CH 399

The space contained in his Embroidered Cloud Case was limited but it was enough for ordinary cultivators.  

Unfortunately, Shang Xia was no ordinary cultivator. Even the largest Embroidered Cloud Case that had five cubic feet of space wasn’t enough for him!

With the experience of running out of space many times before, Shang Xia became smarter now that he was entering the battlefield between the two worlds. He brought more than a single Embroidered Cloud Case with him.

It was exactly as he predicted. The corpse of the giant rank four rat might have been left behind, but Shang Xia managed to harvest its skin before its body rotted away. He even managed to collect a portion of blood essence and those items filled an Embroidered Cloud Case that was three cubic feet large.

If not for the fact that he was unable to harvest the corpses of the swamp lizards back in the swamp before the Poison Miasma Frog went to town on them, he would use up even more space.

As such, Shang Xia’s desire to obtain a spatial pouch became stronger than before.

It was too bad that it took extremely high expertise to create one. From what Shang Xia knew, only the Tongyou Institution had an incomplete inheritance to produce a spatial pouch. Due to the lack of Swallow Fur, no one had ever tried to complete the inheritance.

Only after Shang Xia brought back the flock of Mutated Rain Swallows did the Tongyou Institution regain their focus on the inheritance to create the spatial pouch. It was a pity the gathering of Swallow Fur took too long. The news of Shang Xia’s possession of Swallow Fur quickly reached the ears of the higher ups of the Tongyou Institution and the Warehouse Division and Scripture Depository. They wanted him to hand it over to the Warehouse Division for the institution to carry out experiments with it. 

Naturally, Shang Xia wasn’t willing to give out his items for free. Not to mention a ball of Swallow Fur that he would have great uses for in the future. As such, he gave them a firm rejection. He was the one who brought the flock of Mutated Rain Swallows to nest at the Tongyou Peak back then. His identity wasn’t ordinary either. Regardless if they were men from the Warehouse Division or the Scripture Depository, they couldn’t go overboard when treating Shang Xia. That was how the entire event blew over in the past.

Also, by then, Ren Huan managed to obtain all 43 leaves from the tree and Shang Xia quickly asked, “Brother Ren, do you know how to create rank four talisman paper?” 

Staring at Shang Xia in shock, Ren Huan paused for a second before he replied. “I was planning to look for a job in the institution… Only then would I be able to learn how to craft rank four talisman paper.” 

Only then did Shang Xia realize why Ren Huan was so willing to work with him. It was probably because Ren Huan understood who Shang Xia was after his introduction earlier and was planning to borrow Shang Xia’s influence to successfully enter the Tongyou Institution.

Thinking about Ren Huan’s talent in creating talisman paper, Shang Xia felt that it wouldn’t be a problem to assist the fatty to enter the institution. Not to mention the fact that Shang Xia also needed Ren Huan to create talisman paper for his own use!

A smile appeared on Shang Xia’s face and he chuckled, “Brother Ren, why didn’t you say so? I’m pretty familiar with the current head of the Scripture Depository and the Warehouse Division. With Brother Ren’s talent, you will definitely be well-received by both of them!” 

“I have to thank Brother Shang in advance then!” Ren Huan couldn’t help but cheer. It seemed as though his goal of joining the institution wasn’t too far from his reach now.

“Naturally… With Brother Ren’s talent, it would be a waste not to help you! After all, the institution won’t turn talents like you away!” Shang Xia continued.

All o a sudden, Ren Huan took out something from his sleeves and he took out a scroll before handing it over to Shang Xia. “I managed to obtain this recipe for rank three talisman ink on my adventures in the past. Brother Shang, you look like you can really use it.” 

Raising an eyebrow in shock, Shang Xia pressed his lips together while saying, “How… How can I take this?” 

“Brother Shang, please accept it. Unless you think that my gift is too lousy…” Ren Huan pouted.

Helpless, Shang Xia could only accept the recipe. He maintained his neutral expression, but a burst of joy filled his heart. 

Seeing Shang Xia’s reaction, Ren Huan heaved a sigh of relief.

…

Getting a recommendation to enter the institution was his goal from the start. Even though Shang Xia didn’t bring up Deputy Patriarch Shang Bo throughout their conversation, having Shang Xia’s promise was enough. 

If Shang Xia spoke up for him in the institution, many people would make the connection with Deputy Patriarch Shang Bo. Even if they had to take his expertise into account, the heads of the various divisions would definitely allow him to enter the institution.

Liu Jitang was the previous head of the Warehouse Division. After he died in the Coral Forest, the Warehouse Division was temporarily commanded by Shang Lubing who was already the head of the Contribution Division. 

However, the position was eventually passed back to Liu Zhuyuan in order to solidify his foundations in the institution.

When Ren Huan entered the institution with Shang Xia’s recommendation, he would probably be taken in as a regular talisman paper craftsman. He wouldn’t be regarded as a talisman master due to a very simple reason. He could only craft talisman papers!

Even if Ren Huan was able to create rank four, and even rank five talisman paper, he would only be regarded as an ordinary craftsman! His authority would be raised in the institution when he could make higher-leveled talisman paper, but only slightly.

The same could be said for Shang Quan! Shang Quan was considered an ink craftsman in the institution. Even if he could produce rank three ink in the future, his title wouldn’t change!

