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A precious sword emitting a piercing cold light appeared within Lu Changsheng's cave dwelling, enveloped by ghastly thunder, exuding a terrifying pressure that made Qingyun Peak tremble.
The menial workers at the foot of Qingyun Peak couldn't help but look towards the summit, where dark clouds gathered densely, casting a shadow over the city.
The one who could cause such a disturbance at Qingyun Peak could only be Qingyun Peak's Elder Lu.
"Indeed, an Innate Spirit Treasure!"
Lu Changsheng held the Nine Heavens Imperial Thunder Sword. With a slight swing, lightning flashed and thunder roared, startling the entire Qingyun Peak!
Spiritual artifacts can be categorized into Spiritual Artifacts, Acquired Spirit Treasures, Innate Spirit Treasures, and Immortal Artifacts.
Immortal Artifacts are the treasures that uphold the six major Orthodox Sects and the four major Demon Sects. With their hundreds of thousands of years of heritage, they might possess only one or two Immortal Artifacts.
The majority of Mount Shu disciples wield Spiritual Artifacts, while Mount Shu elders may have one or two Acquired Spirit Treasures.
But an Innate Spirit Treasure?
These are the magical treasures only possessed by the Sect Leader of Mount Shu or some of the old oddities of Mount Shu!
Lu Changsheng had only casually tested the might of the Nine Heavens Imperial Thunder Sword. He hadn't even unleashed its Sword Qi; otherwise, Qingyun Peak would have suffered greatly.
Qingyun Peak was Lu Changsheng's cave dwelling. He certainly didn't want to harm the flowers and plants there with a trial of his sword.
Besides, if the news of his acquiring an Innate Spirit Treasure were to spread, he might attract the attention of the major Demon Sects.
Lu Changsheng sheathed the sword, and the Nine Heavens Imperial Thunder Sword returned to calm.
With this Innate Spirit Treasure, Lu Changsheng believed he was virtually invincible in the Nascent Soul Realm.
"With my current cultivation, I could step into the Dao Palace Realm at any moment, but for the sake of cautious progression, I should continue to solidify my realm before opening the Dao Palace."
The original owner of the body that Lu Changsheng's soul had transmigrated into had perished from demonic possession during the opening of the Dao Palace. Lu Changsheng didn't wish to repeat the same mistake.
The next day, Lu Changsheng summoned Lin Qingzhi and rewarded him with a Foundation Establishment Pill.
This is a third-rank elixir, which can be used only in the Foundation Establishment Realm. It helps cultivators solidify their foundation and slightly enhance their Root Bone, with a value that is worth a fortune.
[Ding, you have gifted your disciple 'Lin Qingzhi' with a third-rank Elixir Pill, obtaining a 500-fold return reward: a sixth-rank elixir 'Soul Nourishing Pill.']
[Ding, your gifting attempts for today have decreased by 1.]
The Soul Nourishing Pill can be used only in the Nascent Soul Realm. It nourishes the soul, strengthens the Nascent Soul, and lowers the risks when breaking through to the Dao Palace Realm.
Lu Changsheng had lacked just this pill!
With this superior elixir, he could now confidently start to open the Dao Palace.
However, Lu Changsheng was so cautious it was infuriating, and he still didn't break through.
In the following month, Lu Changsheng provided Lin Qingzhi with Power-infusing Initiation four times, receiving 2000 days, 1500 days, 3500 days, and 5000 days of cultivation, respectively.
In addition, every day Lu Changsheng would find a way to reward Lin Qingzhi with treasures that were useful in the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Rewarding a first-rank elixir, "Qi-Returning Pill," in return he received a fourth-rank elixir "Earth Spirit Pill."
Rewarding a first-rank elixir, "Blood Qi Pill," in return he received a third-rank elixir "Scarlet Blood Pill."
Rewarding a third-rank elixir, "Scarlet Blood Pill," in return he received a fifth-rank elixir "Scarlet Blood Consolidating Essence Pill."
Rewarding a high-quality Spiritual Artifact "Soft Hedgehog Armor," in return he received a high-quality Acquired Spirit Treasure "Taiyi Daoist Robe."
Rewarding a high-quality Spiritual Artifact "Quality Alchemy Furnace," in return he received a low-quality Innate Spirit Treasure "True Fire Alchemy Furnace."
Rewarding an ordinary stone, in return he received a Spirit Stone.
Rewarding a Spirit Stone, in return he received a fifth-rank refining material, the Sky Crystal Stone.
