Immortality and Cultivation: I Have Too Many Talents

Chapter 634 Phoenix Body Rebirth (Seeking Subscriptions)

Shen Xuan considered himself a man of principle.

He has never done anything against his conscience in his life.

On major issues, we must stand firm on our position.

"I am devoted to the Tao, I am careful in my words and deeds, and I seek to attain immortality through the Tao."

Shen Xuan reflected on his actions during this trip and realized he hadn't made any major mistakes.

He didn't lack the desire to rescue the cultivators and mortals of Fire Cloud Immortal City; he simply lacked the strength.

He alone would find it difficult to contend with just one Demon Winged Roc.

Given his personality, he wouldn't engage in a life-or-death battle unless he was at least 90% certain of victory.

Ninety percent is too little; theoretically, it should be ninety-nine percent.

Every move Shen Xuan made was an invincible victory.

Even if you can't win, you can still escape safely.

However, against a monstrous creature as fast as the Demon Winged Roc, defeat would mean certain death.

He doesn't want to die yet.

His primary principle at all times is to preserve himself.

"When you are successful, you should help others; when you are unsuccessful, you should cultivate your own virtue. I have always been poor."

Shen Xuan sighed softly.

The Demon Winged Roc is devouring human cultivators on a massive scale.

Throughout the entire process, the Nascent Soul True Lord of the Yan Kingdom never appeared.

Shen Xuan vaguely guessed the reason behind it.

But he never accepted it.

"Even if the Demon-Winged Roc has an extraordinary background and outstanding strength, its power is limited when it descends upon the Xuan Yuan Realm. With your abilities, is there any need to fear it?"

"Now that I have achieved the status of a Nascent Soul True Monarch and become a great power of the human race, how can I be without any sense of responsibility, fearing both the wolf in front and the tiger behind!"

Shen Xuan carefully sorted and put away the spoils of war.

Then, a drop of the Flaming Firebird's essence blood was taken out.

"No matter what you say, you can't trust anyone. If you want to make a living in the Xuan Yuan Continent, you can only rely on yourself!"

Shen Xuan silently activated the mysterious jade talisman and the nine-colored lotus.

The mysterious jade talisman flashed with golden light.

The nine-colored lotus blooms in full glory.

The essence and blood of the Fiery Firebird transformed into spiritual mist, which Shen Xuan absorbed into his dantian and merged into the Nine-Colored Lotus.

A scalding heat instantly spread throughout my body.

His entire body seemed to be on fire.

Shen Xuan carefully guarded his spiritual platform and circulated the Primordial Ice Spiritual Power of the Ice Golden Core.

An hour later, the nine-colored lotus shone brightly, completely refining the drop of blazing firebird blood essence.

Shen Xuan's body gradually cooled down and returned to normal.

"What domineering primordial fire elemental power!"

Before my eyes, small golden characters shimmered on the mysterious jade talisman.

[Plunderable Talents: Phoenix Rebirth Body, Blazing Divine Fire, Heaven and Earth Furnace, Fiery Phoenix Feather Robe, Phoenix Cry in the Nine Heavens, Divine Fire Glazed Shield, Nine Heavens Escape Shadow, Divine Phoenix Power, Phoenix Might, Phoenix Dance in the Nine Heavens]

"Indeed, they are descendants of the divine phoenix!"

Seeing the series of phoenix bloodline talents, Shen Xuan was overjoyed.

His risking his life was worthwhile.

Shen Xuan's gaze swept over the various innate skills of the Flaming Firebird.

The bloodline skills of the divine bird Phoenix are all excellent.

Phoenix Body, Fire Attack, Sound Attack, Fire Defense, Escape Technique, Flight, Strength, Intimidation, etc.

All of them are high-level talent skills.

Shen Xuan can use them all.

Unfortunately, he could only choose one of them.

"The Great Dao of Heaven and Earth begins with one. The [Nirvana Phoenix Body] is the most important."

Shen Xuan's original intention was to obtain a fire-attribute spiritual body.

This will lay the foundation for him to condense the Fire-based Golden Elixir in the future.

no doubt.

The Phoenix Body of Nirvana is the best Fire Spirit Body.

none of them.

【Blazing Divine Fire】Although its attack power is very strong.

After all, it's just a kind of demonic fire.

