Born with immortal seed

Chapter 183 Soul Searching Spell
"I still think the risk is too high, there are too many variables..."

Even if the intelligence was reliable and the temptation of 300,000 spirit stones was great, Bai Zichen felt it was still too risky to put Wei Dao, the former sect leader who was expected to form a core, in danger.

"Why don't we have the sect advance the funds first, and then repay them gradually after Senior Brother Wei completes his core formation?"

"A Core Formation Spiritual Item, several secret treasures that can help with Core Formation, totaling 180,000 sect contribution points. Junior Brother Wei has already paid one-third of it, which is already the greatest support the sect can give him."

Liang Yu patiently explained, lest Bai Zichen misunderstand that the sect was heartless and did not consider the disciples' feelings.

“If Junior Brother Wei doesn’t request the Heavenly Gang Gathering Spirit Array, Elder Yang will set it up for him out of his own pocket by adding some spirit stones… But the cost of the Heavenly Gang Gathering Spirit Array is beyond what our sect can afford. The sect cannot empty its coffers for the sake of one person’s Core Formation.”

"If Junior Brother Wei is like this, what about the other junior brothers, and Junior Brother Bai?"

“Once a precedent is set, the other disciples will definitely follow suit. Otherwise, it would be unfair and would cause resentment among the other disciples.”

"So if Junior Brother Wei wants to obtain the Heavenly Gang Gathering Spirit Array, he will have to find a way to get the spirit stones himself."

Bai Zichen, judging others by his own experience, felt that he would definitely not take the huge risk of robbing a spirit stone mine to set up an array when he was facing the formation of the core.

However, everyone's conditions are different. If one could increase the probability of forming a core by another 10% on top of having the Pure Spirit Jade Marrow and several Core Formation Treasures, anyone would want to take the chance.

"Senior Brother Wei, are you here to ask Senior Brother Liang to help you rob the spirit stone mine?"

“That’s right, this is a private matter and cannot be used as a sect mission to conscript manpower… Junior Brother Wei plans to add his two disciples and two confidants, plus a few people drawn from my Enforcement Hall, to quickly and decisively break through the spirit stone mine, plunder the spirit stones, and immediately retreat back to Black Mountain.”

Liang Yu slowly explained, and it must be said that this bold plan seemed somewhat feasible.

“Junior Brother Wei has an inside agent in the mine. He will use a barrier-breaking talisman to destroy the protective formation. Five Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Ghost Spirit Sect are no match for us.”

“The spirit stones will naturally go to Senior Brother Wei, so what does he plan to use to impress Senior Brother Liang?”

“Apart from the spirit stones, all the spoils from the mine are mine… In addition, Junior Brother Wei promised to owe me a favor. If he successfully forms his core, he will definitely ask the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect for a drop of Pure Spirit Jade Marrow for you, and he will also take care of the spirit stones.”

Bai Zichen was deeply moved. Senior Brother Liang Yu had not been able to find his own path to this day, and the Foundation Establishment stage was extremely difficult, which basically meant that he had given up all hope of achieving the Great Dao.

His actions were both to pave the way for Bai Zichen and to help him uphold the Dao, hoping that the sect could gain another True Person after Ancestor Yang's passing.

"Senior Brother Liang, there's no need to take risks for me. Everyone has their own destiny... It's still a long way before I reach the Foundation Establishment stage. Perhaps I'll have another opportunity and obtain a Core Formation item through other means."

"Haha, junior brother, don't worry. I haven't agreed to this yet. Even if I did, I would have to ask Ancestor Yang first and see what he thinks. Otherwise, it would be a dereliction of duty for me, the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, to do something like robbing a spirit stone mine for personal gain."

Liang Yu laughed heartily, for such an important matter would certainly not be decided based on Wei Dao's words alone.

The two chatted about other issues, and only after all the elders of the Enforcement Hall had gathered did Liang Yu announce Bai Zichen's duties as the Supervisor of the Abode.

