CH 357

The gates to the Scripture Depository closed silently behind Shang Xia as he held a greenish-blue bottle in his hand. A trace of worry could be seen on his face.

Zhang Haogu walked up to him and sighed, “There’s no need to be too hard on yourself. You’re still young and there’s no rush to break through. You can wait a little while to see if an opportunity befalls you!” 

Shang Xia knew that Instructor Zhang had misunderstood his depression. Naturally, he wouldn’t correct Zhang Haogu as that would reveal his secret. He turned to the man and asked, “Instructor, do you mean what you say? If I really managed to restore the recipe for the advancement medicine, would the institution be willing to provide all the ingredients required for it?” 

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“Are you really planning to restore the recipe of the advancement medicine?!” Zhang Haogu stared at Shang Xia in shock. He eventually continued, “Alright. As long as you manage to do it, I promise you. Of course, if you manage to find other suitable advancement formulas, the institution will also provide all the ingredients required to make the medicine. After all, that was what Patriarch Kou personally promised you.” 

Zhang Haogu naturally didn’t expect Shang Xia to be able to restore the recipe. He thought that Shang Xia was merely leaving a way out for himself.

Chuckling silently in his heart, Shang Xia felt pretty confident of restoring the recipe.

However, the herbs required after completing the recipe would be too precious. At the very least, a huge portion of them would be rank four herbs. Even with the abilities of the Shang Clan, Shang Xia might not be able to gather them all.

If he managed to borrow the might of the institution, gathering them wouldn’t be as difficult as he thought.

Luckily, Kou Chongxue had already passed down the order for the institution to make a set of advancement medicine for Shang Xia. All he needed to do was to complete the recipe.

After thanking Zhang Haogu, the two of them continued on their way out of the secret region.

As they were walking out, Shang Xia thought of something and he asked, “Instructor, is there no other way to interact with the world origin outside of an Origin Tide? After all, an Origin Tide is hard to come by…” 

Even though Zhang Haogu had taken on the role of the head of the Scripture Depository, his earlier role in the institution allowed him to make a name for himself. He had been teaching students for many years and Shang Xia’s way of addressing him suited his ears a little more than being called the head of the Scripture Depository. 

Shang Xia didn’t think that it was inappropriate to ask him questions either. After all, Zhang Haogu was an extremely knowledgeable instructor. That fact had been widely proven by the members of the institution.

Hearing his question, Zhang Haogu raised an eyebrow in shock. “Huh? Why are you thinking about world origin now?” 

Obviously not willing to reveal the secret about the Crimson Soul Tablet, a light flashed through Shang Xia’s eyes as he made up a lie on the spot. “Disciple received Patriarch Kou’s guidance previously and managed to understand a little more about my martial intent. I felt that my technique has something to do with world origin! I hope Instructor Zhang can enlighten me…” 

“Wow, you’re a lucky kid!” Zhang Haogu nodded slightly. Shang Xia didn’t know if he was referring to the guidance by Kou Chongxue or the fact that his technique had something to do with world origin.

Stroking his beard, Zhang Haogu muttered, “Then again, the Origin Tide isn’t the only way you can interact with the world essence. There are two other ways you can do so.”

“So… There are three ways to do it?” Shang Xia felt a burst of joy. He wasn’t expecting much when he asked the question, but he was pleasantly surprised to discover that there were so many more ways to come into contact with world origin.” 

Glancing at Shang Xia from the corner of his eye, Zhang Haogu snorted lightly. “Don’t celebrate yet. There might be three ways to do it, but it’s not easy to fulfill either one.” 

“Instructor, please guide me.” Shang Xia wiped the smile that was forming on his face away and spoke.

Zhang Haogu nodded while explaining slowly. “Well, the first method is the one you know. It’s also the one our institution used to form the Tongyou Mysterious World. During an Origin Tide, we weakened the spatial barrier separating us and the battlefield between the two worlds. In order to do this, one has to be able to withstand the terrifying amount of world origin. This…” 

“This tyrannical method is obviously not suited for me… This disciple doesn’t have a mysterious world to withstand the surge of world origin if I use this method!” Shang Xia completed whatever Zhang Haogu wanted to say. After all, he didn’t think that he was comparable to the Tongyou Mysterious World!

“Well, that brings us to the second method. That’s the head over to the Beyond Heavens Pavilion!” 

“Beyond Heavens Pavilion?” Shang Xia seemed to have heard that name somewhere before. However, he didn’t quite understand what it actually was. “What type of place is that?” 

Zhang Haogu quickly picked up the explanation. “It’s the location in our Azure Origin World that is closest to our world boundary! Naturally, it’s the most dangerous region in our Azure Origin World. It’s also where the greatest opportunities lie! From a certain point of view, the Beyond Heavens Pavilion can be considered a true entrance to our world. It controls the fate of our Azure Origin World by protecting it from everything else. The battlefield between the two worlds is comparable to a controlled environment that is only connected to the Azure Spiritual World, but the Beyond Heavens Pavilion protects us from the true dangers that lie outside.  There is world origin there, but it’s really thin. The amount of world origin might not be comparable to the amount in an Origin Tide, but it’s constantly present. As long as you stay in the Beyond Heavens Pavilion, you can absorb world origin to cultivate.” 

A trace of longing appeared on Zhang Haogu’s face when he spoke about the Beyond Heavens Pavilion and things outside the Azure Origin World.

With his eyes lighting up, Shang Xia hurriedly asked, “Am I able to head over to the Beyond Heavens Pavilion?”