For Shen Xuan, the Dao Body was far more important than the Demon Flame.

"You're the one. I hope you won't let me down!"

After thinking for a while, Shen Xuan finally chose the [Nirvana Phoenix Body].

On the mysterious jade talisman, small, ancient-looking golden characters shimmered.

[Talent: Phoenix Body Rebirth (2/100)]

A single drop of the Flaming Phoenix's essence blood can only provide two skill points.

Therefore, even if he refines all ten drops of essence blood, he will only have twenty skill points, which is not enough to master the basics.

Thinking about it, it makes sense.

In the past, Shen Xuan needed the entire essence and blood of a monster to plunder its talent skills.

The higher the rank of a talent skill, the harder it is to acquire, and the harder it is to advance.

Fortunately, Shen Xuan had anticipated this.

"It's alright, I've saved up quite a few Daoist points."

【Daoyun: 2282296】

A single drop of the Flaming Firebird's essence blood yields a staggering 20,000 Dao Points.

It is similar to the demon core of the Frost Dragon.

"Therefore, the rank of this Flaming Firebird is even higher than that of the Frost Dragon, and it is very close to the fourth rank."

"Two million Daoist Rhyme Points should be enough, right?"

"I also have the Blackwater Demon Dragon's core essence, blood, and reverse scale, which is also a third-tier top-grade divine dragon descendant."

With food in hand, one has nothing to fear.

Shen Xuan's plan was to rapidly improve his fire magic cultivation while continuing to practice ice magic step by step.

It took him eighty years from Foundation Establishment to the condensation of the Ice-based Golden Elixir.

The process of condensing the Fire Elixir is compressed as much as possible into thirty years.

The Fire-based Golden Elixir cultivator caught up quickly, and after reaching a balance with the Ice-based Golden Elixir cultivator, they achieved a harmonious equilibrium between water and fire.

Only after the principles of water and fire are integrated and interconnected can he be prepared to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

……

Three months later.

Shen Xuan finished refining the last drop of the Flaming Firebird's essence blood.

[Talent: Phoenix Body Rebirth (20/100)]

【Daoyun: 2452188】

Shen Xuan stared at the mysterious jade talisman before him, pondering it over and over.

Finally, I gritted my teeth.

"I, Shen Xuan, have come this far because of my unwavering, persistent, and resolute Dao heart."

"Jade Talisman, add some!"

On the mysterious jade talisman, the Daoist aura gradually decreases in units of 20,000.

The skill value of 【Phoenix Body of Nirvana】 increases gradually in units of 1.

Seeing the comparison of the two sets of figures, Shen Xuan actually breathed a sigh of relief.

"Eighty points, 1.6 million Daoist Rhyme Values. I have over 2.4 million, that's enough."

However, when the [Nirvana Phoenix Body] reached 100 points, it got stuck and wouldn't move.

On the other hand, the Daoist Rhyme Value is still decreasing in units of 20,000.

Shen Xuan felt a pang of heartache.

"A mere [Nirvana Phoenix Body] at the beginner stage, what kind of bottleneck could there be? Are you kidding me!"

"Jade Talisman, give it some power!"

Shen Xuan concentrated intently, staring intently at the numbers on the mysterious jade talisman.

In the end, the Daoist essence was depleted to only a little over 100,000 hours.

Shen Xuan's brain went blank.

It was as if it had suddenly exploded.

His entire body suddenly emanated a scorching heat.

[Talent: Beginner's Guide to Phoenix Body Rebirth (1/100)]

【Daoyun: 122628】

"It's finally done."

Shen Xuan was somewhat exhausted.

This high-stakes gamble left him on edge.

Fortunately, the result was good.

At this moment, his body underwent an unprecedented transformation.

Its entire skeleton emitted clear, melodious phoenix-like cries.

The essence and blood in the dantian faintly emitted a magnificent glow like a crimson sunset.

Every inch of skin, every meridian, was absorbing and releasing the fire elemental energy within the secret chamber.

This affinity is not simply about taking what one needs.

Rather, it is a warm resonance and harmony.

Without any deliberate guidance, the raging fire elemental energy became exceptionally docile, joyfully merging into his body.

At that moment, a massive flood of information rushed into his mind.

"Is it memory inheritance?"

Shen Xuan was momentarily dazed.

