Chapter 182: Chapter 180: Supervisor Elder

The hidden characteristic of the Fire Dragon Returning Essence Scripture was its ability to improve a cultivator’s Fire Spiritual Root talent.

With each layer of advancement, it provided a slight boost, but this effect only applied to the Fire Dragon Returning Essence Scripture itself; it was useless when practicing other cultivation techniques.

Only when the cultivation of this technique reached Perfection would it shed the false and reveal the true, genuinely causing a qualitative transformation in one’s own Spiritual Root.

It would surpass a Dual Spirit Root Talent, achieving over half the effectiveness of a Fire Element Celestial Spiritual Root, and this enhancement would apply to all future Fire Element techniques and magic.

These Acquired talents—those who improved their own aptitude by practicing top-level cultivation techniques or consuming Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to reach or approach the level of a Celestial Spiritual Root—were known as Inferior Celestial Spiritual Roots.

The main difference was that such Spiritual Roots, at most, possessed the cultivation speed of a Celestial Spiritual Root. But because they were not naturally formed and not favored by nature’s spiritual energy, they lacked the miraculous ability to progress smoothly and without obstruction all the way to Core Formation.

For Bai Zichen, just being able to increase his cultivation speed was good enough.

During the Foundation Establishment Stage, he could still rely on elixirs to close the cultivation speed gap with Celestial Spiritual Root and Abnormal Spiritual Root cultivators, but later on, Spirit Pills that could advance one’s cultivation would become increasingly difficult to find.

With his mere Three Spiritual Roots talent, it was very likely that just cultivating to the peak of the Early Core Formation Stage would take a hundred years.

This was something he absolutely could not tolerate.

Outside the White Jade Tower, a lush bamboo forest had grown to completely encircle the Spirit Land.

Looking out at the distant mudflats, he saw several disciples digging for tortoise eggs, hoping to find a few to take back and hatch as their own Spirit Beasts.

After all, they were descendants of that Tier Two Peak thousand-year-old tortoise. Their potential was considerable, making them excellent Companion Spirit Beasts for Qi Refining Disciples.

"It really feels like ages have passed, like the seas have turned into mulberry fields..."

After five years in seclusion, Bai Zichen found that his own mentality had changed somewhat.

He was not yet forty years old, so five years was more than an eighth of his life. It was perfectly normal to feel such a sentiment.

’No wonder those Nascent Soul Old Monsters are all so cold and heartless, not even necessarily placing much importance on their own descendants... One session of seclusion, and they might emerge to find a whole new generation has passed. How much of a bond can you even form?’

Bai Zichen began to understand why those seniors often left their treasures to their direct lineage disciples rather than to descendants with whom they only shared a bloodline.

A disciple one spent every day with, one who could inherit their teachings, perhaps represented their legacy and continuation far better than a descendant they might only see a few times in their entire life.

Of course, if there were clan members among the younger generation with outstanding talent who were worthy of being nurtured, that was another matter entirely.

Bai Zichen slapped his storage pouch, and a willow leaf slid into his palm. With a flick, it swayed in the wind and transformed into a clear Sword Light, flying out from Feiyue Lake.

After repairing the Willow Leaf Sword with Sword Tempering Spirit Water, he had only performed a cursory refinement. He had been in seclusion for his cultivation and hadn’t yet used these spoils of war.

As a Tier Two Flying Sword, the Willow Leaf Sword’s quality was a notch slightly above that of the Celestial Xin Sword and the Sound Bamboo Sword.

This was evident from the fact that Meng Shigui, who also possessed a Celestial Xin Sword, had kept it as a backup while constantly wielding the Willow Leaf Sword.

This Willow Leaf Sword was a replica inspired by the Tier Three Formless Sword. Due to its innate tier, it couldn’t match the original, which was silent and traceless, formless and shapeless, and could appear and disappear at its wielder’s will.

However, it had captured some of the Formless Sword’s essence and could conceal its tracks, making it a first-rate assassination sword.

The Celestial Xin Sword was far inferior in comparison.

This was clear even from its normal Sword Light—it was clear and faint, very low-key, casting only a pale shadow under the sun’s rays.

When he fought Meng Shigui, if he hadn’t been practicing the True Enlightenment Sword Technique, which allowed him to achieve a Heart Like a Bright Mirror and perceive the entire battlefield in his mind, he very likely would have fallen for the Willow Leaf Sword’s sneak attack.

