Preparation

Looking at the ring in front of him, Mo Qingkuang's heart was pounding! 

Was this the legendary Sumeru Ring? 

'Sumeru within a mustard seed' refers to a concept of spatial compression. Space has always been a mysterious and high-end attribute. 

The Sumeru Ring is a spatial device used on the Tianhan Continent for storing items. Often, a small ring contains an enormous space inside. 

These spatial items were crafted by top-tier artisans on the Tianhan Continent using special techniques and rare materials. However, over time, these crafting methods have gradually been lost, and the rare materials have become nearly extinct. 

Therefore, spatial devices on the Tianhan Continent are extremely rare and valuable! 

A Sumeru Ring with a space of just one cubic meter would sell for well over a million taels of gold, and it's not something easily found on the market. Typically, only core disciples with significant strength or distinguished family backgrounds could possess one. 

Although the Mo family is a descendant of a War Emperor, it has been in decline for many years. They used to have Sumeru Rings, but as the family fell into ruin, they were either stolen or sold off for resources. 

Thus, Mo Qingkuang had never seen such a legendary item in his life. 

It turns out this was Zheng Tao's real gift to Mo Qingkuang! 

The old man was truly generous! 

Mo Qingkuang silently praised Zheng Tao in his heart as he accepted the Sumeru Ring and infused a bit of his spirit into it. 

It wasn't the lowest grade, probably having a unique space of about three cubic meters. 

Under the control of his mind, Mo Qingkuang picked up the three jade bottles containing the Jade Drop Pills and placed them inside the ring. 

Watching the three jade bottles sit quietly in a corner of the Sumeru space, he willed them back into his hand again, finding it incredibly convenient. 

Repeating this several times, Mo Qingkuang couldn't help but feel elated. 

This was truly a precious item, even more valuable than those three pills. 

It's worth noting that even top tier master might not have a Sumeru Ring. 

"Thank you, Master!" Mo Qingkuang bowed once more, this time with genuine gratitude. 

Zheng Tao waved his hand dismissively, "This is nothing. Go and continue your cultivation. If you have any doubts, you can come here and find me. If I'm not here, you can also find Wu Ming." 

Mo Qingkuang nodded and exited Zheng Tao's room. 

Watching Mo Qingkuang leave, Zheng Tao sighed deeply. 

Mo Qingkuang was his chosen disciple to rival Fu Qing's disciple, Chen Kong. Mo Qingkuang had been making great strides, with cultivation talent not inferior to Chen Kong's, and his combat talent even surpassed Chen Kong's. 

Years ago, during the imperial examination, Zheng Tao was the second-ranking martial candidate, while Fu Qing was the martial champion, narrowly winning by one move. For years, neither of them accepted this result. 

Now, their rivalry continued to the next generation. Zheng Tao had finally found a promising disciple, but before he could fully enjoy it, bad news struck: Chen Kong had returned from a mission with a fortuitous encounter, having ascended to become an Earth Spirit Body. 

The Earth Spirit Body far surpasses heavenly-grade physiques, which Mo Qingkuang's earthly-grade physique couldn't compete with. 

The innate affinity for earth elements would allow Chen Kong to manipulate earth elements in battle seamlessly. As long as he stood on the ground, he could continuously draw power from it. 

Chen Kong's cultivation speed would further accelerate. Breaking through to the grandmaster realm before twenty was already rare. Now, with the Earth Spirit Body, he might even reach higher realms within a few years! 

Chen Kong's fortuitous encounter was a blessing for the Tianxuan, but a misfortune for Zheng Tao. 

It wasn't that Mo Qingkuang wasn't excellent, but the opponent's advantage was simply too great... 

Ever since hearing this news, Zheng Tao had given up the idea of having Mo Qingkuang compete with Chen Kong, as it would be too unfair. 

However, the only comfort in his heart was that finally, among his peers, there was someone who could keep Mo Qingkuang in check and temper his character. 

*** 

Mo Qingkuang descended from Star Pavilion and headed straight for the Inner Courtyard's Treasure Pavilion. 

The Treasure Pavilion was where the Inner Courtyard students exchanged items. It contained all sorts of pills, techniques, martial arts, and also beast cores, alchemical materials, rare herbs, and even Sumeru Rings. 

Mo Qingkuang saw that a Sumeru Ring with a space of one cubic meter required 10,000 points! 

As for those with a space of three cubic meters, the Inner Courtyard didn't have any available for exchange. 

Comparing it to market prices, the exchange rate of points to gold was roughly one to a hundred, if not higher. After all, even a million taels of gold wouldn't easily buy a Sumeru Ring. 

But Mo Fan had told Mo Qingkuang that he only needed two things now and should spend all his points on just these two items. 

"Grade Two Qi Recovery Pills, Grade Two Blood Coagulation Pills, please give me one hundred bottles of each." Mo Qingkuang handed over his jade token to the Treasure Pavilion's supervisor. 

The supervisor looked at Mo Qingkuang in astonishment, "Are you sure?" 

"Sure! Also, add five bottles of Bone Rejuvenation Pills." 

Grade Two Qi Recovery Pills were used to restore qi, and Grade Two Blood Coagulation Pills were for healing wounds. Each bottle cost ten points and contained ten pills. 

One hundred bottles would cost a thousand points each, which Mo Fan had advised him to buy. 

The Bone Rejuvenation Pills, also for treating internal injuries, were particularly effective for bone injuries, comparable to Grade Four pills in effectiveness. 

However, they were much more expensive than Blood Coagulation Pills, costing one hundred points per bottle, with ten pills per bottle. 

Seeing Mo Qingkuang's determined expression and sufficient points on his jade token, the supervisor stopped advising against it. With a swipe, he deducted 2,500 points from the token. 

The large sum of points that had just made Mo Qingkuang the envy of many was instantly depleted. 

He stored the more than two hundred bottles of pills laid out by the supervisor into his Sumeru Ring one by one, thanked the supervisor, and left. 

Watching Mo Qingkuang easily store the over two hundred bottles of pills into his Sumeru Ring and thinking about the information on the jade token indicating Mo Qingkuang's identity, the supervisor couldn't help but sigh, "The dean's disciple is really wealthy!" 

The hell training technique not only required immense willpower but also caused significant physical damage. 

Thus, it required a massive amount of medicinal support. Lin Yang, being an alchemist himself, could be self-sufficient and hone his skills. 

Mo Qingkuang, lacking the aptitude for alchemy, had no choice but to spend resources to grow stronger. 

Mo Fan planned to put Mo Qingkuang through hellish training in preparation for a significant opportunity three months later. 

If everything went well, that opportunity would appear in three months. By then, Lin Yang's strength would be greatly enhanced, and he would undergo a transformation, truly stepping into the realm of the true prodigies of the Tianhan Continent. 

But Mo Fan wouldn't let Lin Yang succeed so easily. 

Similarly, that opportunity might be Mo Qingkuang's true chance to rise! 

If he could seize the opportunity from Lin Yang, it would be a significant step in balancing their strengths, giving Mo Qingkuang a genuine chance to compete with a chosen one like Lin Yang.

***

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