Chapter Twenty-Four: The Broker-Cultivating Immortality in the World of Spiritual Ascension(The Fireworks of Bygone Years)

In the world of cultivation, the requirements for a cultivator’s innate talent are exceedingly high. This is most apparent in the quality of one’s spiritual roots. These are classified as five-element spiritual roots, four-element roots, three-element roots, dual-element roots, and single-element roots... Even among the same type of roots, there are differences in quality. For instance, among cultivators with single-element roots practicing the same technique and given equal resources, some will advance more quickly than others. This is a matter of how efficiently one can absorb and transform spiritual energy.

Generally speaking, the cultivation efficiency of five-element roots can hardly compare to that of four-element roots—unless, of course, the conversion rate for the five-element roots is superior and that for the four-element roots is inferior.

Zhou Changwang did not know whether his own conversion rate was superior or inferior. Yet the instant he swallowed the Vital Energy Pill, he felt that he was on par with the legendary Heaven-Spiritual Root, the best among single-element roots.

An enormous and turbulent surge of spiritual energy erupted within his body. Guided by his Five Elements Formula, he continuously converted this energy into his own unique spiritual power. One breath, two breaths, three breaths… In just a few dozen breaths, the spiritual power he had depleted while practicing spells was replenished and even more spiritual energy was assimilated, transforming into his cultivation at the Qi Refining stage.

Even the speed at which he circulated his cultivation technique increased, charging through his meridians like an unstoppable force.

Cultivation +1

...

After completing a single cycle, Zhou Changwang felt a significant improvement in his Qi Refining cultivation. However, he did not pause in his practice. The abundant spiritual energy contained in the Vital Energy Pill was still raging within him; he needed to absorb it quickly through cultivation, or else it would simply dissipate and be wasted.

So it went.

One cycle, two cycles, three cycles...

Not until he had completed five full cycles did Zhou Changwang finally cease circulating his technique. Though his mind was utterly exhausted, the excitement he felt was beyond words. A profound sense of fulfillment filled him. He hurried to check his attribute panel.

Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage, Level Two (48/100)

“My cultivation increased by ten points,” he murmured, a flash of excitement lighting his eyes. That was equivalent to ten days’ worth of cultivation at his current pace.

And that was even with much spiritual energy escaping his body due to his inability to convert it all. Otherwise, the improvement would have been even greater.

At this moment, he still had two more Vital Energy Pills in his hand, as well as two Yellow Spirit Pills, also beneficial for cultivation. On top of that, he possessed five Soul Awakening Talismans—though not as direct as the pills, they could restore his mind and prolong his practice.

“In other words, I should soon be able to break through to the third level of Qi Refining,” Zhou Changwang thought. He knew well that for a cultivator, realm and strength were closely linked. Not only does one’s spiritual power grow deeper, but its quality also undergoes a dramatic transformation.

The next morning, Zhou Changwang cooked spirit rice porridge with crescent-grain rice. He found that the spiritual energy was indeed somewhat stronger than that of spirit millet, though still limited, but the taste was certainly superior—soft and glutinous.

Afterward, he left his home.

In the world of cultivation, myriad people from all walks of life gather together; in essence, it is a grander version of the martial world. And where there is a martial world, there are always brokers who profit from information.

The reason Zhou Changwang arrived so late at the spirit fields yesterday was that he had gone to consult such a broker. Unfortunately, as an innate martial artist, he attracted little attention in the world of cultivators, so the broker had no news for him at the time and needed more time to investigate.

Therefore, after leaving his home, Zhou Changwang headed straight for the itinerant cultivators’ market in the northwest corner of the trade district, stopping at a stall selling spirit beast cubs. The proprietor was the very broker he had visited the previous day—a reputed beast trainer from the Beast Taming Guild, well-connected and well-informed.

“Brother Xiu, may I have a word in private?”

As it happened, the stall was empty of customers, so Zhou Changwang spoke up at once.

“I’ve got the information you wanted. But you know the rules, right?”

Brother Xiu, a middle-aged man with small eyes that nevertheless glinted with shrewd light, spoke as he performed a sound-isolating spell. Now, their conversation could not be overheard. This was a common practice at the itinerant cultivators’ market, where prices fluctuated wildly and stallholders priced goods according to the customer—naturally, they had to guard against eavesdroppers.

“I understand,” Zhou Changwang replied, nodding as he slipped a low-grade spirit stone into the man’s hand. Although he had already learned some information from Qian Xiaoyue, since it concerned his father, he needed to learn all he could.

“Over twenty days ago, your father entered the Twin Abyss Mountains with Zhao Heng’s team—five cultivators in total, including three innate martial artists. Your father was one of the latter. Seven days ago, Zhao Heng returned, accompanied by two other cultivators and one more innate martial artist, all of them injured. That means two cultivators and two innate martial artists remain unaccounted for. Your father is among them.”

Brother Xiu swiftly pocketed the spirit stone and spoke without hesitation or concealment.

Zhou Changwang fell silent at this. If it were anywhere else, he might still harbor hope that his father was merely wounded and recovering in the wild. But the Twin Abyss Mountains were notorious for their dangers—venomous insects everywhere, spirit beasts in abundance. Even in the outer regions, one might encounter formidable creatures; in the depths, it was rumored that Foundation Establishment-level monsters could be found. Survival in such a place was extremely difficult.

There was once an incident where a team led by a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining was wiped out overnight by a pack of spirit beasts.

“Afterwards, I confirmed with the surviving innate martial artist: their target had been a Spirit Void Herb deep within the Twin Abyss Mountains. They had prepared in advance, so that part went smoothly. But on the return journey, they ran into a two-headed wolf—specifically, the most troublesome kind: an Icefire Two-Headed Wolf. At the first encounter, one of the innate martial artists was struck by flames and burned to ash.”

Brother Xiu paused, noting the change in Zhou Changwang’s expression, then gave a mocking smile and added, “Don’t worry, that wasn’t your father.”

Zhou Changwang glanced at him; were it not for their disparity in strength, he would have liked to cast a Metal Yang Finger spell right in the man’s face.

“After that, they fought as they retreated; more were wounded, screams rang out, and the group scattered and fled. The surviving martial artist was lucky—ignored by the two-headed wolf, he escaped. He only vaguely saw your father sticking close to one of the cultivators, but the Icefire Two-Headed Wolf just happened to be chasing in that direction...”

With that, Brother Xiu gave Zhou Changwang a cool look, then withdrew the sound-isolating spell and returned to minding his stall.