’With this sword in hand, the Celestial Xin Sword can be relegated to a backup role... The Sound Bamboo Sword has the advantage of being resistant to damage, and together with Jade Sound, it’s perfect for attracting the enemy’s attention, creating more opportunities for the Willow Leaf Sword to shine.’

「In the blink of an eye, Bai Zichen had arrived outside the Mountain Gate.」

Countless Loose Cultivators swarmed about, forming a long queue outside the Mountain Gate, the atmosphere abuzz with excitement.

’It’s time for the Mountain Gate to open wide and recruit new disciples again... Time really flies!’

Bai Zichen had experience with this, so of course he understood what these Loose Cultivators were doing.

In Black Mountain, the prospects for Loose Cultivators were limited. Aside from the Five Mountains True Man, there were no other famous Loose Cultivators.

Even the Five Mountains True Man had obtained his fortuitous encounter in another province, reached the Golden Core realm, and only returned to his homeland in his later years to live out the remainder of his life.

If they joined a Cultivation Family as Guest Elder’s Disciples, they would never be treated as one of their own and would certainly never have access to the truly useful legacy techniques.

It was merely a transaction: selling their skills in exchange for some Cultivation Resources.

Establishing their own Loose Cultivator Clan was exhausting and troublesome, with far too many aspects to manage. They would also have to worry about whether their children and descendants would be born with a Spiritual Root to carry on the family’s legacy.

In comparison, being able to enter the Qingfeng Sect, even starting as a servant disciple, was far better than struggling outside.

In the past, the Qingfeng Sect’s requirements were strict; not even one in ten applicants was chosen as a servant disciple, let alone as an Outer Sect Disciple.

But in recent years, the conditions had clearly been relaxed, and the number of disciples recruited had multiplied.

This gave the vast number of Loose Cultivators a sense of hope, and the number of applicants this time had soared once again.

"Greetings, Junior Martial Uncle Bai!"

"Greetings, Elder Bai!"

The clear Sword Light descended. The Guest Reception Steward and several Outer Sect Disciples recognized the newcomer and hurriedly bowed in greeting.

"Which Junior Brother is on duty today?"

The sect mission of guarding the Mountain Gate’s Grand Array was assigned on a ten-year rotation, usually handled by Elders who had just reached Foundation Establishment and had not yet been assigned a specific role.

If Bai Zichen hadn’t been assigned to the Law Enforcement Hall early on by Liang Yu, he might also have been stuck with this tedious sect mission.

Guarding the Mountain Gate’s Grand Array involved little more than overseeing the array’s hub on a daily basis; nothing major ever happened.

But it tied one’s feet down, forbidding them from leaving for even a moment. It was no different from being in prison.

"Elder Bai, Elder Longx Qi is guarding the Mountain Gate."

The Guest Reception Steward was extremely respectful, his etiquette as perfect as if he were facing a Palace Master Level Elder.

His position involved greeting and seeing off many people, so he was well-informed. He was naturally aware that several years ago, on his way back from Zengguang Immortal City, this Elder Bai had crossed stages to slay a Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment Tribulation Cultivator with his sword.

Throughout the Sect, everyone was already convinced that while it was hard to say if Elder Bai could achieve Core Formation, in a few decades he would certainly be the strongest combatant beneath the Core Formation Ancestors.

"So it’s Junior Brother Longx..."

Bai Zichen nodded slightly. Longx Qi was a True Disciple from several generations before him who had failed in his attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment before the reclamation war.

Fortunately, he had stopped in time, so the lingering damage to his body was not severe.

After several years of recovery, he cultivated back to Qi Refining Great Perfection and finally succeeded in his second attempt at Foundation Establishment.

It was worth mentioning that Longx Qi’s biological sister was the Sect Elder, Longx Longx.

"Should this disciple inform Elder Longx for you?"

"No need. I have other business. I’ll meet with Junior Brother Longx next time."

Bai Zichen headed straight for the Law Enforcement Hall and happened to run into a group of cultivators coming out of the hall, led by none other than Wei Dao and Liang Yu.

"Senior Brother Wei, Senior Brother Liang."

Bai Zichen hadn’t seen the former Sect Leader in a long time. Wei Dao was dressed in a tall hat and a wide sash, his bearing magnificent, and he looked quite different from their last meeting.