There might be people who called him an ‘Ink Master’, but that was merely a formality. 

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That might be the case for Shang Quan and Ren Huan, but things were extremely different for Shang Xia. As a rank three talisman master, he commanded a much higher level of prestige! 

The same principle applied to blacksmiths and chemists. If one was only able to refine the material and herbs, they would never be treated equally to blacksmiths and chemists!

Taking Duan Hong as an example, he was only regarded as a material craftsman when he could carry out slight repairs on graded weapons. Only when he crafted a graded weapon himself was he considered a blacksmith!

…

Shang Xia could pretty much understand Ren Huan’s desire to enter the institution. Other than obtaining a way to craft rank four talisman paper, it probably had something to do with Kou Chongxue’s prestige. Everyone wanted to stand under the terrifyingly strong protection umbrella known as the Tongyou Institution! Ever since Kou Chongxue revealed his strength and went over to the Ji Continent to raise hell in the White Deer Paradise, the entire Azure Origin World was shaken! The members of the You Continent developed a strengthened sense of confidence in the Tongyou Institution.

Ever since the incident, there had been a lot of people trying to gain a spot in the institution!

The reason so many people were allowed to enter the battlefield between the two worlds with the experts of the Tongyou Institution was because they were using it as a test! It was both a test of strength and loyalty!

When Ren Huan saw how Shang Xia’s gaze had returned to the hazy space on the other side of the valley, he couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Shang, are you planning to leave?” 

“Yeah, there’s nothing much left for us here. The next thing we have to do is to inform the institution about this location.” Shang Xia muttered after thinking for a short while.

Signaling to the Lightning Bird who was still perched on his shoulder, Shang Xia bade him farewell before starting to take his leave with Ren Huan.

The Lightning Bird turned into a streak of light that soared into the skies. Messy chirps came from the flock of birds and they looked like they were giving him a proper send off.

As the two of them turned to leave, soft tinkling entered the ears. The sound was carried by the strong gale and it rang clearly in their minds.

“Huh?” The two of them couldn’t help but stare at each other in shock before turning to look at where the sound came from.

Ren Huan frowned. “It sounds like it’s coming from the other side?” 

The ancient tree was located under a cliff face that made up one side of the valley, The sound they heard seemed to come from the other cliff face. 

The same thought appeared in their minds at the same exact time. If the ancient tree could grow under one cliff face, was it possible for another precious treasure to grow under the other cliff face? 

Both of them were too distracted by the ancient tree and the presence of the flock of Mutated Rain Swallows to think of the other possibility. Neither of them went to take a look at the other cliff face ever since they arrived!

As someone who was a lot more experienced with treasures as cultivators in the same realm, Shang Xia thought of a possibility and asked out loud, “Listen to that? Could that actually be the Windchime Grass?” 

The fatty’s voice rang in his ears right as he completed his sentence. “Brother Shang, do you also think that it could be the Windchime Grass?” 

Raising his eyebrow slightly, Shang Xia wondered if the fatty was supported by some hidden power. It didn’t make sense for him to know so much otherwise!

Thinking about how the fatty wanted to enter the Tongyou Institution, Shang Xia couldn’t be bothered with his hidden identity. Since he wanted to enter the institution, his background would be dug out regardless. 

From Ren Huan’s anxious tone earlier, Shang Xia also realized something. “Brother Huan, do you need the Windchime Grass?” 

Glancing at Shang Xia from the corner of his eye, a trace of hesitation appeared on his face. “I don’t wish to hide anything, but the Windchime Grass is the main ingredient for my rank four advancement medicine… Whatever the case, let’s go check it out…” 

Shang Xia understood that unlike his cheat code of a system, the Azure Origin World would usually only record the main ingredient of the advancement medicine and several other auxiliary herbs. It wouldn’t be as detailed as the information on his Crimson Soul Tablet. As for the preparation process, it would usually be kept secret by those Chemists who made it.

Hearing that it was the main ingredient in Ren Huan’s advancement medicine, Shang Xia frowned inwardly. However, he nodded and smiled in response. “Since that’s the case, I’ll head over with you to take a look.” 

“Many thanks, Brother Shang. Let’s split it like how we’re splitting the leaves. As long as there’s more than a single stalk of Windchime Grass, we’ll split it evenly. If the herb isn’t mature yet, Brother Shang can report it to the institution.” Ren Huan chuckled.

Shang Xia laughed too. “I’ll report that you were also part of this. It will definitely assist in your integration into the institution.” 

The two of them laughed heartily as they quickly approached the other cliff face. They planned to take a direct path through the rushing winds in the valley in order to reduce their travel time and as a cultivator who was on the verge of breaking through to the Martial Extermination Realm, Shang Xia wasn’t worried about the wind.

Ren Huan’s cultivation wasn’t too low either. He completed all three divine sense transformations and he was also not afraid of the strong winds.

Unfortunately for them, they didn’t notice that the Lightning Bird had also charged into the frighteningly strong winds. It was as though he was chasing something.

The valley was more than a hundred feet wide and it didn’t take long for them to pass through the column of wind again. When they finally broke through the stream-like gale that filled the valley, they noticed a cluster of faint-silver grass swaying in the wind. As they moved, the sound of windchimes rang clearly through the air.