Of course, the formal appointment still needs to be reviewed by the elders and the sect leader will issue a formal letter of appointment.

The position of Supervisor of the Abode is vacant year-round, and the Taoist robes and identity jade talismans have to be specially made.

"Senior Brother Liang, what are my daily duties as the Supervisor of the Abode? Is my salary the same as that of ordinary elders?"

Bai Zichen followed Liang Yu to meet his fellow disciples in the Law Enforcement Hall, and after taking a stroll around and seeing the relics left behind by several Core Formation cultivators, he couldn't help but ask a question.

“I understand what you mean. I won’t assign you heavy administrative tasks… Just do one major task every few years.”

Liang Yu acted as a guide and provided answers, rarely displaying the imposing demeanor he did when facing other disciples.

"In addition, the Supervisor Elder can receive 500 more contribution points per year than ordinary elders. After serving a full sixty years, he can go to the Secret Hall to select a treasure left by his predecessor. Apart from the sect leader and the hall master, there are only a handful of people in the sect who can choose treasures in the Secret Hall."

"That's not bad, but sixty years is still too long..."

Bai Zichen did not underestimate the 500 points of sect contribution; he believed in accumulating small amounts over time.

He was especially shocked when he witnessed Wei Dao's preparations for forming his core, which made him feel that he was already well-off.

So it turns out that breaking through to the Core Formation stage can cost so many spirit stones.

"By the way, how many Foundation Establishment Pills are left in the sect from the last batch?"

Bai Zichen thought that Lu Song had already reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining and was currently refining his magical power and tempering his physical body, making final preparations.

Although he hasn't asked me yet, the day I'll need the Foundation Establishment Pill isn't far off.

"There are four left. After discussion, we have decided to seal them temporarily... If we release too many at once, many disciples whose foundations are not yet fully developed will not be able to hold on and will fail to establish their foundations. We will release the Foundation Establishment Pills after the remaining disciples have grown for several years."

Liang Yu, being worldly-wise, immediately saw through the true meaning behind Bai Zichen's question.

"What, Junior Brother, are you trying to get involved? Has someone come to you asking for a favor?"

"Exactly, but it's not a favor, it's a promise..."

Bai Zichen didn't elaborate, only saying that he owed someone a favor back then and promised to exchange it for a Foundation Establishment Pill.

"Junior brother, your promise is certainly expensive," Liang Yu chuckled, and asked, "What position does that person hold now?"

"He is just a manager, but he is diligent and hardworking and has never given up his ambition, which is truly rare."

Bai Zichen looked embarrassed. Even if other elders were to recommend their confidants, they would all be at the steward level. It was indeed a bit excessive for him to recommend a manager.

“That is indeed a difficult matter. The sect is not so wealthy that it can even prepare Foundation Establishment Pills for the level of a manager. You should give me your name first, and I will think of a way to help that disciple gain some fame. Otherwise, it will be too easy for someone to seize on his identity and attack him during the elders' meeting, and he will be squeezed out of the first round.”

Senior Brother Liang Yu's words were mature and prudent. Bai Zichen nodded slightly, preparing to tell Lu Song about it when he returned.

……

A scroll lay open in front of Bai Zichen, its title page bearing the name "Taiwu Soul-Searching and Spirit-Slaying Technique," the characters written in a bold and unconventional style.

Since his battle with Meng Shigui, after returning and summarizing his experience, he discovered a very important point: he had not yet mastered the Soul Searching Technique.

Fortunately, Meng Shigui had a habit of keeping a diary, which allowed him to understand many mysteries of the outer sea. Otherwise, he would still not know where the cultivators who were chasing him and kept saying that he was a remnant of the Fish-Dragon Sect came from.

They had no idea that by inheriting the karma of their ancestors, they had inexplicably provoked such terrifying enemies.

However, the Soul Searching Spell has many limitations. First, the target must be completely incapacitated, and second, the target's spiritual strength must surpass that of the target.

