011: Advance to Late-Stage

011: Advance to Late-Stage

Riya didn't take it to heart, she actually felt funny and closer after cooking with Mirah and Wendy. They ate heartily and talked.

After dinner, they sat in the living room where Zemirah brewed [Deep Sea Teal Tea] which is a pleasant surprise to Riya. Her friend actually served a grade 2 spiritual tea just like that.

"This is a good tea." Riya praised.

"Of course, since you're my good friend, let's taste it together."

Riya shook her head and smiled. "About earlier, it was quite a known gossip how a beautiful talisman master accepted a little girl survivor as a disciple."

"Oh? I didn't expect that to spread." Zemirah laughed lightly.

"I knew it was you based on description." Riya was also a little surprised but didn't think much about the news.

Looking at Wendy, the little girl who doesn't look like a survivor from a recent massacre, Riya knew Mirah must've taken good care of the little girl.

"It's late, I must head home." Riya smiled.

Zemirah sent the guest out, but before Riya left, Zemirah handed a Mid-Stage Grade 1 Supreme-Quality defensive talisman she made.

Riya wanted to refuse when Zemirah said it was nothing to her. Riya then accepted it with a sigh, anyway, it will add another card for her safety.

Besides, she can send some medicinal pills to Mirah next time.

That night, Zemirah activated her only array with a spiritual stone, [Starry Guard Array], a Supreme-Quality Late-Stage array disk.

Slowly, a dome covered the new courtyard. It protects the courtyard from prying eyes and can defend against a Foundation Building and release at least two attacks of Foundation Building Realm a day.

After using one spiritual stone to be activated, it will absorb star energy on its own and operate normally.

"I should adjust my state before breaking through. Wendy knows that I'm entering seclusion. The house has enough food and water supply, so Wendy can take care of herself on the following days."

Taking a deep breath, Zemirah entered a meditation state, constantly circulating her breathing technique.

It took her 12 hours to start impacting the barrier to the Late-Stage of Energy Refinement Realm.

She needed to widen her Dantian where she stores spiritual energy, only then she can absorb more spiritual energy and refine it into purer energy.

Sweating, Zemirah remained still with her eyes closed.

A few hours later, rumbling sounds sounded inside her. Her advancement is in the middle and cannot be interrupted.

A few more hours and the rumbling sound stopped. Zemirah opened her lips and exhaled turbid breath.

Her fox eyes opened, "That was thrilling. So that's the feeling of breaking through another stage."

Zemirah smiled and felt her body change, "My Dantian is wider, and my spiritual energy is also purer. I feel like my strength doubled and my body is stronger."

She can see the misty-like spiritual energy slowly converging. If her spiritual energy enters the liquid state, she can try to advance in Foundation Building Realm. 

"Now that I just finished advancing, I should cultivate and stabilize my cultivation." Zemirah once again closed her eyes and meditated.

It took her another day to finish.

"I'll clean first then meet my little disciple. I wonder how she is these days." Zemirah was not worried since the courtyard was safe, her disciple had many talismans given by her.

Only if a Foundation Building cultivator made a move will Wendy be in danger.

But that is unlikely to happen.

Changing her clothes, she wore a new dress, the [Morning Star Dress]. Then she went out of her room and saw Wendy outside in the garden.

The little girl is slashing her sword, practicing the first layer of [Starlight Wrath Sword Technique]. Her serious little face is sweating profusely, and her familiarity with the sword moves shows her determination and hard work. 

Wendy heard the footsteps and stopped to see. Seeing her master whom she hadn't seen for three days already, she exclaimed, "Master!"

Then she ran to Zemirah's embrace.

"My beloved disciple, how are you doing?" Zemirah smiled as she hugged the little girl.

Wendy pouted, "Master, you've been in seclusion for three days."

Zemirah laughed, "Well, I apologize. I also didn't expect it to take that long."

Wendy stepped back then cupped her hands, "Congratulations to master for the successful breakthrough."

Zemirah smiled and accepted her disciple's blessing. Remembering something, she took a bag and handed it to Wendy. "I forgot to give this to you. Here's your allowance from your master."

Wendy blinked and opened the bag. She saw ten shining stones inside and felt the energy on them.

"Master, this is?" Wendy knew this must be something precious.

"Spiritual stones, you can use them for cultivation or buy Grade 2 items. But I suggest you use it for cultivation." Zemirah explained.

Wendy bowed and thanked Zemirah.

Zemirah spent a few hours teaching Wendy on her sword skills and breathing technique. They also drank the milk that was delivered yesterday. Zemirah and Wendy liked it.

After that, she went back to her room.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 2,000-fold back. You got 20x [Mid-grade Spiritual Stones]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 6,000-fold back. You got [60 Years of Sword Technique Experience]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 4,000-fold back. You got [40 Years of Breathing Technique Experience]

Zemirah started using the gifts she stored in Sia's space. 

The two breathing technique experiences, [10 Years of Breathing Technique Experience] and [40 Years of Breathing Technique Experience].

[Ding! Confirm to use [10 Years of Breathing Technique Experience] and [40 Years of Breathing Technique Experience] on [Starry Sky Sea Breathing Technique]

Upon confirming, she felt 50 years of [Starry Sky Sea Breathing Technique] experience. Like has been practicing the breathing technique for 50 years, knowing so much that her mastery reached greater mastery, only short of reaching perfection.

If it is a Yellow-Grade technique, she must've easily reached perfection. But the [Starry Sky Sea Breathing Technique] is a Black-Grade one. The difficulty of practicing it is a notch higher.

Circulating the breathing technique, she quickly filled and refined the spiritual energy on her Dantian.

"Yellow-Grade and Black-Grade have such a huge difference. I needed at least three circulations before but now I only need one to fill my Dantian."

