Chapter 191: Same Reference Objects

"This ring is a sword cultivation artifact," Ming Yihua explained. "When cultivators who have achieved 'Sword Aura Manifestation' inject their sword aura into it, it will evolve into corresponding sword qi, saving sword cultivators time in condensing sword qi."

"Its primary function, however, is similar to that of the 'Enactment Figure'; it helps first-stage sword cultivators visualize the form of second-stage 'Sword Aura Materialization,' guiding them on their cultivation path."

After listening to Chen Mobai's description, Ming Yihua spent a long time tinkering with the various devices in the academy's appraisal room. He then tested it firsthand and finally discovered its true function.

No wonder it was called the "Sword Forging Ring."

Chen Mobai suddenly understood, realizing why the Southern Mountain Bandits couldn't resist trying to seize it after recognizing it.

He wondered which True Disciple from Golden Light Cliff had dropped it on Green Light Island, or perhaps perished in battle with a demonic beast, leaving behind this Sword Forging Ring. In the future, if he successfully reached the Foundation Establishment stage and needed to use the Scarlet Flame Sword Art to mask his Pure Yang Scroll cultivation, he could use this Sword Forging Ring to cultivate Scarlet Flame Sword Qi.

"This item is quite a treasure. Where did you find it?"

After completing the appraisal, Ming Yihua returned the Sword Forging Ring to Chen Mobai. Chen Mobai took it and casually mentioned an antique artifact street in Chicheng Grotto-Heaven.

"Isn't that place full of scams? You actually managed to find something like this, like panning for gold in sand." As a first-level appraiser and artificer registered with the Immortal Sect, and given the reputation of Wuqi Academy, Ming Yihua was naturally often invited to appraise so-called antique artifacts. Most of them, nine out of ten, were fakes, modern artificers imitating ancient styles.

"Just lucky. By the way, have you been in touch with Yun Yangbing recently? I haven't seen him in a while." Chen Mobai quickly changed the subject.

"Ah, he recently went with his department's teacher to a research institute to set up a Spirit Gathering Array, but he should be back today." At this, Ming Yihua immediately called Yun Yangbing, who was indeed at the academy.

Without further ado, Chen Mobai treated them, and the three went out for a good meal.

"Oh, right, Old Chen, I've heard about your titles, 'Puppet Prodigy' and 'Farming Prince.' Didn't you say you liked talismans back then? How did you end up specializing in these other fields?" Ming Yihua teased him while eating.

Chen Mobai could only shake his head and smile wryly. Puppetry and agronomy were unpopular majors at the academy; the number of students who chose these two courses this year wasn't even half of those in the Talisman Department. Only eleven students chose puppetry this year, and even fewer chose agronomy, just seven. If it weren't for seniors from previous years also choosing these less popular courses for credits, they probably wouldn't even be able to form a single class. It was precisely for this reason that Chen Mobai could stand out among a small crowd, integrating textbook knowledge through practical application, thus barely solidifying his title as a genius in these two subjects.

"Perhaps I just don't have much talent in talismans. Come on, let's not talk about that, have another drink or two." Chen Mobai immediately changed the subject again, asking about Yun Yangbing's progress in array cultivation.

Yun Yangbing, however, shook his head and sighed. "I might have overestimated myself a bit. Next year, I'll probably focus on cultivating 'Earth Arrays.' Once I pass the second-tier Earth Array exam, then I'll think about cultivating 'Heaven Arrays.'"

Yun Yangbing had also passed the first-tier Earth Array Master exam last month, which Chen Mobai could only envy. Both of them were true geniuses. Although Yun Yangbing failed at cultivating both Earth and Heaven Arrays simultaneously, to complete an examination in one of the Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation at the age of twenty (virtual age) might be relatively common at Wuqi Academy, but across the entire Immortal Sect, he was a top-tier talent in array formations.

