Chapter 81: Chapter 77: Next Life’s Goal: Liu Hua Cave Mansion
Upon discovering his targets, Du Youqian wasted no time on pleasantries. He didn’t even tell them why he was doing this.
He immediately unleashed his Flying Sword and blasted them with Magic.
At the very last moment, he used Binding the Azure Dragon with Bare Hands to immobilize them, then sent his Flying Sword to take their heads.
This "Binding the Azure Dragon with Bare Hands" was a Secret Technique Du Youqian had purchased years ago in the North Shore Market, and it was considered by many to be one of the most cost-effective Secret Techniques for the Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment stages.
As his Cultivation improved, the power of this Secret Technique also increased significantly.
Looking at their bodies, Du Youqian thought, ’I wonder if they were able to connect me with that old Cultivator they forced to his death more than thirty years ago.’
After accomplishing this, Du Youqian felt a sense of lightness in his heart.
It was as if a few specks of dust that had settled on his soul had been brushed away.
’Indeed,’ he thought, ’one must settle grudges swiftly and decisively for one’s mind to be clear.’
Du Youqian’s "fishing" for outlaws outside the North Shore Market did not go without complaints.
However, once Du Youqian revealed his status as a True Inheritor from a Profound Sects Orthodox Sect and casually handed out some Elixirs and Magical Artifacts, the few Foundation Establishment Clans in the North Shore Market tacitly agreed not to interfere.
The Sanxiao were all bewildered, not understanding Du Youqian’s intentions. Was it really necessary to go to such lengths just to kill a few Tribulation Cultivators?
’When did these Tribulation Cultivators offend our Old Ancestor?’
Of course, Du Youqian had no intention of explaining.
After completing his revenge, he rented a cave mansion in the familiar North Shore Market and settled down, beginning a monotonous and lonely, yet ever-progressing, period of Cultivation.
Aided by the Snow Wormwood Yang Supplement Pill, his Cultivation rose steadily.
After just half a year, he had already reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation.
And now, a year and four months after moving into the North Shore Market, he was not far from reaching Qi Cultivation Perfection.
This rapid ascent had its price, of course: the complete loss of his potential, making a normal Foundation Establishment impossible.
But exchanging a relatively small price for a rapid increase in strength was perfect for making a big move.
As for the even more precious Dragon Kui Purple Extreme Pills, Du Youqian planned to save them for his next life.
In truth, if he had enough Dragon Kui Purple Extreme Pills, Du Youqian wasn’t so stingy that he wouldn’t try to break through to Foundation Establishment in this life. For him, the experience would have been a significant insight.
Unfortunately, the Dragon Kui Purple Extreme Pills were far too precious.
Despite his best efforts, he had only managed to obtain three of them. Their combined value exceeded that of a single Foundation Establishment Pill, yet it was nowhere near enough for him to reach Qi Cultivation Perfection in a short time.
Thus, he could only save them for his next life.
Du Youqian estimated that if he received a good evaluation at the end of this life, and was granted an Upper Grade... no, even just a Middle Grade Spirit Root in his next life, then by learning a Cultivation Technique superior to the *Five Elements Spirit Absorption Technique* and the *Purple Qi Jade Essence Technique*, he was confident he could reach Qi Cultivation Perfection within five to eight years.
This would allow him to achieve a cultivation speed comparable to that of other Earth Spirit Root Cultivators.
The accumulated experience of several lifetimes, combined with the aid of a Top Grade Elixir, could indeed close the gap in Spirit Root aptitude.
Why else would all Cultivators flock to the Renowned Major Sects?
In the Renowned Major Sects, there were superior Cultivation Techniques, guidance from famous masters, and a stable supply of resources...
The treatment of a True Disciple from a Fourth-class Sect was barely comparable to that of an Inner Disciple from a Second-class Sect. In fact, it was often worse.
After all, it was incredibly difficult for a True Inheritor from a Fourth-class Sect to succeed in Core Formation.
Among dozens of Fourth-class Sects, a single Core Formation Disciple might not appear even over several centuries.
And if one did succeed, they could elevate their Sect to the Third Class, which just goes to show how difficult it was.
