Chapter 41

"Brother Zhong, are you still awake?" Ning Jie's face flushed slightly, her voice somewhat bashful, and her two slender white hands gently rubbed the clothes on her body.

The intellectual beauty, usually full of scholarly air, now displayed a delicate and girlish demeanor. The stark contrast made her exude an astonishing charm.

"No, no..." Zhong Wen's mouth was dry, and he turned to let her in. "Sister Ning, please come in and talk."

"Um." Ning Jie took light steps into Zhong Wen's room, her delicate nose wrinkling slightly. "It smells so good."

"Little brother was just processing herbs, so the room still has some herbal fragrance." Zhong Wen replied casually. "I wonder what Sister has to say?"

"Brother Zhong, I always find it hard to sleep in a new environment at night." Ning Jie's beautiful eyes, like autumn water, gazed at Zhong Wen, her pupils clear and her lips slightly parted. "So I have a request, I wonder if Brother Zhong can agree to it."

Could she really want to...

Being gazed at so affectionately (as Zhong Wen interpreted it), his heart raced, almost losing control.

Beautiful lady, you are tempting me to make a mistake, I already have someone I like!

Zhong Wen struggled in his heart but stammered, "Sis... Sister, please speak."

"Rustle rustle~"

Ning Jie reached out and shook the pink bundle on her back, scattering a pile of books on the table, covering the entire surface, with two books falling to the ground.

"Brother Zhong, apart from studying ancient divine scripts, I have no other hobbies. My mind is almost filled with questions about divine scripts." Ning Jie held a book and pleaded softly, "You are also a top divine script scholar, I believe you can understand my feelings. Since we have met a kindred spirit, why don't we have a candlelit discussion and discuss our studies together?"

Zhong Wen: "..."

I understand nothing...

Zhong Wen felt a sense of relief but also a bit of disappointment, feeling that his charm wasn't as great as he imagined.

"Sister." Ning Jie's voice became even softer, her eyes showing a pleading look.

"Since Sister has such a refined interest, how can I not accompany you?" Zhong Wen sighed.

Facing a beautiful woman, he still couldn't say no.

As he thought, he began to flip through the ancient books Ning Jie had placed on the table. Suddenly, a book titled "Spirit Devouring Heaven Technique" caught his attention.

He pretended to place his hand on the book casually and closed his eyes.

"Discovered 'Technique' book 'Spirit Devouring Heaven Technique', do you want to record it? Yes/No."

As Zhong Wen silently said "Yes" in his mind, the "Spirit Devouring Heaven Technique" was successfully recorded in the "New Huazang Pavilion" in his mind. Seeing the position of the book, Zhong Wen was almost stunned, his jaw almost dropping to the ground.

Saint Spirit Level!

This was the first time Zhong Wen had seen the highest-level technique in this world. He couldn't suppress his heart's rapid beating, feeling his blood flow faster.

A line of small text appeared on the bookshelf panel:

"First recording of 'Saint Spirit Level' technique, additional lottery reward: 1. Enlightenment (three volumes); 2. Ten Thousand Swords Return; 3. Dragon Seizing Technique."

This additional lottery reward for the Saint Spirit Level was luxurious. Looking at the lottery panel, Zhong Wen instinctively looked around, noticing that the lucky Emperor Cold Frost was not by his side, he disappointedly rubbed his hands and silently said "lottery."

"Congratulations, you have won the reward: Enlightenment (three volumes)!"

Winning three volumes of "Enlightenment" in one lottery, plus the one he hadn't used yet, Zhong Wen now had four enlightenment choices. However, he felt a bit empty, as the other two options seemed very tempting.

"Sister." Ning Jie's pleasant voice pulled Zhong Wen back to reality. "What do you think of this sentence?"

"From my perspective, this sentence means..." Looking at the book in Ning Jie's hand, Zhong Wen patiently discussed with her, occasionally pretending not to recognize some characters to avoid being too conspicuous and arousing suspicion.

