"Is this the seed of the Cloud Tower Tree?"
Yu Ci extended his hand, cautiously touching the periphery of the radiance. Moisture was embedded within the glow, and as his fingers made contact, it felt as though they brushed against a wisp of vapor. Applying slight pressure, the texture of the seed conveyed back to him—it felt like a rather supple water bubble, semi-hollow and slightly elastic inside.
Upon closer inspection, the seed was semi-transparent, about a fen in diameter, with what appeared to be wisps of smoke swirling within.
Holding the seed between his fingertips, Yu Ci felt a wave of emotion. This was the starting point of Qu Thunderbolt-Free's request and plan. Even Xing Tian, with his ability to see through people's hearts, could not avoid being calculated by Qu Thunderbolt-Free. Indeed, in this world, there truly is a counter for everything.
This time, Xing Tian was genuinely unaware of Yu Ci's thoughts and considerately explained the seed's purpose:
"The Cloud Tower Tree is the Heavenly and Earthly Nimbus Root. Having been to Return Village, you should be aware of its unique ability to create a world of its own. Moreover, it gathers Cosmic Qi, with a concentration far stronger than the outside world. Cultivating there, one can achieve twice the result with half the effort. This seed is actually borne from the Cloud Tower Tree that Return Village relies on. You are also fortunate; these seeds have just matured. Otherwise, between planting and harvesting, countless eons could pass. The Cloud Tower Tree can wait, but you cannot."
Yu Ci acknowledged this with a nod. Similar words had been spoken by Qu Thunderbolt-Free, but listening again did no harm.
"The leaves of this tree are premium carriers for crafting Talismans, far surpassing any jade or stone material in strength. For instance, the Kunshan Jade Talisman of the Lichen Sect, in terms of the capacity to bear Talismans, does not even match one-thousandth of it, and it also has an amplifying effect. If your Upper Cave-True Starlight Sensing Divine Thunder were to be inscribed on a leaf of the Cloud Tower Tree, its power could increase by a full fifty percent!"
Xing Tian extolled the wonders of the Cloud Tower Tree with great enthusiasm, and Yu Ci nodded repeatedly. However, in reality, he remained very calm. At last, he inquired, "With such a rare treasure, how should one go about planting it?"
"Since it is the Heavenly and Earthly Nimbus Root, it need not be planted in soil to absorb Cosmic Qi and grow naturally. However, if left to its own devices, the growth rate would be extremely slow; it might not even sprout in thirty to fifty thousand years. If you wish for it to grow quickly, firstly, it should be placed in a suitable environment—preferably somewhere high and clear, for it thrives on natural light. Even the true fire of the sun is nourishing to it, making the Outer Realm of the Nine Heavens the best place to cultivate it. Secondly, it requires the nourishment of one's own vital energy to trigger its wondrous properties early on and to accelerate its absorption of nutrients from the surroundings..."
"Having done all this, when will it sprout? When will it mature?" Yu Ci's question struck at the crux of the matter.
Xing Tian fell silent for a moment before responding, "If cultivated properly, under ideal conditions, sprouting can be expected within a decade. As for maturing, to produce leaves and create another void, the former would take fifty years, while the latter, to develop on a significant scale, would require at least three to five hundred years."
It felt somewhat embarrassed, but then offered an explanation: "In the realm of cultivation, a decade or so is insignificant. One only needs to wait for the seed to sprout, and then the unique qualities of this tree will become apparent. By then, you'll naturally understand its benefits."
"I understand," Yu Ci replied quite decisively. He had been mentally prepared for this, and at this point, he had no desire to complicate matters further. It was better to conclude things sooner rather than later.
Xing Tian, however, was momentarily taken aback. Yu Ci did not give him time to ponder and quickly inquired about a few details concerning the Cloud Tower Tree. His divine consciousness was simultaneously swirling within two Storage Rings. After a moment, an idea suddenly struck him:
"Are there no items from the Rakshasa Sect here? Where is that woman?"
"Woman?"
Xing Tian quickly caught on: "Ah, you mean her. She was lucky enough not to die. Since she made it clear she was from the Rakshasa Sect, the Lichen Sect found it difficult to deal with her and let her go."
Yu Ci fell silent for a long while, and Xing Tian, sensing his preoccupation, chose not to say more. With a nod, he then faded into silence, evidently having departed.
Moments later, Yu Ci began to fiddle with the Storage Rings.
The two Storage Rings contained all of Yu Ci's gains from the Sword Garden. In terms of wealth, few could match him. However, Xing Tian did not have the leisure to pick and choose, stuffing everything haphazardly into them. Even with the considerable space in Wen Shifei's Storage Ring, it was packed to the brim, and it took Yu Ci some effort to organize.
On the Star Plucking Tower, instead of focusing on cultivation, Yu Ci was sorting through miscellaneous items—probably a first. Yet, through this sorting, he indeed made new discoveries.
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Among the accumulated items, the largest by far was a set of azure metal armor. The projection of the Heavy Weapon Sect Leader, after the Rainbow Transformation self-destructed and escaped the pull of the Divine Bronze Mirror, had left behind this very special treasure.
Yu Ci was unsure whether this armor counted as a Magical Instrument, but it must have been refined using unique techniques. The dense and intricate Rune Patterns crisscrossed and were segmented, following certain rules. To Yu Ci, an expert in talismanic arts, it was infinitely profound. Even now, uncontrolled, the overflowing Divine Light was astonishing.
His finger traced over the armor, feeling the various zones differentiated by the function of their talismans. Some of these functional areas were comprehensible to Yu Ci, while others were completely obscure. He also attempted to don the armor. Heavy Armor was not made for any specific individual, so size was not a significant constraint, but the armor weighed over eight hundred jin—a common person would likely be crushed under its weight. Presumably, there were some undiscovered secrets to lighten it and enhance speed.
