Chapter 273 - 244: The Second Po: Essence Spirit

The second of the Seven Spirits Zhu Ju prepared to connect was the Essence Spirit. It was also the Spirit he had the most experience with, and thus the one he had the greatest confidence in successfully connecting.

The Essence Spirit!

The repository of a person’s Essence and blood.

Once this Spirit was connected and opened, one’s Physical Body would be filled with abundant Essence, and their life force would become tenacious.

The Ten Thousand Poisons True Skill of the Southern Barbarians fused countless poisons into one’s body. Those who practiced this Cultivation Technique rarely lived long and often suffered from poison backlash, enduring excruciating pain. However, as long as they Opened the Divine Treasure and advanced to the Martial Saint realm, they could circumvent many of these drawbacks and even extend their lives. This was because the essence and blood provided by the Essence Spirit could completely sustain the damage inflicted upon the Physical Body by the Ten Thousand Poisons.

Never mind just poison...

Even if their limbs were severed, as long as they retrieved the lost limbs within a certain time, they could be reattached and healed.

Mending broken bones and regenerating flesh was nothing extraordinary for a Martial Saint who had opened the Divine Treasure of the Essence Spirit.

All preparations were complete.

Time passed.

An unknown amount of time went by.

BOOM!

On the deserted island, Zhu Ju’s eyes flew wide open, his long hair whipping about. As he connected with the Essence Spirit, he felt an endless wellspring of essence and blood burgeon within him. His deathly still Physical Body was revitalized with vigorous life, and the Qi Blood inside him surged at a visible rate.

After a long while.

His aura gradually stabilized.

"Success!"

A smile touched Zhu Ju’s lips as he flexed his wrists.

’With the experience of connecting the Power Spirit, connecting the Essence Spirit this time was much smoother. It was almost effortless.’

’The Power Spirit has the Great Millet Fist and the Mountain-Shattering Saber, which can bring out the advantage of great strength. The Essence Spirit has the Anger Battle Eight Techniques, the Five Poison Palm, and even the Nine Flames Fist—all are Methods that can be used without fear of consuming essence and blood.’

’I just wonder...’

’Is there a Cultivation Technique that combines the advantages of both the Power and Essence Spirits?’

’If I assimilate all Three Souls and Seven Spirits into my body in the future, will I have to learn different Methods to adapt to each one?’

He gently shook his head at the thought.

’That’s definitely not going to work!’

’A single Cultivation Technique can only bring out the ability of one Spirit; it can’t manifest the advantages of all the Spirits combined.’

’It seems I’ll need to find a Cultivation Technique that possesses the advantages of all Three Souls and Seven Spirits, or perhaps create one myself?’

SWISH!

With a flicker, Zhu Ju appeared before a rock several times a man’s height and rammed it with his head.

BOOM!

The massive boulder, which had remained whole despite countless years of being battered by ocean waves, was shattered by his headbutt.

Rocks tumbled and dust plumed into the air.

ZING!

As stone dust filled the air, a Flying Saber shot out from within it, tracing a brilliant arc of saber light as it slashed toward Zhu Ju’s body.

THWACK!

His robes tore apart.

A deep gash appeared on his chest.

Unable to withstand the force, Zhu Ju was sent flying several dozen feet, crashing heavily into a large rock. He then staggered back to his feet, the gash on his chest already mostly healed.

’The Power of my Physical Body has grown even stronger. Even without circulating my energy to defend, the Cross and Vertical Saber can’t inflict a serious wound.’

’If I had circulated my energy to exert force...’

’I’m afraid it would take a skill like Refining Sword into Silk to even break my defense.’

’Although the Cross and Vertical Saber’s lethality isn’t top-tier among Top-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, this proves my Body Refining practice has come to fruition. I’m not much different from a Dao Foundation Cultivator who has reached the Second Realm of a Body Refining Hard Skill. Without relying on an Array, I can even contend with a Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator now.’

’Furthermore...’

He closed his eyes and sensed his surroundings.

’My perception of the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi is much clearer, and my Cultivation speed has increased significantly. This is an additional benefit of the Soul Entering the Body process.’

’It’s as if my Cultivation Talent has improved. Even with a slow-progressing scripture like the Mixed Element Scripture, I can advance to the Mid-Stage Dao Foundation within a century without the aid of Elixirs.’

’And finally...’

He took a deep breath, and with a slight shrug of his shoulders, the Wind and Thunder Blade Wings unfurled, instantly transforming into several hundred Flying Sabers that shot into the sky.

