polished silver metal.
The reflective surface wasn’t ordinary bronze, but a layer of milky-white jade that gave off a very faint, lustrous glow, as if something were hidden beneath it.
The moment Li Yuan’s finger touched it, the panel popped up.
[Equippable Item Detected]
[Item Trait Grade: Blue]
[Note: Item does not belong to you. Cannot be equipped. Detailed information unavailable.]
’Blue.’
Li Yuan’s finger lingered on the mirror’s frame for an extra breath.
He lowered his head and glanced at the wooden plaque.
Soul Mirror. When infused with Spiritual Power, it can release a powerful beam of light that has a damaging effect on the Divine Soul. Especially effective against wraiths, Ghost Cultivators, and targets with weak Divine Souls. Grade: Tier One Top Grade.
Li Yuan turned the mirror over to look at its back. It was covered in a layer of fine Spirit Patterns, exquisitely carved and far more complex than those on the previous Magical Artifacts.
’Tier One Top Grade, attacks the Divine Soul.’
’A Blue trait.’
Li Yuan placed the mirror back on the shelf. He didn’t take it immediately, but continued to touch the Magical Artifacts further down the row.
After touching everything, he found a total of fourteen Magical Artifacts on the first floor that could trigger the panel. Five were Gray, six were White, two were Green, and there was only one Blue.
It was the Soul Mirror.
Li Yuan walked back to that shelf and picked up the Soul Mirror again.
The milky-white glow on the mirror’s surface seemed to tremble slightly under his fingertips. It was cool to the touch and heavier than it looked.
Magical Artifacts that attacked the Divine Soul were uncommon among Tier One items. Most Tier One artifacts focused on physical or elemental damage; very few could directly affect the Divine Soul.
He had previously encountered Demon Beasts that could attack the Divine Soul in the mines and during patrols on the outskirts, so he knew just how troublesome they were. Conversely, if he had a Magical Artifact that could attack the Divine Soul, he would have another tool at his disposal when facing wraiths and special Demon Beasts.
More importantly, it had a Blue trait.
It was the only Blue one on the entire first floor.
Li Yuan gripped the Soul Mirror and turned to walk toward the entrance.
The guard outside took the mirror, made an entry in a log, had Li Yuan sign and press his thumbprint into a register, then handed the Soul Mirror back.
"The item is yours."
Li Yuan tucked the Soul Mirror into his robes and walked out of the Treasure Pavilion.