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Bestowed the Profound Rank mid-grade swordsmanship "Soaring Cloud Sword Technique," and returned the Earth Rank superior swordsmanship "Myriad Swords Return to Origin."
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Lu Changsheng tried bestowing Lin Qingzhi with various items, from elixir pills to treasures, cultivation techniques, and even ordinary stones, in an attempt to exploit the Disciple Apprenticeship Simulator.
When Lin Qingzhi received the ordinary stone awarded by Lu Changsheng, he pondered seriously whether his master had some deeper intention. Unable to figure it out, he enshrined the stone and offered incense to it every day.
Besides his daily exploitation of the system, Lu Changsheng practiced the Taiqing Wuji Technique and the newly-acquired Earth Rank superior swordsmanship "Myriad Swords Return to Origin," deepening his understanding of the Taiqing Wuji Technique and the Sword Dao.
On the mountainside of Qingyun Peak, Lin Qingzhi was meditating, meticulously circulating spiritual energy according to the Taxuan Skills, breathing deeply and rhythmically.
Occasionally, Immortal Deer, Spirit Birds, and Spirit Squirrels appeared around Lin Qingzhi, feeling a closeness to his Heart of the Innocent and Innate Spirit Vein.
The spiritual energy of Mount Shu was richer than any other place in Xia State. Even if Lin Qingzhi's talent was not high, he dedicated himself with single-minded focus, and with Lu Changsheng continuously performing Power-infusing Initiation, his cultivation progressed at a rapid pace.
"The third layer of the Taxuan Skills."
Lin Qingzhi achieved a comprehensive understanding, practicing the Taxuan Skills to the third layer, when suddenly the spiritual energy in his Dantian started boiling.
"Just one month's time, and I'm about to step into the Qi Transformation Realm."
Lin Qingzhi had heard from his master that this was a sign of Dantian expansion and the formation of a Qi Sea.
Lin Qingzhi found his own cultivation progress hard to believe.
In the Liang Kingdom where Lin Qingzhi lived, masters of the Qi Transformation Realm were either esteemed Military Generals or widely respected Loose Cultivators in the martial world.
However, merely one month after joining Mount Shu, Lin Qingzhi was already making a sprint towards the Qi Transformation Realm.
Since Lin Qingzhi would face a tribulation in four years, Lu Changsheng did not teach casually during the apprenticeship and earnestly instructed Lin Qingzhi on how to form a Qi Sea during his breakthrough.
Lin Qingzhi's greatest advantage was his unwavering focus, committing all of Lu Changsheng's instructions to memory.
"I've done it!"
Following his master's instructions, Lin Qingzhi broke through smoothly and formed his Qi Sea, elevating his cultivation to the first level of the Qi Transformation Realm.
Without any surprises, it was as if everything fell naturally into place.
Inside Lu Changsheng's cave dwelling, his Divine Sense swept over Qingyun Peak and sensed his disciple Lin Qingzhi's aura greatly increase, and the speed at which he absorbed nature's spiritual energy also sharply rose.
Lu Changsheng revealed a look of satisfaction. Indeed, this disciple's potential was astonishing, like a rough jade.
If it were not for Lu Changsheng discovering this disciple, Lin Qingzhi might have simply vanished into the crowd.
Only when there is a Bole can there be a thousand-mile horse.
[Ding, your first disciple 'Lin Qingzhi' has advanced from the Foundation Establishment Realm to the Qi Transformation Realm. You receive a reward for your disciple's realm advancement. Since this is the first time the realm advance reward has been given, you receive a special constitution: Innate Taoist Body.]
[Ding, the Disciple Apprenticeship Simulator is cleansing your marrow and transforming your physique.]
Lu Changsheng's body grew hot, as all meridians and root bones underwent earth-shaking changes.
Lu Changsheng didn't possess an Eternal Wilderness Body like his senior fellow disciple Li Changye, having only an ordinary physique, but now he had obtained the Innate Taoist Body!
Although Lu Changsheng was still unaware of what exactly made the Innate Taoist Body special, judging solely by the name, it was definitely not simple!
"Ah ah ah..."
Lu Changsheng showed an expression of agony as the Disciple Apprenticeship Simulator performed Marrow Cleansing and Rebirth on him. The pain penetrated deep into his bones, and his Sea of Consciousness, Nascent Soul, Dantian, and Qi Sea nearly collapsed.
Previously, only Lu Changsheng's spirit had undergone a transformation, but now his body was also reborn.
"What's happening to Master?"
Within the cave dwelling, Lin Qingzhi noticed that Lu Changsheng's aura was fluctuating erratically, and he couldn't help but worry.