He could sense that Wei Dao stood there as one with the surrounding world. His every move felt completely natural, just as it should be, and the pressure he exuded was somewhat similar to that of the Du Family’s Twelfth Son.

’No, he’s a step beyond the Du Family’s Twelfth Son. There’s clearly no fluctuation of Magical Power, yet there’s a faint pressure... Could Wei Dao have really used a Tier Three Demon Beast Inner Core and become a Fake Pill Cultivator?’

Bai Zichen found it hard to believe that a cultivator with such great hope of reaching Core Formation would make such a choice.

The Qingfeng Sect’s situation wasn’t so critical that it required Wei Dao to sacrifice himself to add one more Core Formation-level combatant.

But this faint, barely perceptible pressure rose from the depths of his heart, giving him an extremely dangerous feeling. It was impossible to tell how many times stronger than Meng Shigui he was.

Even the Du Family’s Twelfth Son fell short in comparison.

’The Du Family’s Twelfth Son is a direct lineage descendant of a Nascent Soul Family and is held in high regard among the Du Family’s younger generation... His cultivation technique and personal treasures couldn’t possibly be inferior to Wei Dao’s. The only reasons for the difference are either the Tier Three Demon Beast Inner Core or that Wei Dao possesses some other Exotic Treasure.’

"Junior Brother Bai, it’s been a while. You look more radiant than ever... Have you reached Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment?"

Even someone as composed as Wei Dao couldn’t help but raise his voice, a look of shock flashing in his eyes.

His current state was between Foundation Establishment Perfection and a Fake Pill Cultivator. Although his Magical Power hadn’t undergone a qualitative change and was still within the scope of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, the strength of his Divine Sense was already approaching that of a Core Formation True Man.

He could tell with a single glance that the fluctuations of Magical Power from his Junior Brother Bai were surging and powerful, a clear sign of a recent promotion.

Although the Sect’s upper echelon had already reached a consensus and held a high assessment of Bai Zichen’s prospects, Wei Dao now realized they had still underestimated him far too much.

How many years had it been, and he was already at Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment.

Even he, with his Abnormal Spiritual Root talent, hadn’t had such a smooth cultivation journey back then; it had taken him a few years longer.

"On my way back, I fought a great battle, overdrafting my Essence Blood and hovering between life and death... After my fortunate victory, inspiration struck and I had an epiphany. I immediately entered seclusion upon returning to the Sect, seized that flash of insight, and successfully broke through the realm."

Bai Zichen’s expression was calm, as if he were recounting the most ordinary of events.

But to the ears of the other Elders, it sounded like a Celestial Book. Finding an opportunity for Breaking Realm from a single combat? How could it be so easy?

They themselves had been stuck at their bottlenecks for anywhere from ten to several dozen years without such an opportunity.

Or if an opportunity did arrive, it was fleeting and erratic, gone in a moment of inattention, and they failed to grasp it even after entering secluded cultivation.

"Good, good, excellent!"

Liang Yu laughed heartily, his expression shifting from shock to elation. "Thunder in your chest, yet your face is like a calm lake... Truly worthy of being the one with the best disposition on the Heart Inquiry Path in the last hundred years of the Sect! Truly worthy of being a Sword Dao genius!"

A strained smile touched the corners of Bai Zichen’s mouth. Senior Brother Liang was praising him too highly, making it a bit difficult to respond.

In truth, he just didn’t consider Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment a big deal in his heart. He knew that as long as his cultivation reached the required level, breaking through was a matter of course.

Naturally, his face didn’t show the same overwhelming, uncontrollable emotion that other cultivators displayed after Breaking Realm.

"I had originally intended for you to take the position of Inspector in the Law Enforcement Hall, but now it seems that position would be an injustice to you..."

Liang Yu’s gaze shifted. Seeing that the other Elders were all shocked by Bai Zichen’s realm—some with stunned expressions, others with smiling faces, clearly intending to get closer—he declared loudly.

"The position of Supervisor Elder in the hall has been vacant for a long time. Why not let Junior Brother Bai take it? Junior Brother Wei, what do you think?"

The Supervisor Elder was the third-in-command of the Law Enforcement Hall, overseeing all charters and presiding over regulations.

Given that the nominal second-in-command, the High Merit Elder, was mainly responsible for presiding over Rituals of Fasting and Sacrifice, the Supervisor Elder’s actual authority was second only to the Hall Master.