Chapter 138: Chapter 137: Choosing a Spiritual Artifact in the Ancestor Hall

The Ancestor Hall.

After returning to the Sect from Feiyue Lake, Bai Zichen had spent several months in seclusion. He didn’t leave his residence until a notification came through his Elder Token yesterday.

The matter of the newly promoted Elders selecting their Spiritual Artifacts, which had been delayed by the reclamation war, was finally about to take place.

Over the past few months, his main achievement in the study of Arrays was learning two more basic, introductory formations.

’I’ve been to this Ancestor Hall several times, but I never expected there to be a hidden world behind it...’

Bai Zichen followed Qiu Song, bypassing the front hall and the few thatched huts used by disciples attempting to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, and arrived before a circular pavilion.

Upon stepping inside, he discovered a whole new world within.

Inside the pavilion, dozens of Spiritual Artifacts were scattered about, each sealed by a Forbidden array, hovering silently in mid-air.

Seeing so many Spiritual Artifacts at once was quite an impactful sight.

They were mostly Low-Grade Spiritual Artifacts. The few Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifacts present were flawed and had restrictions on their use.

The rule allowing newly promoted Elders to choose a Spiritual Artifact from the Ancestor Hall was less than a hundred years old; it hadn’t existed before.

It was a proposal born from the Sect’s growing prosperity over the last century. The idea was to help new Foundation Establishment Elders transition more quickly and avoid the awkward situation of still relying on Magical Artifacts long after reaching their new Realm.

When Bai Zichen arrived, several people were already in the pavilion. They were all from the same group of new Elders here to select their Spiritual Artifacts.

Among them, he saw someone unexpected.

’Why is he here? How did he become a Sect Elder?’

Among everyone present, Bai Zichen wasn’t the first to reach Foundation Establishment.

However, based on the time of their official appointment as Elders, he was first. According to the rules of the Qingfeng Sect, this made him their Senior Brother.

Of course, that would change if one of the other four managed to reach Core Formation before him and become a Core Formation Ancestor.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Bai."

Su Li’s face was still a little pale; he hadn’t fully recovered from the injuries he’d sustained at Feiyue Lake.

Beside him stood three others: Lan Hong, Liao Changqing, and Liu Anx.

Lan Hong wore a cold expression, her eyes fixed on the Spiritual Artifacts.

Bai Zichen, of course, didn’t take the initiative to greet her. He exchanged pleasantries with the others instead.

Liao Changqing, who had brought the Flying Crane Sect over to join them, had finally achieved his wish. After the reclamation war, he had officially become an Elder of the Qingfeng Sect.

The two of them had fought side-by-side before, so they quickly struck up a conversation.

"Sigh, Senior Brother Zhang looked after me so much during the reclamation. I never thought we’d be separated by life and death so soon..."

Liao Changqing deliberately tried to close the distance between them by bringing up a figure they both knew.

"On the Immortal Path, who can say they’ll make it to the end? Senior Brother Liang has set up a Spirit Hall. Tomorrow marks one hundred days since his passing, a fitting time to go and pay our respects to Senior Brother Zhang."

Bai Zichen’s expression dimmed. He and Senior Brother Zhang weren’t exceptionally close, but they had been fellow sect members who got along well.

Liao Changqing quickly added, "I’ll go too, I’ll go too... Senior Brother Zhang’s passing is a great loss for the Sect. I must go and pay my respects as well."

"Do you know why Liu Anx is here?"

Having multiple Elders appear at Senior Brother Zhang Cong’s Spirit Hall would be a matter of great honor for the Zhang Family’s descendants, so Bai Zichen naturally wouldn’t refuse.

Realizing that Liao Changqing, as a newcomer to the Sect, would be in the most active phase of gathering information, he sent a Sound Transmission to ask the question that puzzled him.

"Senior Brother Bai may not know, but the post-war rewards for the reclamation war have begun to be distributed. The most valuable prize on the list was Monkey Mountain, which possesses a Tier Two Top-Grade Spirit Vein."

Liao Changqing’s expression flickered. He moved a little closer and relayed everything he knew via Sound Transmission.

He had been wondering how to get closer to this new, highly sought-after Elder Bai.