If these two conditions are not met, even the most exquisite soul-searching spells cannot be performed.

Unlike demonic sects, Qingfeng Sect has very few soul-related spells hidden in its Transmission Hall, unlike ghost cultivators who manipulate souls year-round and are experts in this field.

Bai Zichen chose the one that required the most contribution points, which he thought was much more sophisticated and profound than the other soul-searching spells.

"This Taiwu Soul Searching and Soul Severing Technique is quite interesting. As long as one's spiritual sense is different, one can search the soul and obtain more than one-third of the information... If one cultivates it to a deeper level, one can even sever the primordial spirit and cut off all contact with the outside world."

The main purpose of practicing this spell is for occasional needs.

To avoid being helpless if you capture your opponent again in the future and want to extract secrets from them.

Bai Zichen read through the Taiwu Soul Searching and Severing Technique and had already grasped some of the methods for cultivating this soul-searching technique.

After all, it is a spell that can be cultivated even in the early stages of Foundation Establishment. With his spiritual strength, which is close to the peak of Foundation Establishment, the difficulty of learning it will not be too great.

It only took a few days to get the basics down.

However, this state can only be used on Qi Refining cultivators at most. Even those Qi Refining cultivators who are born with a strong sea of ​​consciousness and are difficult for evil spirits to invade can resist the Taiwu Soul Searching and Soul Severing Technique.

Or to put it another way, his body might not be able to withstand the chain reaction brought about by the soul search, and his physical body would collapse.

However, even until death, the soul-searching spell could not directly extract any information from such a cultivator.

"At least next time we catch some reckless cultivators, we'll use the Taiwu Soul-Searching and Soul-Severing Technique on them. Who knows, we might even get some information about cave ruins, ancient secret realms, or something like that from them... That's how it's written in mythological tales,"

Bai Zichen put down the Soul Searching Technique and took out the top-grade spiritual artifact he had obtained from the Zengguang Immortal City Auction House.

The Seven-Pearl Mystic Pearl is a top-grade spiritual artifact, a supreme defensive treasure, and possesses the supernatural power to ward off water.

Following the refining technique included with the auction, he unleashed a crimson burst of magical power, enveloping the Seven-Skill Mystic Pearl and continuously refining it.

Several days and nights passed, and the sound of waves within the Seven-Pearl Mystic Pearl grew louder and more realistic, as if there were truly a body of water within the pearl.

When the Seven-Pearl of Mystery emitted a thunderous sound of water, and the water flowed upside down, it began to connect with his mind.

Then I realized that the ritual had finally been successfully completed!
The Seven-Pearl shrank to a size that barely fit in his palm, feeling incredibly heavy in his hand.

"Indeed, no wonder it's a top-grade spiritual artifact that arose spontaneously... Its power is abundant, enough for me to use until I reach the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage."

Bai Zichen tried to activate the Seven Wonders Mystic Pearl, and a beam of Seven Wonders light descended, enveloping him in armor.

Invulnerable to all evils, withstands water pressure...

He could clearly feel that the defensive effect of the Seven-Skill Glow was far superior to all the defensive magical artifacts he had ever possessed.

Moreover, the radiant light shifts and changes its attributes constantly, making it impossible to prepare a countermeasure against it.

"Finally, it also recorded the secret method of refining it into a magic weapon, but I don't know when we'll be able to use it."

Bai Zichen merely memorized the seven types of Qi and their refining methods. Once he had the power to control the magic weapon, he would choose to gather all the Qi to sublimate the treasure.

Pure Yang Gang Sha, Cold Wind Gang Sha, Black Water Gang Sha, Dragon and Snake Gang Sha, Mysterious Frost Gang Sha...

The Refining Secrets record in detail all the types of Qi and Sha that allow a top-grade spiritual artifact to be upgraded into a magic weapon, as well as the refining methods.

(End of this chapter)