Chapter 401: Three Choices

He needed to repay the debt quickly, so as not to burden Wang Mingren's spiritual path. Xu Zihua flew to the top of the secret chamber, a smile gracing his face as he congratulated, "Fellow Daoist Wang, congratulations!"

"Fellow Daoist?"

Hearing this address, Wang Changsheng felt immense satisfaction. From today, he was a Core Formation cultivator.

"It was largely thanks to your help, Fellow Daoist Xu. Thank you."

Wang Changsheng cupped his fist towards Xu Zihua, expressing his gratitude.

Putting aside other matters, Xu Zihua was willing to vouch for him, advised him on which Haotian Mirror to use for his Core Formation breakthrough, and even allowed him to observe how elders of the Taiyi Immortal Sect formed their cores using Tiangang Qi. Wang Changsheng owed Xu Zihua a great debt of gratitude.

"It was merely a small effort. Fellow Daoist Wang, since you've just formed your core, I suggest you continue cultivating in the secret chamber for a while to stabilize your realm. If you leave now, it will be difficult to return to the secret chamber for further cultivation."

Xu Zihua offered his advice warmly.

"Thank you for your guidance, Fellow Daoist Xu. I was thinking the same thing. Please arrange for someone to inform my wife, so she doesn't worry."

"No problem at all, it's a small matter. I won't disturb your secluded cultivation, Fellow Daoist Wang. Farewell."

Xu Zihua readily agreed, then soared away into the distance.

With a loud creak of machinery, two massive stone slabs slowly emerged from the walls, sealing together to form the roof.

Wang Changsheng changed into a new set of clothes, then took out a blue jade slip and placed it on his forehead.

Before leaving home, he had anticipated this situation and copied down the cultivation method for the seventh layer of the *Kishui True Scripture*.

The Wang family's ancestral *Kishui True Scripture* contained cultivation formulas only up to the ninth layer. Generally, whenever a cultivator advanced into a new major realm, their cultivation technique would grant them one divine ability. Techniques of Earth Grade or higher were particularly valuable for two reasons: firstly, they allowed for faster cultivation; and secondly, once a cultivator reached the Core Formation stage, Earth Grade techniques provided two divine abilities.

Upon cultivating the *Kishui True Scripture* to the seventh layer, one could learn two divine abilities: the Spirit Slaying Palm and the Kishui True Thunder. The Spirit Slaying Palm, a spirit art, possessed immense power.

A single strike from a spirit art was comparable to an attack from a magic treasure. According to ancient texts, more potent spirit arts could easily eradicate high-level cultivators.

While spirit arts possessed immense power, their drawbacks included high consumption of spiritual energy and requiring a long time to master; it would take at least eight to ten years to truly grasp them.

As for the Kishui True Thunder, it was a water-attributed lightning technique.

The first six layers of the *Kishui True Scripture*, apart from enhancing the physical body, did not offer any formidable divine abilities. However, upon reaching the Core Formation stage, its power drastically increased. This was also why Wang Changsheng chose to cultivate this technique.

After about the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, Wang Changsheng removed the jade slip, a thoughtful expression on his face. He formed a hand seal, and numerous blue light specks appeared seemingly out of thin air within the room.

In a secret chamber within the Guest Reception Hall, Wang Ruyan sat cross-legged before a green wooden table, fully engrossed in drawing talismans. Numerous blank talisman papers lay scattered on the floor.

After drawing the final rune, the talisman paper's surface glowed with a golden light, signifying the successful creation of a Hundred Swords Talisman.

Wang Ruyan stretched and yawned, her eyes bloodshot.

Wang Changsheng's use of the Haotian Mirror for his Core Formation breakthrough came with an initial cost of 300,000 spirit stones. As his wife, it was only natural for her to help her husband repay this debt.

For over a year, she had continuously refined talismans, neglecting her own cultivation entirely.

