Chapter 756 157: Visitor, Wool, Discovery, Night Talk

As he spoke, he put it away with extreme care.

Given that the Sect controlled prices, the Spirit Stones needed to buy Tier Two and Tier Three Spirit Nurturing Beads were trivial for someone of his status. The truly precious item was the High-Quality Tier Two Spirit Nurturing Pearl itself. For an Upper Sect, it was an item one could only hope to encounter by chance, not something that could be actively sought out.

Especially now, when Zhang Deming was registered with the Sect but had yet to officially open for business, High-Quality Spirit Nurturing Pearls were exceedingly difficult to obtain.

After putting the Spirit Nurturing Pearl away, Fanx Qingyong looked at Zhang Deming and said, "Junior Brother Zhang, if I may ask, what brings you to my White Rock Peak?"

Zhang Deming shook his head. "It's nothing important, really. A few days ago, I was treating Senior Brother Yunfei's injuries, and we got to chatting. I happened to mention that I enjoy reading the Daoist Collection, so he gave me access to the Scripture Pavilions on White Rock Peak and Liuli Peak, which are under your Miscellaneous Affairs Department.

I had some free time today, so I thought I'd come take a look. I didn't intend to disturb anyone, but then I saw one of your disciples struggling with a breakthrough. I gave him a little help, and well, that's how we ended up here."

Fanx Qingyong paused, then bowed once more. "Thank you again for your help, Junior Brother. My Fanx Family will remember the aid you've given us. If you ever have any needs in the future, Junior Brother, please don't hesitate to ask."

Zhang Deming waved his hand dismissively. "It was a small effort. If you keep thanking me, Senior Brother, you'll make things feel distant between us."

"Ah... look at me. It's my fault. My apologies, Junior Brother," Fanx Qingyong said enthusiastically. "Come, let's go to my Cave Mansion and have a proper chat."

'Forget it! Go to your Cave Mansion? As if I don't know what you're planning. You're just after the things in my pockets.'

He had yet to officially open for business and had no desire to entertain Fanx Qingyong. He had no intention of prematurely giving any peak a supply of High Tier Spirit Nurturing Beads before he was officially available.

'He wouldn't commit such a blatant act of choosing a side!'

'After all, with his status as the Peak Master of Spirit Nurturing Peak, he no longer needed to take sides to build connections within the Sect. He could forge relationships with all the departments without showing favoritism, and they would all still scramble to win him over.'

'Taking sides... with his current status, that wouldn't be broadening his path—it would be narrowing it!'

"Um, I think I'll have to pass," Zhang Deming replied. "I was planning to visit the Scripture Pavilions of both peaks today, and I have many other things to handle after that. Next time I'm free, we can chat at length. We can discuss the Dao over tea or talk about Hongmeng over warmed wine, whatever you please!"

Fanx Qingyong hesitated. "How about we just go for a short visit?"

"I really can't," Zhang Deming replied. "With the current assembly going on, the Array Department has a lot of things they need my input on. So really, let's leave it for next time!"

Seeing Zhang Deming's insistence, Fanx Qingyong didn't press the issue. "Very well, then I won't disturb you any further, Junior Brother."

After exchanging bows, Fanx Qingyong turned and left. Zhang Deming glanced around and saw a crowd of disciples staring at him, their eyes wide with anticipation.

Their gazes were so intense, it was as if he were a naked woman. They burned with a glittering light, filled with expectation and intense desire. An uninformed bystander witnessing this scene would be utterly speechless...

Zhang Deming paused. In this situation, there was no way he could continue his tour of White Rock Peak.

A pair of exquisitely magnificent wings materialized on his back. Under the awestruck gazes of the disciples, he flew straight toward the White Rock Peak Scripture Pavilion.

...

The White Rock Peak Scripture Pavilion was no different from the one on Spirit Nurturing Peak. In fact, among the Inner Sect Fifteen Peaks, aside from the Celestial Spirit Main Pavilion, the Scripture Pavilions and Guardian Towers of the other fourteen peaks all maintained the same lazy, unmotivated style.

Whether in layout, procedures, or architectural style, they were all cast from the same mold. The only difference lay in the Techniques they contained.

Besides the common Techniques available to all, each peak housed specific, specialized Techniques, which accounted for half to three-quarters of its collection.

When the Celestial Spirit Sect first established the peaks, the Techniques in all the Scripture Pavilions were identical, though of course, the collections were not nearly as vast. The fundamental reason for the current disparity is specialized development by the disciples themselves.

Fanx Dexian's Brain Implantation Skill is a prime example of this evolution. It originated from the Growth Technique, a classic, comprehensive, and foundational Technique of the Wood Vine Dao that is available on every peak.

However, one disciple combined the Growth Technique with a Technique from the Flying-type variant series, Falling Feather: Dandelion, and through fusion, created Jade Vine Dandelion.

This new Skill was only available on a few peaks. Of course, it was technically a derivative developed from the fusion of multiple Skills, so it wasn't considered entirely new. Disciples from other peaks could try to replicate the process and develop it for themselves.

But when Fanx Dexian used Jade Vine Dandelion as a foundation, combined it with concepts from other paths, and—guided by multiple Daoist philosophies—fortuitously developed the Brain Implantation Skill, it became a completely new Technique.

It would be extremely difficult for other disciples to replicate this process. If they wanted to learn the Technique, their only option, for the most part, was to approach Fanx Dexian himself.

After Fanx Dexian compiled the Technique into a manual, he would typically submit it to the Scripture Pavilion. For contributing a completely new Technique—one with such a novel concept that it could spawn an entire minor school of Daoist Techniques—he would receive a handsome reward.

This process added a new Skill—and potentially a new series of Skills—to White Rock Peak's collection. Thus, the White Rock Peak Scripture Pavilion began to differ from the others. Over time, this differentiation grew more pronounced, leading to the current state of the dozen-plus Scripture Pavilions on the various peaks.