Ning Jie, being the top ancient divine script scholar of her generation, had a strong talent for learning Chinese characters. Many times, Zhong Wen just needed to give a slight hint, and she would instantly understand, even extrapolating further, which made Zhong Wen feel a sense of accomplishment. The two, one a cheat and the other a genius, chatted happily and thoroughly.

Ning Jie increasingly felt that Zhong Wen's expertise in divine scripts was unfathomable. After just over an hour of discussion, the insights she gained were more than she had in the past two years of hard practice, making her almost unable to stop. It wasn't until Zhong Wen yawned repeatedly, almost unable to keep his eyes open, that she reluctantly left the room, often looking back, like a couple in the throes of love.

Little did she know that after she left, Zhong Wen, eager to read the Saint Spirit Level technique, was almost on the verge of tears.

"Technique Name: Spirit Devouring Heaven Technique;

Technique Origin: Self-created technique by a Yuan Saint Star Sea Walker;

Technique Characteristics: Can devour the spiritual energy of spiritual objects to enhance one's cultivation, especially effective with spirit crystals, no level-up barriers;

Cultivation Conditions: Before the age of ten."

"Heaven, are you playing with me!" Zhong Wen, seeing the "before the age of ten" condition, was almost in pain.

He wasn't short of Star Spirit Level techniques, but he had never thought of cultivating them, hoping to one day draw a top-level Saint Spirit technique from the "New Huazang Pavilion."

He wanted to cultivate the best technique, which was his small goal.

Finally, he encountered a Saint Spirit technique, thinking he would rise from then on, no longer needing to hide behind the beautiful sisters Lin Zhiyun and Shangguan Junyi, but instead could stand tall and invincible, becoming a giant in the cultivation world. However, this great dream lasted only an hour before it was shattered.

After a while, he recovered from his disappointment and began to read the other twenty or so ancient books he had recorded from Ning Jie.

"Huh?" When he read a book titled "Comprehensive Manual of Cultivation Spirit Patterns," his eyes lit up.

This book described an ancient "Spirit Gathering Pattern" that could significantly increase the concentration of spiritual energy around it, creating the ideal cultivation environment.

However, this "Spirit Gathering Pattern" required a very high energy source. Ordinary spirit crystals would run out of energy in less than half a day, requiring an extremely precious energy source: spirit crystal cores.

Zhong Wen was moved by this. He remembered the room full of spirit crystal cores in the second floor of the Spirit King Valley's spirit crystal storage and the small mountain of spirit crystal cores in his ring.

According to the book, a spirit crystal core is the core of a spirit crystal vein. All the spirit crystals in the vein are formed over millions of years under the influence of the spirit crystal core, gradually transforming from ordinary stones into spirit crystals. In other words, the energy of a spirit crystal core is almost equivalent to an entire spirit crystal vein, making it extremely valuable.

My ring contains so many spirit crystal veins?

Zhong Wen was amazed and secretly delighted.

If someone asked him in the future: Do you have a mine at home?

He could confidently answer: Yes, I have many mines.

If I were to lay out these "Spirit Gathering Patterns" around the Fragrant Flower Palace...

Thinking of the almost tangible spiritual mist in the Spirit King Valley, Zhong Wen almost drooled. He shook his head, temporarily putting aside the spirit patterns, took out a freshly refined "Transcendence Pill," sniffed it, and swallowed it in one gulp...

***

Before dawn, the training hall of the Golden Saber Sect was already filled with the sounds of "Huh! Huh!" as the disciples practiced.

The sect leader, Zheng Gongming, would always wake up early to lead the disciples in practicing the Golden Saber technique.

As one of the major forces in Fufeng City, the Golden Saber Sect's training hall was almost the size of a quarter of a football field. About thirty disciples formed a square formation in the hall, each standing two meters apart, making the space seem very spacious.

After demonstrating the saber technique, Zheng Gongming walked back and forth in front of the formation, observing the disciples' movements with narrowed eyes, occasionally giving pointers.

Zheng Yueying did not practice with the other disciples but found a spot to practice alone. She used a willow leaf saber, which was different from the others, making it hard to practice together.

Among the male disciples, many would swing their sabers while sneaking glances at this beautiful junior sister, their eyes full of admiration.

