Chapter 131 - 89: Cultivation Aspiration, Life Breathing Creation Pill

Chapter 131: Chapter 89: Cultivation Aspiration, Life Breathing Creation Pill

"All right, all right, let’s put this matter behind us!" Shangguan Ling’Er waved her hand. "Let’s get down to business—about restoring Ningzhi’s Cultivation!"

"Wait, that little greenhorn you brought is coming over," she said, stopping suddenly and looking at Li Yinsheng just as she was about to continue.

Li Yinsheng nodded; he had also sensed his junior sister approaching after her bath.

When Mu Xiaoyu reached the door, Li Yinsheng spoke up before she could even knock. "Junior Sister, if you have something to say, come on in."

Mu Xiaoyu pushed the door open and bowed to Junior Martial Uncle Jiang and Shangguan Ling’Er. "Greetings, Martial Uncle. Greetings, Senior."

Junior Martial Uncle Jiang nodded in response, while Shangguan Ling’Er eyed Mu Xiaoyu with immense curiosity. With the girl’s negligible Cultivation, Shangguan Ling’Er could see right through her: terrible talent and completely lacking a Root Device. She was only barely passable because she had undergone Washing Marrow and Cleansing Veins. She also harbored a trace of energy that even a Daoist would consider quite pure, completely untouched by Refinement—likely some Heavenly and Earthly Treasures given to her by Li Yinsheng.

It was truly bizarre. Ningzhi’s talent went without saying, and Li Yinsheng was a freak among freaks. How could they admit such a greenhorn into their temple? Furthermore, Li Yinsheng seemed intent on nurturing her. What right did she have?

Despite failing to make sense of it, Shangguan Ling’Er still assumed the graceful air of a senior. Smiling genially, she patted Mu Xiaoyu’s head and gifted her two bottles of Elixirs and a Five-Colored Spirit Talisman as a welcoming present.

Mu Xiaoyu accepted the Elixirs and talisman, bowing obediently. Her eyes lingered on Shangguan Ling’Er’s colorful ornaments and radiant face.

"Little girl, why do you keep staring at me?" Shangguan Ling’Er asked with a smile.

"You’re so pretty, Senior. Both you and your clothes are so beautiful," Mu Xiaoyu said, a hint of envy in her voice. "You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen, a hundred times prettier than the Imperial Consort I’ve met!"

"HAHAHA..." Shangguan Ling’Er covered her mouth and giggled. "Your praises are quite unique, little one, comparing me to a mortal Imperial Consort."

Li Yinsheng waved Mu Xiaoyu over. "Junior Sister, did you need something?"

Mu Xiaoyu ran to Li Yinsheng’s side and whispered sheepishly, "Senior Brother, I’ve run out of Cultivation Fruits. Could you give me a few more...?"

"Oh!" Li Yinsheng finally realized.

Back on Bamboo Forest Peak, he had promised Mu Xiaoyu a few Cultivation Fruits every day as long as she trained hard. For one, it would maintain her motivation to cultivate; for another, eating enough Cultivation Fruits would greatly enhance her Divine Sense, aiding her in the upcoming Shifeng Conference and Lesser Yang Dao Examination.

Previously, because she could buy a limited amount of Cultivation Fruits each day, she hadn’t bothered to ask him. Now that they had left Bamboo Forest Peak, she could no longer buy them, naturally prompting her to seek him out.

He currently had the thousand Cultivation Fruits given by Huang Bamboo Temple as a reward, plus the two thousand Daoist Lang Gan had privately gifted him. Of course, Daoist Lang Gan hadn’t gifted them to help improve his Divine Sense, but simply as a snack of delicious fruit.

"Here, Junior Sister." Li Yinsheng handed Mu Xiaoyu five snow-white Cultivation Fruits. Since he had plenty to spare, he would have loved to give her more, but given her current Cultivation, five a day was the limit for her Refinement.

Instead of leaving after taking the Cultivation Fruits, Mu Xiaoyu trotted over to her martial uncle. "Try this, Martial Uncle! It’s so tasty!"

Jiang Ningzhi blanked for a moment, then took a Cultivation Fruit with a soft chuckle. Mu Xiaoyu then ran toward Shangguan Ling’Er.

Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Li Yinsheng grabbed the back of Mu Xiaoyu’s collar and dragged her back. "There’s no need for you to share yours!"

A small plate of Cultivation Fruits flew out from his Qiankun Bag and landed on the table. He smiled at Shangguan Ling’Er. "Fellow Daoist Shangguan, these are Cultivation Fruits from Huang Bamboo Temple. Please, have a taste."