"A Tier Two Top-Grade Spirit Vein is the best kind of Spirit Land you can find outside the Sect... Plus, Monkey Mountain has gentle terrain and a plot of Tier One Spirit Field, at least several hundred acres in size, that has been fertilized by Monkey Demon droppings for a very long time."

"The large forest on the back of the mountain has dozens of types of Tier One Spirit Fruits, all of which the monkeys used to pick to make Monkey Wine..."

"Most importantly, there are twenty-two Tier Two Vermilion Fruit Trees on the summit of Monkey Mountain... They produce a new harvest of Vermilion Fruits every ten years. This is a Treasure Basin that can be passed down for generations!"

Liao Changqing’s eyes turned red with envy. Even at the height of its power, his Flying Crane Sect’s foundation couldn’t compare to Monkey Mountain.

"The Sect put an astronomical price on Monkey Mountain. Even the combined merits of the top three Cultivation Families from the reclamation war weren’t enough to redeem it."

"But the Liu Family made a ruthless decision. They actually donated their complete Artifact Refining inheritance, from Tier One to Tier Three, and had their Clan Elder, Liu Anx, join the Sect directly, becoming an Elder of the Artifact Refining Hall."

Liao Changqing couldn’t help but glance over. A move like this was not something an ordinary clan could make.

A complete Tier One to Tier Three Artifact Refining inheritance like that was far more valuable than a standalone Tier Three inheritance.

Only sects or Cultivation Families specializing in the craft could accumulate such a legacy over several hundred years.

Even when facing destruction and the very survival of their clan, many Cultivation Families would choose to protect their inheritance and refuse to hand it over.

The Liu Family’s action was a do-or-die move, completely tying their fate to the Qingfeng Sect.

"Additionally, the Liu Family will be responsible for tending to the Vermilion Fruit production on Monkey Mountain’s summit, and the harvest will be split fifty-fifty with the Sect. Considering they already ranked first in reclamation merits among all the Cultivation Families, the Sect Leader and several Hall Masters all agreed."

"The matter was reported to the two Ancestors, and with no objections from them, it was settled."

During the reclamation war, the Liu Family had lost one Foundation Establishment Stage Clan Elder and over thirty Qi Refining Clan Members, with twice that number injured.

One could say they had exchanged the blood of their clan members for the number one rank in merits.

"I see. Patriarch Liu is truly a decisive man. He really seized this opportunity."

Bai Zichen finally understood the full story behind Liu Anx’s appearance in the Ancestor Hall.

However, Liu Anx had a dark, gloomy expression. With his clan suffering such heavy casualties, his mood was understandably foul.

"Junior Brothers, you should all be clear on the rules... One item per person. Once you’ve made your choice, please leave. There are no exchanges."

Qiu Song emerged from somewhere, waved his Elder Token at the Spiritual Artifacts in the air, and temporarily lifted the Forbidden seals.

The dozens of Spiritual Artifacts shot off like kites with their strings cut, flying chaotically around the room.

Everyone’s gaze immediately fell upon the few Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

The Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifacts here were mostly damaged or had significant restrictions, making their actual effectiveness similar to Low-Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

But since their grade was higher, they naturally drew more attention when one had a choice.

Bai Zichen didn’t need to hesitate. He immediately locked onto his target.

It was a blood-red pouch, flat and deflated, with its opening tied shut by a silver thread.

The body of the bag was covered in hideous and terrifying patterns. If one sniffed carefully, they could detect a faint smell of blood and a hidden, intense baleful aura.

It seemed completely out of place among the other Spiritual Artifacts.

A Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifact, the Blood Flame Bag.

After being modified by Brother Dai Hui of the Artifact Refining Hall, this Demon Path Spiritual Artifact had retained its grade but gained entirely new and wondrous functions.

He had made a deal with Brother Jin long ago: he would choose this item after reaching Foundation Establishment, and he had already received a bottle of Jade Flame Ice Flower Wine as a deposit.

"Hm?"

Just as Bai Zichen was waiting for the Blood Flame Bag to float toward him, he realized someone else had their eyes on the same target.

Lan Hong manifested a giant, milky-white hand, which carefully maneuvered past the other Spiritual Artifacts as it advanced toward the Blood Flame Bag.