Zemirah sighed in amazement. 

"Now, let's use the sword experience."

[Ding! Confirm to use [60 Years of Sword Technique Experience] on [Twelve Constellations Sword Moves Technique]

"Confirm."

Unknown memories emerged in her mind, instantly making Zemirah feel like she had been practicing [Twelve Constellations Sword Moves Technique] for 60 years. Her mastery of 4 Constellations has reached Lesser Mastery. 

The rest of the 8 moves can only be learned when she reaches a higher cultivation base since her current cultivation cannot release their power.

With the memories from the experience, Zemirah can feel that she can use the 4 sword moves to release a greater attack. It was something she wouldn't be able to do if she relied on herself.

"This is amazing, I have the urge to find someone to fight." Zemirah moved her fingers and resisted the urge, but she held her sword [Purple Heaven Butterfly Sword], a Celestial-Quality sword artifact.

The sword has a dark purple hilt and a light purple tassel. It was thin and long, with the hilt having a butterfly symbol.

She caressed it and closed her eyes to start cultivating. She used one mid-grade spiritual stone which can last her a month.

"I'll trade my Mid-grade Spiritual Stone for a Low-grade Spiritual Stone. That way, I can gift it to my little disciple and receive more Mid-grade spiritual stones." Zemirah muttered to herself.

This loophole has been discovered by her for quite a while. Sia also didn't dissuade her which means it is possible.

"My accessories are still too little, the furniture at home is lacking and my garden is still bare. And for the array disks, I need a stronger one. The monthly Teal House Auction should have them." 

Zemirah made some Mid-Stage Talismans, she will try making Late-Stage Talismans tomorrow.

The next day, Zemirah has an unexpected visitor.

"Oh, Riya. Come in." Zemirah smiled at her friend.

Riya entered and took off her cloak. They sat in the living room because her garden was still bare. She can't stand seeing it.

"I assume you haven't left home these days," Riya said after she sipped on the tea Mirah just brewed.

The [Deep Sea Teal Tea] made her spiritual energy circulate faster and she could feel her body warming, some hidden injuries even healed a little.

She didn't know what is the name of this spiritual tea, but it is enough for her to know it was a good thing.

"How did you know?" Mirah asked with a little laugh.

Riya rolled her eyes and sighed, "The outside has been a little chaotic recently."

Hearing that, Mirah straightened in her seat losing her smile. "What happened?"

"3 villages have been massacred in the neighboring town, the Lark Mountain Town.

"The High-tier town?" Mirah asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, that one. The massacre happened a week ago but the Town Lord only knew 5 days later. Now, the nearby towns and villages have been on alert. The news even made Wintea City panic."

"Five cities are gone. Why are those Demonic Cultivators still not captured?" Mirah frowned, dissatisfied with the government, especially the Lark Mountain Town Lord.

Riya sighed heavily, "The subordinate of Teal River Town Lord sent a week ago has been killed." 

Mirah knew about the news of the Town Lord sending his close subordinate to investigate so she was shocked at Riya's words.

"W-What?" She gasps.

"But that's a Peak-Stage Energy Refinement cultivator. He even brought his people." 

"That's the most worrying thing is that – "Riya whispered, "They speculate that there are Foundation Building on the Demonic Cultivators this time."

Foundation Building Demonic Cultivators, that means it was on the same level as the Town Lords. The Teal River Town Lord is in the Mid-stage Foundation Building. Every stage of a realm has a huge difference, this is also the reason why even her Celestial-Quality Late-Stage items can only defend or release an above realm's Low-Stage attacks.

"What does the Town Lord's going to do now?" Zemirah asked.

Riya shrugged, "No news yet, but I'm planning to keep an eye out for news from the Lord's Mansion."

Zemirah sighed and then said, "Do you want to trade some pills with me for some talismans?" She remembered that she wanted to buy some more pills yet always forgot about it.

Riya's brows raised, "Want some pills?"

Zemirah smiled, "Yeah and I need to sell my talismans instead of storing them."

Riya had a hunch that Mirah wanted to help her have more life-saving cards so she nodded, "Well, you can look at this." She took out bottles of pills she had the intention to sell.

Mirah also took out a dozen wooden boxes. "See what you fancy." 

Riya was also interested in Mirah's talisman. She rarely took out Common-Quality Talismans and mostly Outstanding and Rare-Quality.

Riya opened the boxes and saw something that surprised her, "You can already make a Late-Stage talisman?"

Riya saw her friend give a wink mischievously, "I advanced yesterday to Late-Stage of Energy Refinement Realm."

"Then congratulations on a successful advancement, my friend." Riya was quite happy for Mirah.

Riyah chose 3 Late-Stage talismans, 2 defensive and 1 offensive, all Outstanding Quality.

Mirah saw it and chose 1 bottle of healing pill and 1 bottle of poison removal pill, all Outstanding-Quality.

Riya said, "Take one more bottle of uncommon-quality pill." Mirah smiled at that and didn't reject it.

"Do you know some array master? I want to buy some array disks for my residence." Mirah asked. She will gift it to her disciple and then receive a better one.

Riya nodded, "I know someone, he can make Peak-Stage Grade 1 arrays but he only accepts spiritual stones as payment." 

Riya saw her friend not hesitating at all, "It's good that he can make Peak-Stage Grade 1 arrays. Can you introduce me to him?"

Riya smiled helplessly, knowing this person was very rich so money wasn't a problem to her, even spiritual stones.

"No problem, how about tomorrow?"

"Sounds good," Zemirah nodded at that.

Before Riya left, Mirah said, "If you need more talisman, just come to me. The outside isn't that safe anymore."

Riya nodded at her good intentions, "You too. My house is just besides yours."