As Chen Mobai drank with them, he also wondered if he should find time to take an examination for a certificate himself. However, because he had recently been focused on cultivating the "Scripture of Eternal Youth," his knowledge reserves in puppetry and spiritual plant cultivation were not yet fully comprehensive. If he were to take the exam now, he might fail. For students at other universities, failing an exam a few times was normal. But for students of the Four Great Academies, if a first-tier certificate wasn't passed on the first attempt, it was considered a disgrace. Thinking this, Chen Mobai decided it would be better to study and improve further, then take the examination when he felt more confident.

"I heard Zhongli Tianyu broke through to the second level of Foundation Establishment a while ago." Ming Yihua brought up another topic, which Chen Mobai and Yun Yangbing also knew about. Students in the Nascent Soul class who cultivated the "Concordance Scripture" shared the same mentor as Zhongli Tianyu. When he broke through, there was a lively discussion in their group chat: some were envious, some were inspired, and some were disheartened, choosing to give up.

"His 'Concordance Object' is Patriarch Zhongli's Eight Trigrams Mirror. He didn't need to waste time searching for one, and after mastering the Concordance Scripture, he benefits from this fourth-tier magic treasure of the same bloodline, ensuring his cultivation speed won't slow down before forming a Nascent Soul. He's estimated to reach the peak of Foundation Establishment and attempt Core Formation before he's even a hundred years old." Even the usually cheerful Ming Yihua couldn't help but feel a little envious at this point.

Cultivating the Concordance Scripture requires finding a 'Concordance Object' that aligns with the cultivator's innate nature. A good example of a successful choice is Zhongli Tianyu, who inherited his bloodline ancestor's magic treasure directly. This makes his cultivation twice as effective with half the effort, allowing him to break through stages without encountering bottlenecks. However, a poor choice can hinder a cultivator's progress, leading to half the results with twice the effort. Although the geniuses in the Nascent Soul class all managed to forcefully master the Concordance Scripture due to their formidable talent, they all sought perfection in their Concordance Objects, aiming for at least a third-tier magic artifact or spiritual item. Therefore, among this year's cohort, only Zhongli Tianyu had thus far confirmed his designated Concordance Object.

"A Concordance Object is incredibly difficult to find. One of my grandfathers, despite his astonishing talent, spent so much time on his Concordance Object that he ultimately couldn't achieve Core Formation." Yun Yangbing chose to cultivate the Pure Yang Scroll precisely because of this example within his family.

"Exactly. We'll cultivate the Pure Yang Scroll first. After reaching Foundation Establishment, we can try the 'Spiritual Artifact Co-cultivation Art' derived from the Concordance Scripture. This way, we can at least reach the threshold of Core Formation. As long as I can achieve Core Formation, I'll consider myself worthy of my parents and friends in this life." Ming Yihua had a very clear plan for his cultivation path, which was also one of the reasons he chose the Artificing Department.

Chen Mobai found it awkward to mention that he had temporarily put his Pure Yang Scroll cultivation on hold, with only his Pure Yang Dharma Body still progressing steadily by consuming spirit stones.

After finishing their barbecue and beer, the three friends, united by their pursuit of the Pure Yang path, chatted for a while on their walk back.

"Once the spiritual rice I'm growing matures, I'll personally brew a pot of wine for you to taste." When they parted ways at the academy gate, Chen Mobai's words filled Ming Yihua and Yun Yangbing with anticipation.

This spiritual rice was naturally not the Jade Bud Spiritual Rice cultivated at the Divine Wood Sect, but rather the spiritual rice grown in the half-acre experimental plot assigned to agronomy freshmen. Chen Mobai planted the Water Clarity Rice from his hometown in the Grand Void Mountain Range. The wine brewed from this rice had a pure, sweet, and refreshing taste, like drinking nectar. Prolonged consumption also had the effect of cleansing the body, strengthening tendons, and purifying marrow. Because he had been familiar with it since childhood, the rice stalks of his Water Clarity Rice in the half-acre experimental plot were plump with grain, earning him high praise from his supervisor, Lin Wenkang, who commended his talent for farming.