Born with immortal seed

Chapter 550 Five Major Gains
Bai Zichen did not believe that Hong Xuan had the audacity to deceive him.

Regardless of past relationships or prior contact with the Qingfeng Sect, it is easy to verify.

"Then you must know a lot about the Holy Lotus Sect's assets?"

Bai Zichen's eyes were sharp. As far as he knew, there were only a few Core Formation elders left in the Holy Lotus Sect, and each of them had a lot of responsibilities on their shoulders.

If half of the Core Formation elders sincerely pledge allegiance, they can take over most of the legacy left by the Holy Lotus Sect.

Otherwise, relying entirely on oneself to thoroughly understand the assets of a ten-thousand-year-old sect would not only be a massive and tedious task, but could also result in a large number of treasures slipping through one's fingers.

"So that True Lord may know, apart from the Medicine Garden Secret Realm which has always been independent and managed by Qu Yang's confidants, I have registered all the other clan properties. Also, the True Man Ke who is in charge of the Great Treasury is a close friend of my disciple. He has already instructed me to hand over the entire Great Treasury to your clan, and not a single treasure will be missing."

Hong Xuan took out a jade slip from his sleeve, held it above his head, and spoke respectfully, without any intention of seeking credit or being arrogant.

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness..."

Bai Zichen took the jade slip and exclaimed that it was a truly generous gift, a testament to his talent.

Starting with Qishan, the first part statistically analyzes the distribution of all spiritual caves and abodes throughout the entire mountain range, as well as the production of various minerals and spiritual items.

Simply follow the map and send your disciples to receive the item at the coordinates shown.

The second part concerns the vassal states of the twelve prefectures of Zhongzhou and their annual tribute quotas.

Those Core Formation level forces each had their own unique products, which amazed Bai Zichen.

There is a spiritual fruit called the Mysterious Ice and Cold Wind Fruit, which grows in a crevice in a dark mountain stream.

The crack is flanked by millennia-old, unmelting ice, and lies unfathomably deep beneath it. At its narrowest point, it is only a palm's width wide, and yin winds and malevolent energy from the earth's core constantly swirl around it.

It is in such an environment that the Xuanbing Liefeng Fruit, which ripens every sixty years, is considered a sacred medicine for body tempering.

Direct consumption can save one from a hundred years of arduous cultivation at the third stage of body training.

Several types of fourth-order body-tempering pills use this fruit, which has a significant effect on body cultivators breaking through to the fourth order.

There are seven or eight other similar spiritual fruits, all of which can produce immediate results in a certain direction, and no sect would complain about having too many.

The Central Plains are in chaos now, and many spiritual veins have changed hands.

Only after the Qingfeng Sect takes up residence in Qishan, asserts its sovereignty, and pacifies the situation in Zhongzhou can the income channels be stabilized.

The third part is the Holy Lotus Sect's treasury.

Top-grade spirit stones are scarce.

More than seven hundred high-grade spirit stones.

Miscellaneous spirit stones, approximately thirteen million pieces.

Four magical treasures, fifteen fourth-order talismans, three Nascent Soul Pills, two Tribulation Crossing Treasures... and countless other magical artifacts, spiritual weapons, mountains of talismans, and various pills.

In terms of formations, the most valuable is undoubtedly the Nine Palaces Returning to the Void Formation of Qishan, which is a high-grade fourth-tier formation.

When in good condition, the entire Qishan Mountain is within the protection zone.

The Holy Lotus Sect was able to survive for a hundred years, largely thanks to this formation, which gave Qu Yang enough time to adapt after fusing with the Snow Lotus.

In addition, there are more than ten third-order array plates in the warehouse, all of which are idle.

'What a magnificent lineage spanning millennia! My lineage is far inferior to such wealth.'

Bai Zichen clicked his tongue in amazement. Take the Nascent Soul stage for example. Even if the Holy Lotus Sect was in decline, it could still prepare two or three portions of spiritual medicine for breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.

As long as a truly exceptionally talented disciple emerges, and all three—the Nascent Soul Pill, the Tribulation-Crossing Treasure, and the Ascension Platform—are used, he will become a True Lord.

A Nascent Soul sect with a history of ten thousand years is like a centipede that dies but does not fall down. Unless it can be completely destroyed, it can easily find an opportunity to rise from the ashes.