For an Inner Disciple of a Second-class Sect, Core Formation was also a low-probability event, but it was still slightly easier than for a True Inheritor of a Fourth-class Sect.
As for Loose Cultivators, that was another story entirely. For a true Loose Cultivator, even reaching Foundation Establishment was a stroke of immense luck. frёewebηovel.cѳm
However, with Foundation Establishment being a real possibility in his next life, he needed to start preparing for some things in advance.
For instance, a Secret Technique to strengthen the Divine Soul.
For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to attempt Core Formation, there could be no shortcomings in their Cultivation, Physique, or Divine Soul.
Of course, Du Youqian wasn’t saying he absolutely had to succeed at Core Formation in his next life, but he at least needed to build a solid foundation.
Sitting in his seclusion chamber, Du Youqian set down the two fragments of the Jade Scroll.
The owner of the Jade Scroll called himself "Liu Hua," but Du Youqian didn’t know if he was a "Master" or a "True Monarch."
If the former, he was in the Golden Core Realm; if the latter, he might have been a Nascent Soul.
Although no Nascent Soul Cultivator had appeared in Momenan for several thousand years, according to Elder Liu Hua’s own account, he had likely come from the outside world.
In the Jade Scroll, Elder Liu Hua briefly described the two things he was most proud of in his life: one was his unparalleled Swordsmanship, and the other was his powerful Divine Soul. These allowed him to roam freely throughout his life, undefeated among those in the same Realm.
The Inheritances for his Swordsmanship and Divine Soul Secret Technique would likely be the most valuable treasures in his Cave Mansion.
Furthermore, if Elder Liu Hua truly had come from the outside world, then Du Youqian’s future opportunity to explore a wider world would depend on his relics.
While Du Youqian certainly wanted the Inheritance of a Golden Core Cultivator, he wasn’t desperate for it.
It was the possible method of traveling to the outside world that he valued most.
This was because the message he received at the end of his last life had said: "Body resides in a Land of the Dead Spirit; feedback is insufficient. If you cannot break through to Nascent Soul and perceive your true self within ten reincarnations, you will be unable to reincarnate further."
’If I think about it carefully,’ he mused, ’if I leave Momenan, this Land of the Dead Spirit, can I bypass the restriction and continue reincarnating indefinitely?’
’Even if I can’t bypass the restriction, going to a place in the outside world with more abundant Spiritual Qi would certainly make it easier to advance to Nascent Soul.’
Unfortunately, the final piece of the Jade Scroll was still missing.
Du Youqian recalled that he had obtained the first fragment of the Jade Scroll from a Tribulation Cultivator who had come from the Shengxuan Sect.
’If I get the chance,’ he thought, ’I should investigate the Shengxuan Sect. I might find a clue that points to the final part of the Jade Scroll.’
In any case, obtaining the final part of this Jade Scroll was his most important goal for his next life, and even for several reincarnations to come.
"Old Ancestor!"
Du Yuxi’s voice rang out from outside Du Youqian’s seclusion chamber.
Du Youqian flicked out a stream of Magical Power, and the door to the chamber swung open.
"What is it?"
Du Yuxi walked in and said respectfully, "Old Ancestor, a beautiful Fairy Sister delivered a letter addressed specifically to you. She said it was personally written by an old acquaintance of yours."
Over the past year or so, Du Yuxi had shot up in height and was now a handsome, if somewhat frail-looking, young man.
Looking at his features, Du Youqian felt he bore a slight resemblance to how he himself had looked two lifetimes ago.
Du Youqian took out three copper coins, tossed them casually, and upon seeing the resulting hexagram, knew that the letter was from Lin Sha.
He wasn’t particularly talented at Divination, but his Tier One Lower Grade Divination Art was more than enough to divine such a small matter.
’Calculating the time, it’s almost time for my appointment with Lin Sha,’ he thought. ’Her sending a letter now is well within my expectations.’
"Where is the messenger?"
"Waiting in the guest room outside."
"Go and entertain her for now. I’ll be there shortly."
Watching Du Yuxi bow and turn to leave, Du Youqian couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.