Vivid and lively memories surfaced in my mind.

The world was vast and chaotic.

He "saw" himself curled up inside a giant egg wreathed in golden flames.

After regaining consciousness, it gathered its strength, used its beak to peck open the eggshell, breathed in the fresh air of the world, and felt the warmth of the sun.

However, he lost his protection from the moment he was born.

He lived alone in a wild and chaotic world.

There are great demons plucking stars and howling at the moon, there are magical beasts shattering the void, and there are even thousand-foot-tall demon gods that shake the heavens and split the earth, stirring up the wind and clouds, and sweeping across the wilderness...

He trembled, relying on instinct to control the fire elemental power.

Initially, it could only spew out a few sparks to catch some low-level demonic insects to fill its belly.

Later, step by step, I grew up and became stronger.

It can draw upon the sun's true fire to temper its feathers.

It can guide the fire spirits of heaven and earth to burn the opponent.

Various strange flames can transform into different forms at his will.

In the end, he became stronger.

For him, controlling fire was no longer a spell, but an instinct as natural as breathing and walking.

Shen Xuan slowly opened his eyes.

Deep within his eyes, a flame of rebirth burns eternally, quietly.

He gently raised his finger, and with a slight thought, a wisp of pure crimson-gold flame leaped from his fingertip, lively and gentle.

"I see……"

He seemed to have just woken from a long dream.

In my dream, I am a tiny descendant of a phoenix.

Various methods of controlling fire flooded his mind.

Unfortunately, I can't remember most of them clearly.

All that remained were some rudimentary fire-controlling techniques.

A sudden realization flashed through Shen Xuan's mind.

Divine thoughts moved slightly.

The physical body was transformed into the [Nirvana Phoenix Body].

Evolving from the phoenix's rebirth, they comprehend the way of transforming the divine fire of heaven and earth, constantly growing larger and stronger, and ultimately ascending to the throne of the divine bird.

"So, the [Nirvana Phoenix Body] is not merely a fire spirit body, but rather a naturally endowed spiritual bird body of the divine phoenix descendant?"

Shen Xuan opened his mind and suddenly understood.

It's not just about fire control.

The various innate skills of the divine bird Phoenix can be quickly learned and mastered.

What he glimpsed was merely a fragment of the phoenix descendant's growth.

"If I were to fuse the bloodlines of the two great true spirits, the Divine Dragon and the Phoenix, and temper my physical body to its limit, I should be able to contend with the Nascent Soul True Monarch and the Demonic Infant Demon Ancestor."

……

A few days later, early in the morning.

A magical light flashed at the port of Starshine Island as a Qingyun Sect spaceship slowly docked.

Shen Xuan personally stood at the port dock to greet them.

Beside him were Master Weichen Zhuang Xueqin and Master Lingzhi Lin Zhongyue.

The sect's spaceship opened, and Master Changchun emerged with three young disciples.

Shen Xuan quickly went to greet him.

On that day, a banquet was held in the Ice Cave, with fragrant spirit wine and plump spirit fruits, to welcome Master Changchun and his disciples.

Shen Xuan, Qin Yuehan, Zhuang Xueqin, and Lin Zhongyue were extremely polite and respectful to Master Changchun.

This scene made Changchun Zhenren's three disciples feel proud. You see, the others might not have felt the same way.

After all, he was only a fake Core Formation cultivator, and his status and position were not as high as his master, Master Changchun.

Xuanbing Zhenren is a Golden Core cultivator of ice magic in the Qingyun Sect, ranking third in the sect, only below Mizong Zhenren and Lingjian Zhenren.

When facing Master Changchun, Shen Xuan addressed him as his senior brother, and his words and actions were quite respectful.

This time, Master Changchun came at Shen Xuan's invitation.

At the banquet, the guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely, and the atmosphere was lively.

Master Changchun had white hair and beard, a ruddy complexion, and a gentle, mellow aura.

Despite his advanced age, he is still full of energy and appears even more spirited than before.

After the banquet, Shen Xuan met with Master Changchun alone.

Shen Xuan sent a subordinate to the Qingyun Sect to deliver a message, only giving a general outline: inviting Senior Brother Changchun to visit Xinghui Island and to help transplant and cultivate some spiritual plants.