Working non-stop all year, she would meditate to recover her spiritual energy when it was depleted or she felt exhausted. Once her spiritual energy and spirit were restored, she would resume crafting talismans, like a machine tirelessly earning spirit stones.

As long as her husband could successfully form his core, a little fatigue as his wife was insignificant.

Just then, a sound transmission talisman flew into the chamber.

Wang Ruyan's expression tightened. She quickly crushed the sound transmission talisman, and Wang Mingren's joyful voice suddenly rang out: "Ruyan, Changsheng has successfully formed his core! He did it!"

Wang Ruyan was momentarily stunned, then quickly recovered, weeping tears of joy.

"May the ancestors of the Wang family bless us! My husband has successfully formed his core!"

She wiped away her tears, gathered the talisman papers from the floor, straightened her attire, and opened the door.

Wang Mingren and Su Bingbing entered, their faces beaming with joy. Both spoke almost simultaneously:

"Congratulations, Ruyan!"

Wang Ruyan's face broke into a smile as she asked with concern, "Uncle Mingren, Bingbing, how is my husband doing now? Is he alright?"

Wang Mingren smiled faintly and said, "Changsheng has already formed his core. He is currently cultivating in the spiritual land to consolidate his realm. He should emerge from seclusion and meet you very soon."

Wang Ruyan let out a long sigh of relief and said gratefully, "Uncle Mingren, your contribution to my husband's successful Core Formation this time is invaluable. Our family will never forget this kindness."

"We are family; there's no need for formalities. Ruyan, here are 30,000 spirit stones – all my savings. Take them to repay the debt! I am a second-tier mid-grade artifact refiner; I can support myself by crafting artifacts."

Wang Mingren took out a green storage bag and handed it to Wang Ruyan.

Su Bingbing took out a white storage bag and said, "Auntie, I don't have any special skills, nor am I as wealthy as Grandpa. Here are 3,000 spirit stones; it's a small token of my sincerity. Please don't think it's too little."

Wang Ruyan repeatedly declined, but unable to refuse Wang Mingren and Su Bingbing, she eventually accepted the two sums of spirit stones.

"Ruyan, why do you look so gaunt? It seems you've over-exerted your spiritual energy."

Wang Mingren frowned, noticing Wang Ruyan's pale complexion and bloodshot eyes.

Wang Ruyan smiled sweetly and said, "It's nothing; I'll be fine after some good rest. Now that my husband has formed his core, the great burden on my heart has finally been lifted."

"Changsheng has already formed his core, so you shouldn't overwork yourself. If he sees you like this, he certainly won't be pleased. You should rest well! Don't craft any more talismans for a while."

Wang Ruyan nodded in agreement.

The three chatted for a while before Wang Mingren and Su Bingbing bid their farewells and departed.

A month quickly passed.

Wang Changsheng emerged from his secluded chamber, a hint of reluctance in his eyes. Of course, in just one month, it was impossible for him to successfully cultivate the seventh layer of the *Kishui True Scripture*, let alone master its two divine abilities. At a cost of 10,000 spirit stones per month, he truly dared not stay any longer.

Upon arriving at the main hall, he found the green-robed Daoist sitting behind a jade table, leisurely sipping tea and reading a book.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, I've emerged from seclusion. Could you please calculate the fees?"

Wang Changsheng approached the green-robed Daoist and spoke politely.

The green-robed Daoist put down his book and said, "As previously stated, the initial cost is 300,000, plus 10,000 spirit stones per month, totaling 310,000 spirit stones. You now have three options: the first is to repay this debt within thirty years; the second is to undertake a dangerous mission; and the third is to transfer the debt to a member of your clan."

Wang Changsheng considered it carefully and said, "I choose to repay this debt within thirty years."

The Taiyi Mountain Range was rich in demonic beast resources. He could hunt demonic beasts to repay the debt. Although he lacked a magic treasure, his spiritual energy had greatly surged, so dealing with demonic beasts below the third rank would not be an issue.