Aside from their delicious flavor, Cultivation Fruits provided no benefits to a Daoist, which was why it hadn’t crossed his mind to offer them as a refreshment earlier. It was only Mu Xiaoyu who had reminded him.

"Cultivation Fruits? Forget it, I’m sick of them." Shangguan Ling’Er shook her head repeatedly. Before successfully cultivating into a Daoist, she had to eat those things every day to aid her practice.

Mu Xiaoyu’s gaze grew even more envious.

Li Yinsheng did not press the issue. Tossing a Cultivation Fruit into his own mouth, he looked at Shangguan Ling’Er. "Fellow Daoist Shangguan, regarding the matter of helping my martial uncle restore her Cultivation..."

Mu Xiaoyu’s eyes lit up with joy. Even though Junior Martial Uncle Jiang seemed fierce, Xiaoyu could sense that she actually treated her very well. It was just like the female tutors back home who were cold on the surface but secretly worried themselves sick over her studies. Although she hadn’t heard what happened earlier, knowing that the senior had a way to restore Junior Martial Uncle Jiang’s Cultivation was wonderful news!

Shangguan Ling’Er glanced at Mu Xiaoyu. Seeing that neither Li Yinsheng nor Jiang Ningzhi had any intention of shooing the little girl away, she got straight to the point. "Regarding the restoration of Ningzhi’s Cultivation, I actually do have a solid lead. This matter... ultimately lies with the Bixiao Dharma Vein."

Li Yinsheng, Jiang Ningzhi, and even Mu Xiaoyu—who hadn’t completely grasped what was happening yet—all wore solemn expressions.

Jiang Ningzhi seemed somewhat nervous, subconsciously grasping Li Yinsheng’s hand. Li Yinsheng placed his other hand on his martial uncle’s shoulder to comfort her. On the other side, Mu Xiaoyu held her martial uncle’s slightly chilled palm with both hands, listening intently.

"As you know, the three Daoist Palaces are closed year-round. Aside from the Immortal Assembly that takes place once every three hundred years, they aren’t opened lightly.

"And excluding the three great Daoist Palaces and the Supreme Elders, the Cultivator universally acknowledged as having the highest attainment in Alchemy Dao across the entire Taihao Immortal Sect is the Grand Elder of the Bixiao Dharma Vein—Celestial Cauldron Daoist.

"For years, Celestial Cauldron Daoist has been in secluded Alchemy practice, yet he has struggled with Pill Formation," Shangguan Ling’Er said. "When my master last visited the Bixiao Dharma Vein, he learned something.

"The Elixir that Celestial Cauldron Daoist has repeatedly failed to refine is called the Life Breathing Creation Pill. It originates from an Ancient Pill Formula that the Bixiao Dharma Vein obtained decades ago.

"Its greatest efficacy is its ability to revive the dead and grow flesh on bare bones, healing every injury of a Cultivator from their Flesh Body to their Soul, rendering them as though reborn.

"Furthermore, during the recovery process, the Cultivator can use the opportunity to completely reorganize their past Cultivation and foundations, simultaneously correcting every imperfection in their prior training."

"So this Life Breathing Creation Pill can restore Martial Uncle’s Cultivation," Li Yinsheng said.

"To be exact, it breaks the old to establish the new. Not only would it restore her Cultivation, but she might even condense her Dharma Aspect in the process!" Shangguan Ling’Er said.

Mu Xiaoyu didn’t understand what a Dharma Aspect was, but she didn’t dare interrupt. She simply continued to hold Jiang Ningzhi’s hand, offering her a smile that seemed to say, "Listen, Martial Uncle, you’ll be completely recovered very soon!"

Li Yinsheng was nowhere near as optimistic. Even though there was a method, he still frowned. "Leaving aside the extreme value of such a divine object, according to Fellow Daoist Shangguan, this Divine Pill hasn’t even been formed yet?"

Shangguan Ling’Er nodded. "Celestial Cauldron Daoist has been in seclusion for twelve years and has yet to achieve Pill Formation. However, I believe this Elixir will undoubtedly be formed sooner or later."

"You seem so certain, Fellow Daoist Shangguan. Do you happen to know some insider information?" Li Yinsheng asked.

"It’s hardly an insider secret; many within the Bixiao Dharma Vein know about it. Celestial Cauldron Daoist’s Dao Companion is the Fourth Elder of the Bixiao Dharma Vein. Twenty years ago, she suffered catastrophic injuries and nearly perished, her Dao erased.