Bai Zichen slapped his storage pouch, and the Sound Bamboo Sword appeared in his hand. A brilliant streak of Sword Light shot out swiftly.

It weaved and twisted through the dense cluster of Spiritual Artifacts, reaching the Blood Flame Bag as if divinely guided, without touching a single other item.

The Sword Light coiled around the ownerless Blood Flame Bag, which twitched twice. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

The next moment, it followed the Sword Light back into his hand.

"You!"

Seeing her target vanish, Lan Hong’s phoenix-like eyes widened in fury. She shot him a vicious glare, her gaze as sharp as a blade.

Bai Zichen, completely unruffled, had already turned the Blood Flame Bag over and begun to study the former Demon Path Spiritual Artifact.

Outmatched in skill, Lan Hong had nothing to say. She turned to another Spiritual Artifact and did her best to grab it with her giant hand of Magical Power.

An incense stick’s time later, all five of them had chosen their Spiritual Artifacts.

Qiu Song waved his Token again. The Forbidden seals on all the Spiritual Artifacts reappeared, and they obediently returned to their original positions.

The five new Elders went to the Ancestor Hall, bowed from a distance toward the ancestor tablets, and each left their mark to confirm their chosen Spiritual Artifact. With that, the matter was concluded.

"Senior Brother Bai, how about I arrange a time for you and Senior Sister Lan to sit down together... She’s not a bad person, really, just a bit hot-tempered."

Outside the Ancestor Hall, Lan Hong let out a cold snort and, without a word to anyone, summoned a colorful cloud and left directly.

Su Li watched her slender figure depart, sighed, and attempted to resolve the conflict between the two.

"There’s no need. I have no conflict with her... The path is long and arduous. We should spend our time on what matters, not on irrelevant people."

Bai Zichen said faintly, his tone cold.

"Don’t you agree, Junior Brother Su?"

’On the path of Cultivation, there are kindred spirits, passersby, and bitter enemies.’

’A Cultivator who needed two attempts to reach Foundation Establishment... the gap between us will only grow wider in the future.’

’If she doesn’t provoke me, we can remain strangers.’

’But if she really schemes against me, it will be a perfect chance to test the sharpness of my Flying Sword.’

Su Li gave a bitter smile, cupped his hands in farewell, and left.

’I wanted to be a peacemaker, but it seems I don’t carry enough weight.’

He sensed the cold detachment in Bai Zichen’s words and decided not to meddle any further.

His master, Luoo Qiuzhen, had already revealed to him that Liang Yu intended to promote Bai Zichen to be the next Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall.

He had also warned him that this man’s Swordsmanship was superb and that he was destined to become one of the Sect’s top combatants, so it was best to avoid conflict with him.

’I’ll try to persuade Senior Sister Lan one more time when I see her... Whether she listens or not, it won’t have anything to do with me after that.’

Su Li recalled that cold, sharp gaze, as if two Flying Swords were hidden in Bai Zichen’s eyes, making his skin prickle with pain.

He felt more and more certain that making an enemy of such a person was completely unnecessary.

"Senior Brother Bai, from now on, we are fellow sect members... Feel free to visit the Artifact Refining Hall when you have time."

Liu Anx came up to greet him, then turned to Liao Changqing.

"Senior Brother Liao, I have long heard of your renowned Flying Needle Technique. As it happens, the Liu Family has a method for Refining Flying Needle-type Spiritual Artifacts in our collection. Perhaps we could exchange some pointers."

Liu Anx’s abrupt transition from a Clan Cultivator to a Qingfeng Sect Elder was somewhat awkward.

But with the Liu Family, an outside party, having claimed the biggest prize the Qingfeng Sect offered in the reclamation war, there were bound to be some who were jealous.

As a Sect Elder, Liu Anx now had significant responsibilities.

Only by deepening their ties with the Qingfeng Sect could the Liu Family secure a firmer foothold on Black Mountain.

"I couldn’t ask for more!"

Liao Changqing, who had merged the Flying Crane Sect into the Qingfeng Sect, was in a somewhat similar situation to Liu Anx.

The two of them hit it off immediately and chatted happily, seeming to find some comfort in sticking together.