If it weren't for the unprecedented situation that the cultivation world of Liang Kingdom was facing, with the four Nascent Soul sects each occupying a corner and squeezing each other out of any room for expansion, the Heavenly Principle Sect would have had no choice but to target the Holy Lotus Sect, which lacked a Nascent Soul True Monarch to oversee it.

In the past, during the dark period when the Holy Lotus Sect lost a Nascent Soul True Monarch, the most they did was shrink their sphere of influence.

With the fourth-order grand formation and spiritual treasures, we were able to withstand it.

Although Qingfeng Sect has produced two Nascent Soul True Monarchs, it is because Bai Zichen and Ge Cang are exceptionally talented, and it does not mean that the sect has embarked on the right track to cultivate Nascent Soul cultivators.

After them, the highest cultivation level of the several Core Formation cultivators was only the mid-Core Formation stage, still a long way from attempting the Nascent Soul stage.

There were no clues whatsoever regarding the elixir of infant transformation.

Fortunately, the Qingfeng Sect mastered the crafting method of the Acquired Thunder God Pearl, a secret treasure for transcending tribulations. In addition, Bai Zichen put the Cave Profound Disaster Relief and Demon Extermination Manual, which could only be exchanged by Core Formation True Persons, on the sale in the Transmission Hall.

One absorbs the lightning tribulation, the other sweeps away inner demons.

In terms of external forces for helping one overcome the Nascent Soul Tribulation, there are really few sects that can compare.

With the Eastern Region now fallen, the only way to cultivate the Scripture of Dispelling Calamities and Exorcising Demons is to go to the Central Region.

“True Lord, the Nine Palaces Returning to the Void Formation operates at the highest level year-round. Coupled with the intensity of the battle, it’s a bottomless pit that devours spirit stones… All the top-grade spirit stones accumulated by the Holy Lotus Sect over the generations have been used up in this battle.”

Hong Xuan, thinking that Bai Zichen's gaze had a hidden meaning, hurriedly explained.

"The sect disciples get no rest, providing the great formation with spiritual energy for a long time, and they also need to be given spirit stones to speed up the recovery of their magic power. During the most intense period of the war, a warehouse full of spirit stones could be burned every day."

"When war breaks out, a million spirit stones are needed; that's normal."

Bai Zichen secretly rejoiced that the sect war against the Ghost Spirit Sect back then had been swept away with lightning speed.

Otherwise, if it drags on for several years, the Qingfeng Sect simply won't be able to hold on given its size at that time.

The fourth part of the jade slip is the transmission of classic texts, with three of them directly pointing to the cultivation methods of the late Nascent Soul stage.

There are also seven volumes of cultivation techniques for special spiritual entities, five volumes of insights on infant transformation, and other auxiliary cultivation techniques, supernatural abilities, and secret arts, totaling 1,035 categories.

And the list includes hundreds of books on the inheritance of various arts and crafts related to cultivation.

Bai Zichen glanced at them and found that alchemy and formation techniques were the most valuable, both of which had fourth-order inheritances.

Especially in alchemy, there are three volumes: "New Notes on Alchemy Fire," "Notes on Making the Cauldron," and "Imperial Edicts on Alchemy Stones." The author is noted as the first alchemist in the history of the Holy Lotus Sect, possessing the highest level of skill at the fourth rank.

Beyond alchemy, he offered groundbreaking insights into alchemical fire and the alchemical cauldron.

This alchemist's specialty is his ability to utilize external forces, which he once used to refine a near-fifth-grade spiritual pill.

Unfortunately, fifth-grade spirit pills are no ordinary items. They are subject to a pill tribulation as soon as they are produced. If they pass the tribulation, they will become fifth-grade spirit pills; if they fail, they will be reduced to nothing.

That near-fifth-tier spirit pill failed to survive the pill tribulation, and it also destroyed the entire pill room.

Bai Zichen has always given the Dan Hall the greatest support, even though he himself comes from the Law Enforcement Hall.

The Dan Palace generally grants all requests.

After inheriting the legacy of the Danxia Sect, and sparing no expense in acquiring spiritual herbs, the skills of the Dan Hall disciples have improved by leaps and bounds.

