Chapter 2015: Collecting Disciples Bai Ruanqing

“Buy a Heaven-Connecting Jade Token?”

Bai Ruanqing paused, surprised by her uncle's urgency, then responded, “Okay!” The mission only needed to be completed within three days anyway. Besides, this trip was primarily for experience; completing the mission wasn't the most important thing.

Taking out the prepared map, Bai Ruanqing located their destination. They flew on a sacred beast for nearly half an hour, arriving at a grand hall. This was the physical manifestation of the Heaven-Connecting Temple.

“Purchases in Wuhai City use a special Heaven-Connecting Coin, which is different from the one in Xuanjiang City and has a higher value! It can be exchanged one-to-one with Sword Pavilion Coins! So, you can directly use Sword Pavilion Coins to buy things here…” Bai Ruanqing smiled.

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried about needing to earn more money, but it seemed unnecessary now. He had plenty of Sword Pavilion Coins, so buying a jade token should be very simple.

They approached the front desk and found an attendant.

“Heaven-Connecting Jade Tokens vary in price depending on cultivation level. For Ancient Sage Fourth Realm, it’s twenty Heaven-Connecting Coins; for Virtual Immortal Realm, two hundred; and for True Immortal Realm, two thousand! The price increases tenfold for each level!” the attendant explained. The prices were similar to those at the Lingyun Sword Pavilion.

“We’d like two Heaven-Connecting Jade Tokens for the Virtual Immortal Realm…” Zhang Xuan handed over his Sword Pavilion Coins. With a Heaven-Connecting Jade Token from Lingyun Sword Pavilion, he could withdraw his Sword Pavilion Coins at any time. Soon, the attendant handed over two jade tokens: “There are quiet rooms over there, completely undisturbed. They cost one Heaven-Connecting Coin per hour!” Zhang Xuan requested one, and he and Bai Ruanqing entered it.

Familiar with the Heaven-Connecting Jade Tokens, they quickly entered the spiritual space. The structure of the Heaven-Connecting Temple within the token was identical to its physical counterpart, creating a sense of disorientation. Zhang Xuan returned to the front desk, found an attendant, and took out the token given to him by Master Kong. “Please tell me what I can purchase with this!”

The attendant took the token, his eyes widening in shock. “Senior, please follow me. This token is of an exceptionally high rank. I don’t have the authority to assist you; our elder needs to personally serve you!” He led them into a spacious room, and after a brief wait, an elder quickly appeared.

“I am an elder of the Heaven-Connecting Temple in Wuhai City. Greetings, Senior. I’ve examined your token; it was personally bestowed by the Temple Master. You may acquire any treasures or medicines needed for advancement, completely free of charge!” Bowing deeply, the elder respectfully returned the token. Seeing this token was like seeing the Temple Master himself, and even he was deeply shocked. Thus, despite the person before him appearing young, he dared not show any disrespect.

“Good,” Zhang Xuan said with a slight smile, relieved that the token was genuine. “Please get me one hundred High-grade Immortal Origin Pills first!” Having reached the peak of the Virtual Immortal Realm, Mid-grade Immortal Origin Pills were no longer as effective. To continue progressing, he needed High-grade Immortal Origin Pills. At Lingyun Sword Pavilion, a single High-grade Immortal Origin Pill cost twenty thousand Sword Pavilion Coins. Although he had earned a considerable sum by challenging the inner and core disciples, he still couldn't afford many.

“One hundred?” The elder’s eyebrows twitched. “High-grade Immortal Origin Pills are effective even for Immortal Monarch experts. Our Heaven-Connecting Temple in Wuhai City… currently doesn’t have that many!”

“Then how many can you provide?” Zhang Xuan frowned.

“Approximately… twenty pills!” The elder paused, then added, “If Senior isn’t in a hurry, we should be able to gather the rest within three days…”

“Give me the twenty pills first, and gather the rest as soon as possible!” Zhang Xuan instructed. Though he knew accepting unearned favors was improper, he urgently needed to improve his strength. At worst, once he reached the Immortal Monarch realm or higher, he could repay Master Kong for what he used.

“Yes!” It wasn't long before the elder returned, the pills already prepared. “Is there anything else you require, Senior?”

“I’d like to see cultivation techniques for the True Immortal Realm. I wonder… can this token be used to acquire them?” Zhang Xuan asked.

“This token can only be used to purchase pills and similar items for advancement; books cannot be acquired…” The elder paused, then continued, “Furthermore, any pills obtained must not be sold; they can only be used for your own cultivation. Otherwise, if discovered, your token will be frozen and rendered unusable!”

Zhang Xuan gave a wry smile. He had suspected it might not be possible, but hearing the confirmation still brought a sense of disappointment. Unable to purchase books and with no other cultivation resources needed, Zhang Xuan had no choice but to exit the Heaven-Connecting Temple and retrieve the pills via the teleportation array on the jade token.

As expected, the High-grade Immortal Origin Pills were brimming with spiritual energy. The moment they were taken out, they exuded a powerful aura, far surpassing ordinary Mid-grade pills. “Here!” He casually tossed one to Bai Ruanqing.

“Thank you, Uncle…” The girl's face flushed. She had only ever seen medicine of this caliber with her grandfather, and it was so valuable that she had never used it herself. She had long been eager to try one. She opened her mouth and swallowed it.

A gushing sensation filled her. A vast amount of spiritual energy surged forth, her pupils constricted, her delicate body trembled uncontrollably, and sweat poured down her face.