"The Fourth Elder’s condition is far worse than Ningzhi’s. To this day, she barely clings to life relying on a special Magical Treasure belonging to the Bixiao Dharma Vein.

"The primary reason Celestial Cauldron Daoist is so desperate to refine this Life Breathing Creation Pill is to save his Dao Companion.

"However, because it also reorganizes a Cultivator’s foundation, the Dharma Vein values it heavily. They are pooling all their resources to provide Celestial Cauldron Daoist with every treasure required for Alchemy.

"When the Life Breathing Creation Pill finally achieves Pill Formation, the batch should yield five to seven pills," Shangguan Ling’Er said. "One will prioritize the rescue of Celestial Cauldron Daoist’s Dao Companion, while the remainder will be kept and distributed by the Bixiao Dharma Vein.

"With the full backing of an entire Dharma Vein, the Pill Formation of the Life Breathing Creation Pill is merely a matter of time."

"I see. With the support of an entire Dharma Vein, it would indeed be hard to fail." Li Yinsheng nodded, though his brow remained furrowed. "But even if they successfully refine it, the Bixiao Dharma Vein likely won’t sell or trade it easily, will they?"

"That’s the troublesome part," Shangguan Ling’Er said with a bitter smile. "If it were an Elixir from our Zhengyang Dharma Vein, I could at least make an attempt.

"But the Bixiao Dharma Vein and Zhengyang Dharma Vein belong to different Daoist Palaces, so there isn’t much camaraderie to speak of. I don’t have any Fellow Daoists in the Bixiao Dharma Vein, either.

"Not to mention, this is ultimately an Elixir that rebuilds a person’s foundation. Even if someone doesn’t need to reconstruct their foundation, it can serve as a life-saving measure at a critical juncture.

"Since it’s so precious, the Bixiao Dharma Vein won’t even have enough to distribute among themselves. Naturally, there’s no reason they would easily hand one over to another Dharma Vein."

Jiang Ningzhi stayed silent for a long moment before saying softly, "And even if the Bixiao Dharma Vein were willing to sell or trade it, the price would likely be astronomical."

"We still have to trade for it!" Mu Xiaoyu blurted out instinctively. "We have to let Martial Uncle restore her Cultivation!"

Just as she spoke, the loud, resonant sound of Huang Zhong and Da Lv echoed beside Li Yinsheng’s ears.

[Cultivation Aspiration: Since the Master of the Cave Heaven is a disciple of Xuanzhen Temple, at a time when your Martial Uncle’s Cultivation is completely ruined yet a glimmer of hope appears, you should seize the opportunity in one fell swoop!

Obtain a Life Breathing Creation Pill. Use this Elixir to restore your Martial Uncle’s Cultivation, break the old to establish the new, turn disaster into blessing, and bring fortune to the entire Xuanzhen Temple!

Alternatively, finding other methods to help your Martial Uncle restore her Cultivation can also complete the Cultivation Aspiration. However, if the recovery effect falls short of the Life Breathing Creation Pill, the reward will be proportionately deducted.

Due to the complete loss of her Cultivation, your Martial Uncle’s lifespan has been drastically reduced. Please restore her Cultivation or extend her lifespan as soon as possible, Master of the Cave Heaven.

This Cultivation Aspiration will permanently close upon your Martial Uncle’s death by any means, including dying of old age.

Cultivation Rewards:

Using the Life Breathing Creation Pill to completely restore your Martial Uncle’s Cultivation, breaking the old to establish the new: Reward 200 years of Cultivation.

Using other methods to completely restore your Martial Uncle’s Cultivation without breaking the old to establish the new: Reward 80 years of Cultivation.

Partially restoring your Martial Uncle’s Cultivation: Reward Cultivation based on the specific recovery status.

Jiang Ningzhi’s remaining lifespan: approximately eight years and six months.]

Staring at the Golden Characters unfurling before him, Li Yinsheng’s expression remained unchanged, but his heart stirred.

For the first time, his attention was completely unconcerned with the difficulty and rewards.

He closed his eyes so the others wouldn’t notice that his gaze had been fixed on a single spot in the void—the final line of the Golden Characters displaying Junior Martial Uncle Jiang’s remaining lifespan.

He knew that Cultivators whose Cultivation suffered severe damage inevitably faced a decline in lifespan, but he had never imagined that his martial uncle was left with less than nine years to live.