HUMMM!

The air vibrated.

The sky above seemed to rain down meteors as hundreds of Flying Sabers transformed into hundreds of saber glints, roaring down toward the figure below.

Just as they were about to strike him.

WHOOSH!

A five-colored radiance appeared, swiping fiercely at the air. The hundreds of aggressively descending blades suddenly froze in place.

The Five-Colored Divine Light!

The divine light not only suppressed the incoming Flying Sabers, but it could even quell the Divine Thought attached to them, allowing him to collect them directly.

’Its power...’

’Is terrifyingly strong!’

’Although it hasn’t advanced to a Middle Grade Magical Treasure yet, its power is much greater than before. This is cause for celebration!’

A smile appeared on Zhu Ju’s face.

"Hm?"

’It’s about to rain.’

He looked up to see that, at some point, the sky over the nearby sea had turned pitch-black and profound, like a heavy curtain falling, its edges stretching beyond sight.

BOOM!

CRASH...

Wind and thunder raged as ocean waves surged.

The blinding lightning that tore across the sky and the monstrous waves that stretched for a hundred miles served as a wake-up call for Zhu Ju, whose heart had been swelling with excitement over his recent great increase in strength.

Before such vast heavenly might, what did his meager strength truly amount to?

Shaking his head, Zhu Ju formed a Finger Technique to calculate his bearings. His brow furrowed, and a helpless sigh escaped his lips.

’The Primordial Magnetism is in chaos and the Spiritual Qi is turbulent. Do I have to wait for the storm to pass before I can head back?’

He had already spent a considerable amount of time practicing with his Array and connecting the Essence Spirit. Returning any later might be inconvenient, and it was clear this storm wouldn’t let up anytime soon.

...

BOOM!

A gale erupted amidst flashes of lightning and peals of thunder.

Monstrous waves roiled the once-calm surface of the sea, where a two-story merchant ship struggled ceaselessly against the tide.

"Quick!"

"Raise the sails!"

"Turn to port! We have to break out of this whirlpool!"

A wave crashed over the deck, knocking several crewmen to the ground, and the ship’s helm was momentarily left unmanned.

The capstan spun with a CREAKING groan.

The sturdy merchant ship spun back and forth, battered by the currents. The people on board were thrown about, disoriented, and a moment’s carelessness could send them flying off the deck.

’This is bad!’

Tao Caiwei gritted her teeth. In a flash, she rushed to the helm, her slender hand shooting out to grab the wildly spinning wheel. The Giant Power of her Eight Acupoints Innate cultivation forcefully stabilized the ship’s direction.

"Xiaoqin!"

"Go activate the Array!"

"Sister Caiwei," Xiaoqin called out as she steadied herself by grabbing onto a ship plank. Looking up, she yelled over the storm:

"We’re low on Spirit Stones! It looks like this storm isn’t going to stop anytime soon. Grandpa said the Spirit Stones have to be used only when absolutely necessary. If we use them up now, what will we do later?"

"If we don’t use them now, morale will shatter," Tao Caiwei said, shaking her head. She glanced at the pale, terrified crewmen and ordered:

"Go now!"

"...Yes." Xiaoqin reluctantly agreed and dashed toward the ship’s cabin.

They belonged to one of the most ordinary Cultivation families in the East Sea; their clan didn’t even have a single Dao Foundation Cultivator.

They had undertaken this long journey because they’d heard the Yunjing Commerce Association had arrived at Cuihu Island—an opportunity they couldn’t afford to miss.

Although the Yunjing Commerce Association was only a second-rate power in the entire East Sea, in the eyes of the Tao Family, it was a colossal entity.

Wherever the Yunjing Commerce Association went, it would attract nearby Cultivators to gather and trade various goods.

Among those goods were the much-coveted Foundation Establishment Pills.

That alone made it an irresistible draw.

If the Tao Family had a Dao Foundation expert presiding over it, their lives wouldn’t be so difficult.

SWOOSH!

Just as the merchant ship was struggling in the whirlpool, a streak of saber light descended from the sky, landing steadily on the deck to reveal a figure.

It was Zhu Ju.

Zhu Ju flicked his finger, sending a string of pearls flying out in all directions to completely envelop the merchant ship.

In an instant.

It was as if the wind and rain had ceased.

The merchant ship stood steady upon the stormy waves.

"A Dao Foundation Cultivator!"