With the addition of the Holy Lotus Sect's alchemy heritage, it is believed that the birth of the first fourth-level alchemist of the Azure Maple Sect is just around the corner.

At the end of this passage, Hong Xuan also mentioned that the Holy Lotus Sect has a total of six third-tier spirit beasts and five stable breeding groups of spirit beasts.

However, with the territory lost and no place to tame beasts, several groups of spirit beasts were released back into the mountains, and it is unknown how many can be found now.

The fifth and final part of the jade slip details the three secret realms controlled by the Holy Lotus Sect, including the Lotus Birth Secret Realm, as well as battle formations.

The Lotus Blossom Secret Realm is undoubtedly the place that all Core Formation cultivators in the Liang Kingdom dream of, and it was from there that Bai Zichen obtained the Fanghua Sword.

The other two secret realms were quite ordinary. The Holy Lotus Sect quickly searched them clean after discovering them, finding that they were only about the size of a village or town.

In a secluded place, there grows a jujube tree that has survived for countless years without sprouting new buds or tender branches.

After careful consideration, the cultivators of the Holy Lotus Sect discovered that the jujube tree had become the core of the remaining secret realm. Cutting it down and relocating it would accelerate the collapse of the secret realm.

Since it's not some rare or precious plant, we'll just let it grow there.

In another place, there is a deep spring, at the bottom of which swims a kind of two-spotted bodhi fish.

If a Qi Refining cultivator consumes this spirit fish, it can slightly improve their water-based spiritual root aptitude, by about one-hundredth.

The effect is best when consuming the first spirit fish, decreasing with each subsequent fish, and becoming negligible after the third fish.

At most, only a handful of two-spotted Bodhi fish are caught each year. Because the edible population is extremely narrow and the yield is low, most of them end up in the stomachs of Qi Refining disciples with powerful backgrounds.

Such as the descendants of Nascent Soul True Monarchs, the direct descendants of Core Formation True Men, and so on.

Regarding battle formations, the Holy Lotus Sect's battle formations far surpass those of the Azure Maple Sect, both in scale and level.

For example, the Four Symbols Battle Formation had four corresponding techniques specially compiled for its formation.

When setting up the formation, one hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators who had practiced the Four Symbols Technique were placed on each of the four sides, and then four Core Formation cultivators each took charge of one part.

The power displayed by this battle formation is almost equivalent to that of a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

There is also the Fire-Breaking Battle Formation, which will gather an army of ten thousand cultivators to suppress the chaotic magical power with fire-type spiritual treasures and unleash the most terrifying destructive force.

It only has the power of three strikes, but each strike is equivalent to a Nascent Soul cultivator's full-force attack.

This kind of battle formation, capable of unleashing the power of a Nascent Soul cultivator, was something the Qingfeng Sect could never have imagined in the past.

Not only are there no array diagrams, array plates, or array flags, but even if someone were to pass on the method of setting up an array, it would not be able to meet the requirements of these high-level battle arrays.

Fortunately, the number of disciples in the Qingfeng Sect has increased dramatically in recent years. It is believed that it will not be long before the major battle formations of the Holy Lotus Sect are restored to their former glory.

The difference is that all the battle flags will be replaced with the Qingfeng Sect's emblem.

"In your opinion, how many medicinal herbs over a thousand years old are there in the herb garden secret realm?"

Bai Zichen put away the jade slip with satisfaction. Coupled with the secret realm of the herb garden that could shorten the growth rate of spiritual herbs, it could be said to be a perfect harvest.

"Not a small number. Nowadays, the number of disciples in the sect is less than one-tenth of what it used to be, and the number of times we refine pills has decreased significantly... In addition, our sect has always had the habit of storing thousand-year-old spiritual herbs. Basically, every time each herb garden is harvested, we will hide a few plants and seal them away. But the exact number is probably only known to Junior Brother Wu, who is in charge of managing the herb garden secret realm."

Hong Xuan spoke with some gritted teeth. In the past, his master was in charge of the Medicine Garden Secret Realm. But when Qu Yang took the position of sect leader, he transferred this most important responsibility to his confidant.

"And what about the Enlightenment Lotus Seeds? I didn't see any mention of them on the jade slip. Have they been used up?"

Bai Zichen thought of the Enlightenment Lotus Seed, one of the most powerful and effective Core Formation spiritual items in the entire Northern Domain.