Coughing once, Zhang Haogu chuckled softly. “Only after refining an extermination origin would one’s physical body be able to withstand the spatial forces that exist there. Only then will you be able to establish yourself in the Beyond Heavens Pavilion. Moreover, only Martial Extermination Realm experts will be able to refine world origin to cultivate…” 

With a wave of disappointment washing over him, Shang Xia sighed helplessly. “What’s the third method?” 

“Every single mysterious world and holy land will contain a large amount of world origin…” A smile appeared on Zhang Haogu’s face.

Shang Xia’s mood was in the gutters after listening to the few methods and he couldn’t help but interrupt, “Instructor, do you think the institution will allow me to use the world origin in the Tongyou Mysterious World?” 

Coughing dryly, Zhang Haogu continued, “Well… Everyone knows that our Tongyou Institution plans on ascending to the Tongyou Paradise in the future. We can’t allow our hard-earned world origin to be used up.” 

The Tongyou Mysterious World was the only one Shang Xia had access to at the moment. There was no need to mention other holy lands! Shang Xia wasn’t Kou Chongxue who could break into one and steal their world origin!

Moreover, Kou Chongxue only managed to achieve what he did because the situation allowed. If not for the fact that he caught them off guard, he wouldn’t be able to infiltrate into their territory so easily! Xuan Lu’s absence was also another reason why Kou Chongxue managed to blow a massive hole in the White Deer Paradise. After accounting for all the factors, one could say that Kou Chongxue’s solo victory against the White Deer Paradise was nothing more than pure luck! The situation would never present itself again. If Kou Chongxue dared to use the same method, he would be in for a great deal of pain.

Shang Xia felt extremely despondent after hearing Zhang Haogu’s revelation. He sighed powerlessly. “Instructor Zhang, you might as well have not told me anything… I can’t use any of the methods to access world origin!” 

“Yeah? Not many people would know about these if they’re not in the Martial Extermination Realm anyway. If not for your contributions to the Changfeng City, this old man wouldn’t be telling you all these stuff.” Zhang Haogu tutted while shaking his head.

By the time the two of them were done talking, they left the Scripture Depository. The moment they emerged, they saw a pillar of light shooting into the skies in the distance. Extermination qi filled the air as a massive disturbance was felt. Countless disciples of the institution turned to stare in its direction.

Shang Xia was no stranger to these types of phenomena. He turned to look at Zhang Haogu before asking yet another question. “That’s an extermination origin… I wonder which senior broke through?” 

A look of joy could be seen on Zhang Haogu’s face when he stared at the pillar of light. He chuckled happily, “That should be Instructor Gu Shou! Hehe, he’s the second Martial Extermination Realm expert born after the War of the Tongyou Mysterious World…” 

Gu Shou was an instructor of the inner division and was also the one who went to look for Shang Xia in the Coral Forest when he went missing the other time. 

During that time, Gu Shou suffered serious injuries due to the battle with Ouyang Zhaiyuan. Otherwise, he would have taken Shang Ke’s place to break through to the Martial Extermination Realm in the Coral Forest!

Speaking of which, Shang Xia was technically still a disciple of the inner division. Gu Shou was his instructor!

Shang Xia laughed, “Looks like our institution gained a lot during the formation of the Tongyou Mysterious World… With our strength rising to a whole new level, it’s truly a glorious time for our Tongyou Institution! If Gu Shou is the second person to break through… Who’s the first?” 

“Of course we gained a lot! However, our losses weren’t small either…” Zhang Haogu muttered before glancing at Shang Xia from the corner of his eye. “Hehe. The first person in our Institution to break through after the war is standing right in front of you! Heheh!” 

Gasping in fright, Shang Xia turned to stare at Zhang Haogu. It was no wonder he seemed a little more passionate when he was talking about the Beyond Heavens Pavilion earlier. Shang Xia didn’t notice it then as he was too engrossed in finding a method to obtain world origin, but it seemed as though Zhang Haogu had been dropping hints since a long time ago! 

The grin on Shang Xia’s face became wider and he exclaimed, “Oh! This disciple has been rude. I sincerely congratulate Instructor Zhang on breaking through!” 

At the same time, Shang Xia was feeling slightly bewildered. With his acute senses, he would be able to detect if someone was in the Martial Extermination Realm even if they were trying to hide their aura. However, he failed to notice that Zhang Haogu had broken through since they met.

A wide smile appeared on Zhang Haogu’s face after hearing Shang Xia’s congratulations. He might be an extremely conservative bookworm who was known to be a little lacking in the expression of his emotions, but he couldn’t help but reveal a proud smile.

After some time, the smile disappeared from his face and he continued, “Actually, there’s another way that might work if you’re looking to obtain world origin…” 

“What is it?” Shang Xia’s eyes lit up and he asked impatiently.

Pointing in the direction of the Tongyou Institution, he muttered, “The institution is about to reopen the spatial tunnel that leads to the battlefield between the two worlds!” 

Seeing Shang Xia falling deep into contemplation, Zhang Haogu continued, “Our Tongyou Mysterious World absorbed a huge amount of world origin during the Origin Tide that passed. However, there might be traces of it left in there. Even if there is, it won’t be easy to locate any. Moreover…” Pausing for a second, Zhang Haogu sighed before he added, “... Moreover, when we closed the spatial tunnel previously, it signified that we had given up on the battlefield between the two worlds. The Azure Spiritual World probably capitalized on that and established themselves there. Now that we’re going to throw our forces back in, it’s going to be a bloodbath when we fight the members of the Azure Spiritual World to regain some territory!”