Tao Caiwei’s breath hitched. She hastily knelt on the deck and spoke with trepidation:

"Thank you for saving our lives, Elder."

"Rise," Zhu Ju said with a wave of his sleeve.

"I am a Cultivator from the Yunjing Commerce Association. I was out hunting Demon Beasts when I got lost in this storm. Do you have a Nautical Chart of the nearby area? Do you know the direction to Cuihu Island?"

"Elder, you are a Cultivator from the Yunjing Commerce Association?" Tao Caiwei was overjoyed to hear this.

"This junior is Tao Caiwei of the Tao Family from Xiaoye Island. We are also on our way to Cuihu Island. Why don’t we travel together?"

’Xiaoye Island?’

Zhu Ju looked completely blank.

"Um..." Seeing his expression, Tao Caiwei’s face flushed with embarrassment.

"The Tao Family hasn’t had a Dao Foundation Cultivator for three hundred years, so Xiaoye Island is not well-known."

"I see!" Zhu Ju said with understanding.

"Miss Tao, you are young but have already opened the Eight Acupoints. It’s not impossible that you will achieve the Dao Foundation one day."

"Since we are both headed to Cuihu Island, I will have to impose on you."

"Not at all, not at all," Tao Caiwei said, waving her hands repeatedly.

"If you hadn’t intervened, Elder, it’s uncertain if we would have survived this day. It is we who should be thanking you."

"Sister Caiwei!"

Just then, Xiaoqin came rushing from the cabin.

"I felt the wind stop, so I didn’t activate the Arr—"

"This is Elder Zhu of the Yunjing Commerce Association," Tao Caiwei hurriedly introduced when she saw Xiaoqin’s surprised expression.

"The Elder is the one who stabilized the waves. Hurry and thank him!"

’A Dao Foundation Elder?’

Xiaoqin’s eyes lit up, and she hurriedly bowed in thanks.

She was wearing tight-fitting Fish Scale Armor, and her outer robe was soaked through with seawater, revealing her graceful figure.

The key thing was...

Unlike Tao Caiwei’s reserved demeanor,

Xiaoqin’s posture was bold, her beautiful eyes held a trace of excitement, and her every move did nothing to hide her intentions.

’If I can get close to this Dao Foundation Cultivator, there will be many benefits in the future. I might even be able to leave the Tao Family.’

As a Dao Foundation Cultivator, Zhu Ju had seen such fawning behavior countless times. He merely gave a faint, indifferent smile in response.

Besides.

Although Xiaoqin was charming and had a graceful figure, she was a far cry from Tao Caiwei beside her.

"I’ll trouble you for a room to rest."

"Yes."

Tao Caiwei agreed, rolling her eyes at the girl who was so busy flaunting her figure.

*

*

*

「A few days later.」

Cuihu Island.

The island was vast and named for the jade-green lake within it.

A faint mist enveloped all of Cuihu Island. It was an Illusion Array that could transform into a Killing Array to block enemies at any moment.

"Elder."

Tao Caiwei began to speak:

"They say the Array on Cuihu Island was set up with help from the Yunjing Commerce Association. It is a Tier Two Middle Grade Grand Array."

"A Late-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator presides over it. Unless a Golden Core Grandmaster comes in person, no one could hope to break through the array by force."

"Mm," Zhu Ju said, nodding slowly as he looked at the mist before him.

"It is likely the handiwork of Master Tang."

"Alright!"

"As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. I have been a bother these past few days. Let us part ways here."

"Elder," Tao Caiwei had known they would separate, but she still felt a sense of emptiness. She pursed her lips and asked:

"Will we meet again?"

During their days together, Zhu Ju’s guidance had been like a beacon for her, and it was hard not to feel reluctant to part.

"If fate wills it, we will naturally meet again."

Zhu Ju smiled.

He had a good impression of the capable Tao Caiwei, and that young maid who tried too hard to be seductive was also quite amusing.

After a moment’s thought, he said slowly:

"Foundation Establishment Pills are extremely rare even within the Yunjing Commerce Association, and most are not sold publicly. However, if you have certain Curious Objects, there’s a good chance you can trade for one."

"Also..."

"Buying a Foundation Establishment Pill doesn’t guarantee you’ll get to keep it. Every year, people die over them."

"Be careful!"

"Thank you, Elder." Tao Caiwei’s eyes brightened.

"I know what to do now."

’Her most important goal for this trip was the Foundation Establishment Pill, but she had been struggling because she had no connections. If a Curious Object was the key...’

’Someone she knew had one!’