The Enlightenment Lotus Seed produces only three seeds every hundred years, which can enhance spiritual awareness and increase the probability of forming a Golden Core by a full 20%.

Thinking of his cousin Bai Ziyu, whose chances of forming a core under normal circumstances are slim, he might be able to create a miracle if he had the Enlightenment Lotus Seed.

“Your Excellency, the Enlightenment Lotus Seeds are only produced in the Lotus Birth Secret Realm. This place is outside the Lost Sect, and it has been many years since we have seen any Core Formation Spiritual Objects. As for whether there are any left in the Medicine Garden Secret Realm, that is not something I can know.”

As the elder in charge of the secret realm, Hong Xuan had no right to dispose of the produce within the Lotus Blossom Secret Realm; he couldn't even take a look at it.

He had long harbored resentment and was relentlessly trying to sow discord between Elder Ke and Bai Zhenjun.

"Actually, the most precious thing in the Lotus Blossom Secret Realm is the True Meaning Lotus Seed. There are five recorded discoveries in the history of the Holy Lotus Sect, but only three publicly recorded uses. My master didn't mention it before he passed away, but I think it's very likely that there is one hidden in the Medicine Garden Secret Realm."

Bai Zichen pressed for details and learned that the so-called True Meaning Lotus Seed was the remains of a ten-thousand-year-old spiritual plant after it withered, containing a trace of the power of the Great Dao.

If a late-stage Core Formation cultivator swallows and refines this, it can help them perfect their path to the Great Dao, solidify their alchemical theories in a way that is almost like cheating, and smoothly advance to the peak of Core Formation.

Compared to any elixir, the True Meaning Lotus Seed is far more powerful and natural. Only a legendary fifth-order elixir can possess the power of the Great Dao.

'Could the gray seed formed from the snow lotus be the so-called True Meaning Lotus Seed? No, the Holy Lotus Sect has harvested five True Meaning Lotus Seeds before; how could the mere Lotus Blossom Secret Realm possibly give birth to so many quasi-innate spiritual roots? It should just be an ordinary ten-thousand-year-old lotus, which, upon reaching the end of its life, condenses its remaining power into a single True Meaning Lotus Seed. The lotus seed formed from the snow lotus should be of a higher essence and greater value.'

Upon hearing the introduction of the True Lotus Seed, Bai Zichen was filled with thoughts and once again marveled at the profound heritage of the Holy Lotus Sect.

Under such conditions, Qu Yang still failed to reach the Nascent Soul stage, which is truly a waste of talent.

This proves that spiritual roots do not represent everything. There are many hidden talents that cannot be measured by spiritual attraction spells, which determine the farthest a cultivator can go.

……

"The divine might of Lord Bai Zhenjun has truly broadened my horizons."

After a long while, three airships landed in mid-air above Qishan, and Shi Chengdong and Le Zheng landed together.

The disciples of the Heavenly Principle Sect were not in a hurry to ascend Mount Qi, clearly intimidated by that battle and dared not offend Bai Zichen rashly.

Shi Chengdong was a witness to Bai Zichen's transformation from Core Formation to Nascent Soul, and he knew very well that Bai Zichen's strongest technique was definitely the Sword of Time.

He didn't believe that after more than a hundred years, that unforgettable sword strike would remain stagnant, without any improvement.

Watching Bai Zichen's battle with Qu Yang, one can see that he has already grasped many sword intents and used them in succession, fully demonstrating the style of a sword master.

"Fellow Daoist, you are too kind. Without the work your sect did in the early stages, I could not have captured Qu Yang so easily."

After reading the jade slip presented by Hong Xuan, Bai Zichen was in a good mood and affirmed the contributions of the Heavenly Principles Sect.

Indeed, if the Nine Palaces Returning to the Void Formation were intact, it would be very difficult for him to conquer Qishan by himself, and he would have to be prepared for a protracted battle.

"Now that the overall situation is settled, why don't we arrange for the disciples to inventory and distribute the Holy Lotus Sect's treasury? Our sect has just been established on Mount Ling, and there are still many things waiting for me and Junior Brother Le to handle when we return."

Shi Chengdong paused slightly before speaking, feeling somewhat uneasy.

(End of this chapter)