Bright Mirror Stilled Water - Ripples. This was, without a doubt, an incredibly powerful ability.

However, after carefully sensing its effects, Zhong Ming’s expression turned strange.

’This characteristic seems a bit off.’

The reason he felt something was wrong was the skill’s performance—it was too powerful!

Ever since the Dripping Water Clear Sound chimed in Zhong Ming’s Sea of Consciousness, the state of Bright Mirror Stilled Water had constantly enveloped him, allowing him to clearly feel the breath and rhythm of everything around him.

And within Zhong Ming’s Bright Mirror Stilled Water domain, there was no shortage of living things.

Yi Yunya and Orchid, for example.

Because they were not far from Zhong Ming, the Ripples of Water swept over their bodies, reflecting their life statuses, respiratory rhythms, and even fatal weaknesses into his mind’s Sea of Consciousness.

SHIVER...

Cultivators’ five senses were generally sharp, and the feeling of being scanned made both women shudder and look around in alarm.

They instinctively circulated their Magical Power.

This action caused some changes in their breathing and rhythm.

But what felt wrong to Zhong Ming was that the flowing and shifting of their bodies’ breathing, rhythm, and weaknesses were also perfectly mirrored in his mind without the slightest deviation.

’This isn’t the power that the Refinement stage of the Third Realm should have... Everything around me seems alive, constantly feeding me information. This is the level of Minor Achievement in the Fourth Realm!’

’But that’s not right. I’m definitely in the Third Realm...’

Before he could even finish the thought, Zhong Ming realized something.

This made him open his eyes.

The next moment, he took the Clear Sound Spring Stone out from his body.

"Yun Ya, can you hold this Spring Stone for me? I need to test a Magic Technique."

"A Magic Technique?" Zhong Ming’s sudden words made Yi Yunya raise an eyebrow. She quickly figured something out, which made her say with feigned annoyance, "So that disturbance just now was your doing, Young Master."

"Ahem..." Yi Yunya’s question made Zhong Ming flush with embarrassment. "Yes, my Cultivation Technique had a small breakthrough, and I couldn’t help but test it. My apologies."

He apologized not only for startling Yi Yunya, but also because when the mental ripples had swept out in all directions, everything in the vicinity had been reflected in his mind.

Everything.

Having seen things he shouldn’t have, Zhong Ming was naturally a little embarrassed.

Yi Yunya, too, seemed to understand something from his expression.

"Hmph."

It made her let out a coquettish huff, but in the end, that was all it was:

"There’s no need to apologize, Senior Brother..."

With that, she took the Spring Stone and pulled Orchid aside.

Zhong Ming, meanwhile, stood his ground. Assuming a sword-drawing stance, he unleashed the Third Realm characteristic of Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique: Bright Mirror Stilled Water - Ripples.

"..."

Without the treasured Clear Sound Spring Stone, Zhong Ming discovered that unleashing this skill was not so easy.

To make the lake of his mind reflect the breath and rhythm of his surroundings, Zhong Ming needed to calm his Heart Spirit until it was as still as an old well, entering a special state of clarity.

Just achieving this state required Zhong Ming to compose himself for a moment before he could enter it.

Then, he had to condense his Power of the Mind into a water droplet, let the droplet fall, and cause the condensed Power of the Mind to ripple outward in all directions.

PLINK...

He completed this step with ease.

But as the Power of the Mind swept out, Zhong Ming once again noticed a difference.

"The range is smaller. This time, the Power of the Mind only spread eleven meters, a reduction of a full two-thirds."

"What I’m sensing is different, too."

Even without the aid of the Clear Sound Spring Stone, Zhong Ming could still feel the breath and rhythm of his surroundings.

Only this time, Zhong Ming’s perception wasn’t a constant feedback loop.

HUM...

He could only sense the breath and rhythm in the single instant the ripple, formed from his Power of the Mind, swept past everything around him.

’No wonder the Third Realm characteristic is named Bright Mirror, Stilled Water. I can only observe the breathing for a single instant...’

’This is the proper strength for Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique upon reaching the Third Realm.’

...

Although the Third Realm’s Bright Mirror Stilled Water - Ripples only allowed Zhong Ming to sense the breathing of his surroundings for a single instant, it was more than enough for a Swordsman whose attacks were incomparably swift—one who could be said to live and die by a single strike.

Therefore, the strength of Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique at the Third Realm was by no means weak.

However, at this moment, Zhong Ming was in no mood to focus on that.

Gazing at the Spring Stone in Yi Yunya’s hands and thinking about how it had elevated his Bright Mirror Stilled Water - Ripples by an entire major realm, Zhong Ming was overcome with emotion.

’No wonder it’s called a treasure—and an Earth-Level High Grade one at that. It truly is a worldly rarity.’

It could refresh his Divine Soul, increase his cultivation efficiency, and even enhance the characteristics of the skills he acquired... And now, when he used a Magic Technique, the Clear Sound Spring Stone could even amplify compatible ones.

At that moment, Zhong Ming truly felt the value of the Clear Sound Spring Stone.

’This great treasure can save me several years of accumulation!’

The precious and useful Clear Sound Spring Stone gave rise to an irrepressible thought in Zhong Ming’s mind.

’If I could obtain a few more treasures like this, could I, like some of those peerless geniuses, achieve Foundation Establishment within a hundred days?’

After a quick calculation, Zhong Ming realized, ’There’s a chance, a real chance! As long as I can get enough treasures, my cultivation speed will soar.’

’So, there’s only one core problem... How do I get my hands on these extraordinary treasures, born by chance between heaven and earth?’

