Chapter 80 - Test of Swords

“You know me, senior brother.” Chen Jingzhai smiled. “I’m researching elixir alchemy now, and I’ll become a Grade 2 elixir alchemist once I create a Foundation Establishment Elixir.”

“I understand that you want to create your own elixirs.” Peak Master Yang sighed. “But, you’re still in the Foundation Establishment Plane. It’s going to take a while before you can even use the lotus seed.”

“But I only have one with me, and you already have three, including the one with disciple grand-nephew.”

“You should know how rare a Lotus Potion is. If everything goes well, one white lotus seed can create at least six Lotus Potions.”

“Isn’t that one more reason for me to keep it? The rarer it is, the more valuable it becomes!”

To Chen Jingzhai, producing only six potions out of one seed was a huge waste.

He was confident that once he had gathered his core, he would be able to increase the proficiency of the White Crane Cloud Tree Celestial Cauldron.

With that and the leak he could see, he would be able to produce more than that.

That reason alone was more than enough for him not to give the seed to the Peak Master.

“Fine. I won’t force you, or my wife will nag me again.” Peak Master Yang smiled.

The others immediately laughed as they knew the temper of the Peak Master’s wife. If the Peak Master were to force Chen Jingzhai, he would definitely get scolded by her.

Chen Jingzhai smiled and enjoyed the protection and love he had from his senior sister.

“Peak Master, we are done with the registration,” Sage Hao said suddenly. “Other than the three white lotus seeds, the carcass of the Black Ice Dolphin is worth a lot too. It’s more than enough to create three magic treasures.”

“Only three?” Chen Jingzhai was surprised to hear that.

“Although the carcass is big, there is a certain method to create magic treasures,” Hao Feng explained. “We can use three different parts of the carcass as ingredients: the skull, the spine, and the rest of it. With the help of other ingredients, we should be able to make three treasures out of it.”

Similar to elixir alchemy, differentiation between the main ingredient and the rest existed within item alchemy as well.

Using a Grade 3 item as the main ingredient would create a pure magic treasure.

Among the entire carcass, the skull was the most valuable.

By just adding Restrictions and no other ingredients, they would be able to create at least a middle-grade magic treasure out of it.

That was the advantage of using a high-quality ingredient.

If they were willing to spend more, they would even be able to create more than three magic treasures out of the carcass.

However, the carcass would not be used as the main ingredient.

The only problem with that method was that the products would not be as high quality as the three that were made using the carcass as the main ingredient.

“Since you focus mainly on elixir alchemy, it’s natural that you don’t understand the process of item alchemy,” Peak Master Yang explained. “To be honest, you have wasted a lot of the carcass as the bone sword you have is not a magic treasure. Instead, there’s a unique method to raise a sword’s level.”

“There’s no way I had the luxury to think that far ahead while inside the secret zone. I needed a sword, and I had no choice,” Chen Jingzhai replied. “As for raising the sword’s level, I have something suitable for it, and I might be able to awaken its sentience. The only setback I have now is that the sword only has one attribute. I’m in search of a sword with the flaming sun attribute. Senior brother, you don’t happen to have one lying around, do you?”

“There’s no way we have such a thing here since we have always been a peak that focuses on formations.” The Peak Master frowned. “I know that you are practicing with two different celestial codes, but none of them is a sword scripture. So why would you suddenly want to learn sword cultivation? If this is the foundation you are building for your technique creation, there’s no way you can succeed.”

“I understand what you’re trying to say, senior brother.” Chen Jingzhai grinned. “I understand that cultivation is the only way for us to become celestial, not swords or elixirs. It’s just that the technique I have chosen to practice has too many secrets, and it will take a while for me to understand everything right away. That’s why I’ve opted for some assistance through elixir alchemy and sword cultivation. However, these won’t be the basis of my Path of Technique Creation.”

“I see.” Peak Master Yang’s expression softened a little after hearing that. “Then, if you are looking for normal swords, you can buy one from the Heavenly Artisan Peak. If you want a magic treasure sword, you’ll have to look for one at one of the Three Great Sword Branches as long as you can pass the Test of Swords.”

“The Test of Swords?” Chen Jingzhai asked.

“Each of the three sword branches has set up a test at the foot of their peaks,” Cui Chengen explained. “Cultivators who have yet to achieve the Golden Core Plane will have to pass the test to enter their peaks.”