In the secret chamber, Shen Xuan took out the root of the thousand-year-old phoenix tree and asked Master Changchun to appraise it.

Master Changchun watched for a while, then stroked his beard and smiled.

The two chatted happily.

Changchun Zhenren praised the environment of Xinghui Island.

The next day, at dawn, the first rays of sunlight appeared.

Shen Xuan, along with Changchun Zhenren and others, arrived at the foot of the Purple Cloud Tree.

This is the core of the main spiritual vein of Starshine Island.

Today, the Purple Cloud Tree stands a hundred feet tall, shimmering with a faint purple aura under the sunlight, its branches shrouded in mist, lush and verdant.

Master Changchun found a suitable transplanting site more than ten miles away from the Purple Cloud Tree.

"This place is also a node of spiritual veins, with abundant spiritual energy, which is compatible with the properties of phoenix tree wood, making it an excellent choice."

After a careful examination, Master Changchun stroked his beard and spoke.

Upon hearing this, Shen Xuan took out the roots of a thousand-year-old paulownia tree, its roots gnarled and twisted.

"Thank you for your help, Senior Brother Changchun!"

There's no need for formalities between us!

Changchun Zhenren accepted the root of the paulownia tree.

Under his command, his three disciples simultaneously exerted their strength, each using their magical treasures, to dig out a spiritual cave.

Then, Master Changchun made a hand seal, and a stream of emerald green spiritual energy shot out from his fingertips, enveloping the roots of the phoenix tree and flying into the newly dug spiritual cave.

Three disciples carefully covered the soil with the carefully prepared Five Elements Divine Soil, and then slowly poured it with the millennium-old spiritual milk from the jade bottle.

After the roots of the parasol tree enter the soil, they blend with the earth's spiritual energy, emitting an extremely subtle chirping sound, full of vitality.

Shen Xuan scanned the area with his divine sense.

They discovered that the roots of the phoenix tree were extending deep into the spiritual vein, sprouting tender new roots and branches.

Some new buds began to sprout on the surface.

"As expected of Senior Brother Changchun, even a piece of withered wood can be brought back to life in Senior Brother Changchun's hands, and old trees can sprout new buds! Xuanbing is impressed!"

Shen Xuan smiled and complimented him.

Afterwards, everyone returned to the Ice Cave to rest.

Shen Xuan and Changchun Zhenren met alone in a secret room.

"Senior Brother Changchun, to be honest, the Wutong Immortal Forest is just a small matter. I would like to ask for your help to awaken the intelligence of the Ziyun Tree."

After pondering for a moment, Master Changchun slowly said, "When I transplanted the Purple Essence Tree for my junior brother, I guessed that he had this intention."

"A top-grade third-tier divine wood, extremely rare. If it could be awakened to intelligence, it would be a great help to my junior brother."

"I have devoted my life to studying the art of spiritual plants. In my view, all things have a spirit and can be enlightened. The records in the classics are nothing more than these few."

"The most common method is the natural accumulation of plants. They absorb the essence of the sun and moon and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and things naturally fall into place. However, this method takes the longest and depends on the luck of the plants."

"The fastest way is for plants to be enlightened by a powerful person. They may explain the Dao or nourish them with precious treasures, which can greatly shorten the time required."

"Of course, there are also some demonic cultivation methods. For example, the method of soul devouring, which plunders the essence of living beings and sacrifices it to plants. This method has endless consequences, and plant demons that have gained intelligence are inherently violent."

"Besides these, there are some legendary paths, such as gaining enlightenment through merit and witnessing cause and effect. These require great opportunities and cannot be forced by human effort."

After listening, Shen Xuan pondered for a moment.

He took out a jade box and gently opened it.

The room was filled with fragrance, which refreshed the mind and spirit.

Inside the jade box was that very Seven Hearts Bodhi.

When Master Changchun saw this, he looked surprised.

After a long silence, he sighed and said, "Junior Brother Xuanbing actually possesses such a treasure!"

"Senior Brother Changchun, can this Seven Hearts Bodhi nourish and enlighten the Purple Essence Tree?"

Master Changchun examined it repeatedly, then said thoughtfully, "Plant and tree spirits are rare to begin with. This kind of treasure must theoretically be useful. Junior Brother Xuanbing is truly generous!"

"No, it was just good luck, a lucky find."