Thinking this, Zhong Ming didn’t just frown and ponder it alone. Instead, he voiced his question to Yi Yunya:

"Yun Ya, does the Golden Jade Tower have any more treasures like the Clear Sound Spring Stone? How many Spirit Stones would it take to buy one?"

Zhong Ming’s question made Yi Yunya pause for a moment, but she quickly gave him a number.

"Ten thousand."

’Ten thousand Spirit Stones? That’s a lot, but if I go all out, I should be able to save that up in a few years...’

Before Zhong Ming could finish his pleasant thought, Yi Yunya continued, "Ten thousand is the starting price."

"Treasures of Earth Level or higher are never sold directly, no matter where you are. And they certainly aren’t sold to ordinary Cultivators."

As Yi Yunya approached him after he had finished casting the Magic Technique, she handed the Clear Sound Spring Stone back to Zhong Ming and explained:

"You must have a certain status to receive an invitation to compete at a treasure auction."

"An extraordinary treasure of Earth-Level High Grade is already qualified to be a closing-act item. In past years, the auction price has been at least thirty thousand Spirit Stones."

"As for the upper limit, well, even a hundred thousand might not be enough."

"..." The terrifying price, and the fact that it was an item with a price but no market, immediately extinguished Zhong Ming’s ambition. "Say it all at once next time."

Even as he said it, Zhong Ming couldn’t bring himself to be angry with Yi Yunya.

With such a steep price, it was no wonder that a direct descendant of the Yi Family like her had to stake everything just to obtain one.

And after obtaining such a great treasure, she hadn’t even used it for herself.

Such cherished friendship made it impossible for Zhong Ming to speak harshly to her.

Fortunately, she was sensible. Knowing her future was tied to Zhong Ming, Yi Yunya wouldn’t be willfully unreasonable.

After her little joke, seeing that Zhong Ming was serious about acquiring a treasure, she hesitated for a moment before pointing him in a certain direction:

"Senior Brother, a High-grade Earth-level Treasure is simply too precious. If you’re trying to buy one with Spirit Stones, forget about it during Qi Cultivation. Even after you’ve forged your Dao Foundation, it would be difficult to save up enough Spirit Stones before reaching Wind Fiend Unity."

"However, Senior Brother, if you truly wish to obtain such a treasure, it’s not entirely hopeless."

At this, Yi Yunya raised a finger and pointed upwards. "The Golden Jade Tower’s honored guests aren’t just ranked as Earth Level. Above that, there is Celestial."

"Celestial?" Zhong Ming asked. "Can you get a treasure by becoming a Celestial-Level honored guest?"

"Yes." Yi Yunya nodded and explained the situation with Celestial-Level honored guests to Zhong Ming. "Strictly speaking, Celestial Level isn’t just an Honored Guest Elder anymore. It’s for local partners, allies, or even supreme geniuses that a Golden Jade Tower branch needs to befriend."

"If you, Young Master, can be rated as Celestial Level, the Golden Jade Tower would have no reservations about gifting you a treasure. You might even have a chance to obtain an Earth-level Top-grade Treasure."

This piqued Zhong Ming’s interest, but he quickly noticed that Yi Yunya’s expression was incredibly grave.

A brief turn of his thoughts and he understood why. "With such a generous reward, the Golden Jade Tower’s Celestial-Level evaluation can’t be easy to get, can it?"

Yi Yunya confirmed, "It’s certainly not easy... The number of Celestial-Level honored guest positions is extremely limited. It represents the face of the Golden Jade Tower, and you must have the ability to handle their problems to become a partner."

"Because of that last requirement, Loose Cultivators and Low-Tier Cultivators have almost no chance of becoming a Celestial-Level honored guest for the Golden Jade Tower."

"Fortunately, our Seven Profound Sect is one of the three major sects in Jade Lake City, so we have some standing in the area. But even so, if you wish to become a Celestial-Level honored guest, Young Master, the conditions are still incredibly strict... You must defeat everyone in the month-end exam, take first place, and be designated a True Disciple by the Seven Profound Sect. Only then will you have a chance of receiving a Celestial-Level evaluation."

"..."

The number one disciple of the current generation in the Seven Profound Sect only had a *chance* of being rated as Celestial Level. The Golden Jade Tower’s standards were higher than Zhong Ming had expected, but upon reflection, it made sense.

As a major power spanning several provinces, the Golden Jade Tower’s overall strength was more than just a notch above the Seven Profound Sect’s.

Moreover, a Celestial-Level honored guest represented the Golden Jade Tower’s prestige; they were its local pillars.

Under these circumstances, it was only natural for them to have high standards.

However, the extreme difficulty did not make Zhong Ming give up.

Those rare and Exotic Treasures born from the Power of Heaven and Earth were just too tempting. Besides:

’First place? That was my goal to begin with.’

"..."

Seeing that Zhong Ming, after learning the requirements for becoming a Celestial-Level honored guest of the Golden Jade Tower, not only didn’t give up but was actually eager to try, left Yi Yunya at a loss for words.

But in the end, she opened her mouth but said nothing, merely watching quietly as Zhong Ming resumed his arduous cultivation with renewed motivation.

It was Orchid who, after Zhong Ming had left, raised an eyebrow and said,

"Young Lady, do you not think Young Master Zhong Ming will take first place in the month-end exam?"

She then added curiously, "Didn’t you say Young Master Zhong Ming has the potential to become the Sect Leader of the Seven Profound Sect? For someone like that, winning first place shouldn’t be difficult..."

SMACK!

Before Orchid could finish, Yi Yunya tapped her with a fan. "Silly girl. Senior Brother having the potential to become the Sect Leader and him losing at the end of the month are not mutually exclusive."