“What’s wrong?” Seeing her unusual state, Zhang Xuan frowned.

“Uncle, the spiritual energy from this pill is too concentrated, I… I can’t bear it…” Bai Ruanqing said, her face pale. When she took Mid-grade Immortal Origin Pills, each one took a long time to digest. The High-grade pill contained far too much spiritual energy for her to handle. It was like trying to force a cartload of goods into a frog’s mouth; a single mistake could lead to her body exploding! At that moment, she finally understood why her grandfather hadn't allowed her to use medicine of this caliber. It wasn't because he was unwilling, but because… given her initial True Immortal Realm strength, it would have been a waste, and perhaps even led to disaster!

“Ah…” Before she could finish speaking, a cry of agony escaped her lips. The power was too ferocious; the rampant energy within her body burst out from her acupoints. Bai Ruanqing's entire body turned red and swelled like a balloon, threatening to burst at any moment.

Zhang Xuan’s eyebrows shot up. He hadn't anticipated such a situation. He had simply thought that giving her a pill would be a good way to repay her for her significant help… he hadn't expected this outcome. If she really exploded from the pill… how would he explain it to Elder Bai Ye?

“Perform a set of martial arts techniques for me to see…” Seeing that she was on the verge of collapsing, Zhang Xuan quickly said. Though she didn't know his purpose, the situation was critical, and there was no other option. Bai Ruanqing gritted her teeth and performed a sword technique.

Hurriedly looking at the book that had just formed, Zhang Xuan’s eyebrows furrowed even more deeply. Just as she had said, the High-grade Immortal Origin Pill's spiritual energy was far too concentrated. The girl was like someone who had accidentally swallowed an effervescent tablet; the spiritual energy within her body was overwhelmingly powerful. If it wasn't channeled, she was highly likely to explode on the spot and perish.

“The only way is to cultivate, to transform this rampant spiritual energy into immortal power and guide it into her dantian…” Like a bursting dam, the solution isn't to block it but to channel it. Letting all streams flow to the sea would eliminate the danger. However… this approach placed significant limitations on the cultivation technique. Ordinary cultivation techniques were like straws; against an ocean-like river, even dozens more would be useless. What was needed now was a powerful cultivation technique that could quickly gather and channel the uncontrollable spiritual energy!

“It seems… I’ll have to take her as a student!” With a look of helplessness in his eyes, Zhang Xuan sighed. Teaching her a few sword moves wouldn't be a big deal even if they were leaked; she didn't need to become his disciple for that. But the Heaven's Path cultivation technique was different; it involved his biggest secret. There could be no oversight; he absolutely had to take her as a disciple before imparting it. Otherwise, if any problem arose, he would certainly become the subject of everyone's scrutiny, with his life and death no longer in his own hands.

“Although the Heaven's Path cultivation technique for the True Immortal Realm has seven flaws, making it difficult for me to cultivate, for her, it should be many times more powerful than what she was practicing before…” The Heaven's Path cultivation technique for the True Immortal Realm, which he had compiled at Lingyun Sword Pavilion, had seven flaws, already meeting the standard for a simplified version of the Heaven's Path cultivation technique. After all, truly perfect cultivation techniques could only be mastered by him, no one else.

Thinking of this, he no longer hesitated. He looked up at the girl, who was on the verge of collapse, and sent a telepathic message: “I can resolve your current crisis, but you must take me as your master, and I will impart my unique cultivation technique to you!”

“Your disciple greets Master…” Without the slightest hesitation, Bai Ruanqing immediately knelt to the ground. She had long wanted to become his disciple, but since he hadn't expressed the intention, she hadn't dared to act. Now that he had spoken, how could she hesitate? To be honest, she was too overjoyed to even think of hesitation.

“Good. This is my cultivation technique…” Accepting her kowtow, Zhang Xuan pointed a finger. The Heaven's Path cultivation technique he had previously compiled immediately entered her mind. At the same moment, he flicked his finger, sending countless silver needles to land on her acupoints, and Heaven's Path zhenqi flowed into her meridians. The turbulent energy settled. Under the guidance of the Heaven's Path zhenqi, the rampant spiritual energy immediately became smooth and orderly, and the feeling of imminent explosion vanished.

“This cultivation technique…” By this time, Bai Ruanqing had also finished reading the cultivation technique he had just transmitted, and her pupils couldn't help but constrict. This set of techniques seemed to share the same origin as the Lingyun Sword Pavilion techniques she had learned, bearing some similarities, yet it was immeasurably more profound. Her previous techniques circulated zhenqi like a small stream at best, but now, it was like a vast river or sea, incomparable. Knowing the preciousness of the technique, she didn't dare hesitate. She quickly closed her eyes and began circulating her energy according to the instructions.

Her cultivation level rapidly increased. True Immortal Realm initial stage! True Immortal Realm middle stage! In less than three hours, without any obstacles, she directly reached the peak of the True Immortal Realm! With her cultivation reaching this level, the power of the High-grade Immortal Origin Pill was almost completely consumed.

“My strength…” Feeling the surging power within her, threatening to burst forth at any moment, Bai Ruanqing looked at the young man before her again. Suppressing the excitement in her heart, she couldn't hold back any longer and immediately knelt down: “Your disciple greets Master, thank you for saving my life…”

As she knelt, the Library of Heaven’s Path in his mind gently vibrated, and a golden book immediately appeared: The Tome of Heaven’s Path!