“Junior Brother Xuanbing, if you use this item as a guide and frequently expound the Great Dao to him, you might be able to shorten the time it takes for him to develop sentience. There are rumors that you have a past connection with the Purple Essence Tree King of the Wilderness Plains, that you share the same origin. Why don’t you go and ask him?”

"Isn't this why I consulted Senior Brother Changchun first? Senior Brother Changchun is highly skilled, how could I, a junior brother, go to such lengths instead of seeking help from someone closer to me!"

Shen Xuan said with a smile.

He invited Master Changchun to visit the other two spiritual gardens in the Ice Cave.

First, we went to see the magic gourd and spirit vine.

Upon opening the barrier, a large spirit-locking array enveloped the area, with a thick stack of high-grade fire spirit stones placed at the array's core.

In the center of the formation, a magical gourd vine meandered and climbed, its tendrils as thick as a child's arm, its leaves plump and shimmering with a lively red light.

Only a gourd-shaped embryo has formed on top, its entire body is bright red, and it exudes a scorching heat.

Previously, Master Changchun had instructed Shen Xuan on how to cultivate this magical gourd vine.

Originally only seven feet long, it was surrounded by multicolored spiritual light.

At this moment, it grew to a length of four zhang (approximately 13 meters), and its five-colored spiritual light turned into red light.

Master Changchun watched intently for a while.

"Hmm, Junior Brother Xuanbing's gourd vine is growing well, it must be a true fire gourd without a doubt."

"Senior Brother Changchun, is there anything unusual about this magical gourd vine?"

"It's fine. It's just that it's growing a little too fast."

Master Changchun smiled and said, "Junior Brother Xuanbing, there's no need to rush."

"Xuanbing understands."

He understood what Changchun Zhenren meant.

The gourds on the magical vine are about to ripen; let nature take its course.

It's best not to use any methods to force ripening.

Shen Xuan then brought Changchun Zhenren to the vicinity of the Spirit Pool.

The spirit-locking array here is an ice spirit array, exuding a chilling aura.

Beside the Spirit Pool grows a forest of Frosty Cold Soul Spirit Tea.

There are thirty-two sacred tea trees here.

In eight years, he grew to be over ten feet tall.

Shen Xuan spent a fortune to cultivate the Frosty Cold Soul Spirit Tea Tree.

It not only consumes high-grade ice spirit stones to provide ice spirit energy using the Spirit Locking Array.

They also used the Demon Wood Sect's secret method of stimulating the growth of demon wood to bury hundreds of thousands of Burning Heart Demon Butterfly corpses under the Spirit Tea Tree.

Although only eight years have passed.

These frost-covered, cold-blooded teas are nearly a century old.

The tea tree's branches are as hard as iron, its leaves are crystal clear, covered with frost-like white dew, and filled with wisps of cold air.

Today, each of the Frosty Cold Soul Spirit Tea Trees can yield about one pound of spirit tea leaves.

Master Changchun knew when these spiritual tea trees were planted.

He glanced at it briefly and could naturally tell that Shen Xuan had used a method to accelerate ripening.

However, these Frosty Cold Soul Tea Trees are full of vitality and have no trace of demonic energy or bloodshed.

This secretly amazed Master Changchun.

Shen Xuan asked, "Senior Brother Changchun, are there any abnormalities in these Frost-Cold Soul Spirit Tea Trees?"

Master Changchun shook his head.

“Junior Brother Xuanbing is very fortunate; these Frostbite Cold Soul Spirit Tea Trees are growing very well.”

"Hehe. Although it's growing well, it's too expensive, and I can't afford to keep it."

“These spirit tea trees are growing taller and taller. Junior brother, this spirit pool still has its uses. We can’t let them take it all.”

"I would like to ask Senior Brother Changchun for help in moving half of them. Twelve of them will be planted on my master's Cold Jade Peak. The remaining four will be given to Senior Brother Changchun."

Shen Xuan was not lying.

As these frost-covered, spirit-purifying tea trees grow, this sacred land is clearly overburdened and unable to bear the burden.

"what!"

Master Changchun was slightly startled.

Soon, he came to his senses.

"Well, Junior Brother Xuanbing, moving sixteen spirit tea trees is no problem. Why not move them all to Cold Jade Peak?"