Wearing the armor, Yu Ci stood still, trying to infuse it with his vital energy, sensing a slight difference. The inner layer of the armor was also etched with intricate talismans. Only when combined with the outer layer did the true nature of this Heavy Armor reveal itself.
With this, his thoughts became somewhat clearer, yet the insights he gained were still limited. Yu Ci admitted that, in terms of talismanic mastery, he and the Heavy Weapon Sect Leader were separated by a chasm as vast as the heavens. To fully comprehend the matter, perhaps Elder Jie Liang could, but it was unfortunate that he was not currently at the Sect's Mountain Gate... and then there was Old Master Zhu?
"Got it."
A sudden, light sound interrupted his thoughts, and Yu Ci was taken aback for a moment before realizing that he had unconsciously activated a relatively simple talisman on his armor. It must be...
The sensation in his hand had undergone a subtle change; beneath the weight of over 800 jin of Heavy Armor, the alteration in weight was somewhat indistinct. He only knew that this object had slid out from a secret compartment in the armor similar to a Storage Ring. Yu Ci lifted it, and soon after, a luminous jade light reflected in his eyes.
It was a Dharma Seal about three inches in diameter, pure white throughout, with the knob carved into the form of an unknown Auspicious Beast, surrounded by two giant serpents entwined, their tongues linked in an intricate and exquisitely beautiful pattern.
Yu Ci was dumbstruck, and it took him a while to remember to remove his metal gauntlet and press the Dharma Seal against the back of his hand, comparing the twisted and strange mark it left with the knowledge of Dharma Seals that Old Master Zhu had taught him.
"Is this really the Jade Divine Cave Spirit Seal?"
Yu Ci inhaled a deep breath of cool air into his belly. He clenched the Dharma Seal in his hand, and his mind inevitably recalled the scene beneath the Heavenly Dome Sword Pool where the Heavy Weapon Sect Leader had used this seal to gather the earth's energy from thousands of miles around, using it as the core to operate a magnificent array.
Indeed, after the Heavy Weapon Sect Leader's self-destruction during the Rainbow Transformation, there had been no chance to take this Dharma Seal away. It was unexpected that it had been hidden within the Heavy Armor, taken by Xing Tian, and then given to Yu Ci. Thinking about it, Xing Tian probably hadn't anticipated that such a treasure would be concealed within the Heavy Armor either.
"What to do with this thing..." Yu Ci removed his Heavy Armor and pondered carefully.
In the past, he would likely have sought someone to appraise and consult directly, but Xing Tian's actions had influenced him, making him more cautious. After a long while, he lifted his head and spoke to the empty void, "Tower Guardian Senior, are you there?"
After waiting for a few breaths, a thunderous voice echoed in his ears. Yu Ci adjusted his breathing slightly; indeed, dealing with an "other" whom he had never met face-to-face was still somewhat stressful. However, Xing Tian setting the location for the handover of the treasure here was also a form of assurance.
This Power Guardian Saint is someone whom Yu Ci can trust.
To be honest, Xing Tian's reputation isn't exactly rock-solid, but at this stage, there is no one else who understands Xing Tian and himself better. Perhaps this mutual understanding could be considered the cornerstone of trust.
Regarding the Power Guardian Saint, whose true identity was still unclear, Yu Ci dared not show any disrespect. He first made a respectful gesture towards the void before speaking, "Disciple has recently acquired a treasure, but I am unsure of its significance or value, and would like to consult Senior Xing Tian..."
Before he could finish, Xing Tian's voice rang out again: "I'm aware of this matter. Hey, you might have really stumbled upon great fortune. This Jade Divine Cave Spirit Seal seems genuine. If you're uncertain, go ask that Mr. Zhu of yours. He hails from the Shangqing Sect, possesses a good temperament, and is much stronger than certain people here!"
Xing Tian always seemed to seize every opportunity to vent his grievances. Yu Ci felt somewhat helpless but still expressed his thanks. Xing Tian continued, "Let the Tower Guardian Brother escort you out. Also, don't summon me casually in the future. Today was just a rare occasion when I was free... How did the day pass so quickly?"
Xing Tian's tone grew more solemn: "Remember, our relationship must be kept tightly under wraps..."
Yu Ci nodded in understanding: "Just avoid causing trouble for each other."
Xing Tian let out a cold snort and then fell silent.
Yu Ci smiled to himself, not comprehending what Xing Tian, with his abilities, could possibly fear. He tidied up the room and prepared to climb out the window. With the protection of the Power Guardian Saint, he wasn't worried about falling to his death. However, at that moment, a slight pop sounded in the air, and an otherworldly strong presence conveyed a thought:
"Let's talk after those two leave."
Which two?
Just as he was puzzled, a rainbow light shot past the window, traveling dozens of miles in an instant with astonishing speed. Yu Ci couldn't identify the senior who had passed by when suddenly, the rainbow light split, and a portion of it flew back towards him, slower but quickly arriving at the window:
"Yu Ci?"
Yu Ci looked up in surprise: "Immortal He?"
The female cultivator before him was dressed simply, her hair tied up behind her head, her complexion fair and her expression stern and dignified. It was indeed He Qing.
Wasn't this Immortal Elder off to cultivate in the Outer Realm of the Nine Heavens? Why was she seen again at the Sect's Mountain Gate?
While Yu Ci was wondering, He Qing already seemed to understand: "Your injuries appear to have stabilized. The Sect allowing you to cultivate in the Star Plucking Tower is a sign of their high regard. You must practice diligently."
Yu Ci bowed his head in agreement, his eyes glancing towards the distance where the rainbow light that had accompanied He Qing had already disappeared.