“Is there any secret to the test?”

“It’s actually a sword formation,” Sun Changrong replied. “Disciples will have to withstand the sword’s will from the sword formation.”

“The cultivators of the Three Great Sword Branches are a proud bunch,” Li Yifei added. “Even if Master-Uncle wants to head there, you’ll have to take the Test of Swords. They might even make it harder for you.”

“I see…” Chen Jingzhai murmured.

He was already curious as to what the Three Great Sword Branches were like.

Among the 15 visible peaks, the three sword branches were the only three that he had yet to come across.

He immediately decided to take the test if he had the time to do so.

Since there was nothing more to do left, Li Yifei and Sun Changrong left first.

Chan Jingzhai had planned to visit his senior sister before returning, but unfortunately, she had already started her Seclusion Training.

He had no choice but to head back to Tianyahai Pavilion.

Hao Feng and Cui Chengen remained in the Heaven and Earth Palace.

“So?” Peak Master Yang asked.

“Our Master-Uncle sure is something else,” Cui Chengen replied. “The only problem is that he favors the elixir alchemy path more than necessary, which could be a little inappropriate.”

“It would be inappropriate if he doesn’t have a talent for elixir making. But he’s already a Grade 2 elixir alchemist. Even the elixirs he has made are of a higher quality than Elixir Peak’s.”

“Yes, and his talent in formations is even more insane.” Cui Chengen nodded. “Not only did he comprehend the restricted formation’s core, but he even unsealed the Restrictions at the immortal abode. It just proves that he has a lot of talent for formations, even more than elixir alchemy.”

“It takes more than talent to break the Restrictions at the immortal abode,” Sage Hao said to the Peak Master. “Why don’t we wait and see if Master-Uncle can successfully produce Foundation Establishment Elixirs or not?”

“How hard could that be?” Cui Chengen frowned. “The only things that Master-Uncle lacks now are ingredients. I’m sure he will be able to produce a high-quality Foundation Establishment Elixir this time! However, his formation…”

“Enough!” Peak Master Yang interrupted the argument. “Jingzhai is not someone who doesn’t know what’s important and what’s not. Since he has established his foundation with the scripture of our Daoxuan Peak, he will have no choice but to use this as his foundation when he walks the Path of Technique Creation in the future. Fortunately, he’s still very young and can walk both the path of elixir alchemy and the Path of Formation. However, he shouldn’t add more than those to his resume.”

“But doesn’t it seem like he’s also interested in the Path of Sword?” Hao Feng asked.

“Well, both of you are right. No matter how disciplined he is, he’s still young and might walk down the wrong path,” the Peak Master said. “Tell Deacon Hall to give my junior brother more missions regarding elixir creation. Let him handle all the Grade 1 and Grade 2 elixirs. We should also persuade him to take in two servants who have trained in elixir alchemy too. This will keep him busy.”

“I’ll also let the disciples seek knowledge from Master-Uncle,” Cui Chengen suggested. “This will help increase his interest in formations. It would be weird if he doesn’t use formations when he’s in the outside world.”

“Did you guys hear about it already?” Peak Master Yang raised a brow.

“The old ruler of Pulao Kingdom doesn’t have much longer to live. The battle has been going on for 127 years, and he’s lucky to have survived this long,” Cui Chengen said. “If not, why would the nobles of the north send the children to the celestial clans? They wanted to keep their bloodline alive.”

“Since our clan has already made the decision and even participated in the war, there’s no way all the disciples would remain here their whole lives, right?” Hao Feng said. “It would also be hard to gather one’s core if they have yet to experience the real world.”

“You’re not wrong.” Peak Master Yang nodded. “Timing was not on my eldest disciple’s side, so he had no choice but to wander the outside world after he had gathered his core. I haven’t heard from my second eldest disciple for a long time either. Even if he returns, the one who stands above all disciples at Daoxuan Peak, even in the whole clan, will be Jingzhai.”

“That’s why he has to participate in the battle forum. He’ll be able to convince everyone that he’s strong enough to hold that title.”

“And that’s why we should make sure he trains himself diligently,” the Peak Master said. “I’ll find a way to control my wife. You two should make some arrangements for him to grow faster. I don’t need him to get the first place at the battle forum, but he should at least get into the top ten.”

“Yes, Peak Master!” Both of the Sages bowed.