“My master, Master Hanyu, has always been lazy, so I would appreciate it if Senior Brother Changchun would take extra care of him.”

Master Changchun understood Shen Xuan's meaning.

Those four frost-covered, cold-blooded spirit tea trees were Shen Xuan's reward to him.

"Then? Senior brother moved away?"

"Thank you, senior brother."

"Hehe, Changchun thanks Junior Brother Xuanbing."

Master Changchun is the sect's best spiritual plant master.

Shen Xuan invited them to Xinghui Island, and since they had made the trip, he couldn't let them do it for nothing.

Master Changchun stayed on Xinghui Island for a few days.

Shen Xuan inquired about the Dragon Bone Fruit.

The Master Changchun told him that he had only seen it in ancient books.

I've heard it's quite effective for demonic cultivators to break through their limits.

If it has been around for a long enough time, it can be used as a Nascent Soul monster.

Shen Xuan then realized what was going on.

No wonder Demon Lord Cuiyun values ​​it so much; it's actually related to Nascent Soul formation.

When Changchun Zhenren left Xinghui Island, he took with him sixteen Liushuang Hanpo Spirit Tea Trees.

Four of them were given to him personally by Shen Xuan.

As they parted, Changchun Zhenren's wrinkles turned into chrysanthemums as he smiled and thanked Shen Xuan repeatedly.

After everyone boarded the sect's spaceship...

One of the disciples asked, "Master, you are so polite to Uncle-Master Xuanbing, did you obtain some treasure from him?"

"How do you know?"

"Master Changchun asked."

The disciple chuckled.

"The four of us, master and disciples, traveled a great distance to transplant the sacred tree for Uncle Xuanbing. Uncle Xuanbing is the richest person in the sect and has always been very generous."

"This time, he gave us nothing. He must have bestowed a great treasure upon Master. Master, please share a little with your disciples!"

"Think beautifully!"

Changchun Zhenren blew his beard and glared.

"With your meager skills, even if you were given the treasures of the Xuanbing Master, you would only waste them!"

Master Changchun was always kind and generous. His personal disciple came from a prestigious family and was already favored, so he wasn't afraid of him at all.

The disciple said with a grin, "Master, show it to me so I can see for myself."

"What's the rush? You'll see when you get back."

"Master, please tell me, what kind of treasure is it?"

Master Changchun scanned his surroundings; the spaceship was filled with disciples of the Qingyun Sect.

He said casually, "It's nothing. I helped Junior Brother Xuanbing transplant some exotic spirit tea trees, and he gave me a few as a gift."

Unexpectedly, all three of his direct disciples looked as if they had seen a ghost.

"Huh? Why are you doing this?"

"No way. Master, Uncle-Master Xuanbing wouldn't be giving you the Frostbite Cold Soul Spirit Tea Tree, would he? And how many?"

The disciple couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"What's wrong? Is there something amiss?"

"no!"

The three direct disciples all shook their heads.

However, the way they looked at Master Changchun was filled with envy.

The disciple asked in a low voice, "Master, did Uncle-Master Xuanbing really gift the Frostbite Soul Spirit Tea Tree?"

"Yes. His spiritual plant garden has limited space, and the spiritual tea trees are growing too fast to fit in all the plants, so he asked me to transplant some to his master, Junior Sister Hanyu. He gave me a few."

"Master, this is a third-tier exotic spirit tea tree!"

"One or two taels of Frosty Soul Spirit Tea costs five thousand sect contribution points to exchange! And even then, it's often out of stock!"

"what!"

This time, it was Master Changchun who was stunned.

"So expensive?"

"What's so expensive about it! Master, you don't know. This Frosty Soul-Cold Spirit Tea can nourish the soul and enhance comprehension. Before breaking through a bottleneck, drinking a few cups will have a significant effect!"

"I see. No wonder it's so expensive!"

Master Changchun suddenly realized, and a warm feeling rose in his heart.

"This Junior Brother Xuanbing is indeed a kind and honest person."

a few days later.

On a small island in Luoxia Lake.

Shen Xuan was on a solemn face as he negotiated with the Purple Essence Tree King.

"Senior Tree Emperor, this is a top-tier cultivation technique that I collected by spending all my wealth and risking my life."

"If you cannot produce a spiritual item of equivalent value, I will have to find someone else to trade with."

(End of this chapter)