With Zheng Yueying's appearance and figure, she would be considered outstanding even in the entire Great Gan Empire, let alone in a small city like Fufeng. It's no wonder these young men were smitten.

In the corner of the formation, a fourteen-year-old, frail boy was already drenched in sweat, panting heavily. He gritted his teeth, trying to swing his saber to keep up with his senior brothers, his pale face showing signs of pain. The Golden Saber technique clearly put a significant strain on him.

Qier's talent is truly worrying!

Seeing his frail son, Zheng Qiyuan, Zheng Gongming was deeply concerned. Among the next generation of the Golden Saber Sect, Zheng Yueying had the best cultivation talent, but she would eventually marry and leave the sect.

His only son, Zheng Qiyuan, had been weak and sickly since childhood, with no cultivation talent. At fourteen, he had only just reached the second level of the Human Wheel. Although his fellow disciples treated him politely out of respect for their master, they secretly called him a "useless snack." At his current rate of cultivation, after Zheng Gongming's passing, the position of sect leader would likely no longer bear the surname Zheng.

Zheng Qiyuan seemed to feel his father's gaze and swung his saber even harder, but he accidentally used too much force, and the saber slipped from his hand, flying towards the entrance of the training hall.

Zheng Gongming frowned, about to scold him, but a figure appeared at the entrance, easily catching the flying saber.

"Master Zheng, we meet again." The person was none other than Sai Baiwei from the Silver Ring Guild.

"Executor Sai." Zheng Gongming sensed the malice in Sai Baiwei's tone and felt a slight unease. "What brings you here?"

"Now that the Blissful Gang has been destroyed, I wonder if Master Zheng can reconsider my previous proposal?" Sai Baiwei's words carried a sinister tone.

"I am old and have no ambition for dominance. I can only appreciate Executor Sai's kindness." Zheng Gongming shook his head in refusal.

"Since Master Zheng is unwilling to cooperate and has led your disciples to destroy my former ally, the Blissful Gang." Sai Baiwei no longer hid his intentions. "I am worried that you might help the Shengyu Guild and oppose us, so I must eliminate the Golden Saber Sect, a potential enemy, in its infancy."

Zheng Gongming's face changed, about to protest, but Sai Baiwei's followers, including four Earth Wheel experts, appeared behind him.

"Master Zheng, I know your strength." Sai Baiwei sneered. "Come out."

Suddenly, one of the Golden Saber Sect's disciples, Zhao Tianming, leaped to Zheng Qiyuan's side and placed his saber against the young boy's neck.

"Zhao Tianming, what are you doing!" Zheng Gongming's face changed. Zhao Tianming was one of his most talented and favored disciples.

"Master Zheng, please surrender, or your precious son's life will be in danger." Sai Baiwei's face showed a smug look.

"You despicable man!" Zheng Gongming roared, taking a step towards Sai Baiwei and striking out with his right hand.

A tall and thin Earth Wheel expert stepped forward to block, meeting Zheng Gongming's palm. Both retreated, but the tall man took an extra step, showing he was slightly weaker.

Using the momentum of his retreat, Zheng Gongming suddenly moved two steps to the left, reaching Zheng Yueying's side. He gently pushed her shoulder, saying, "Go to Qingfeng Mountain for help!"

"Father, be careful, I'll be back soon." Zheng Yueying felt a gentle force pushing her towards the small door of the training hall. Knowing the gravity of the situation, she didn't hesitate and ran towards the stables.

Sai Baiwei's face changed. "Catch her!"

One of the four Earth Wheel experts and several followers quickly chased after Zheng Yueying. Zheng Gongming tried to stop them but heard Zhao Tianming shout, "Master, if you don't stop, I won't be gentle with the junior brother."

Zhong Gongming turned to see Zhao Tianming tighten the saber on Zheng Qiyuan's neck, drawing a thin line of blood that trickled down.

"Father!" Zheng Qiyuan, never having experienced such a threat, turned pale and panicked.

"Ah, forget it." Zheng Gongming sighed, slowly lowering his raised right hand, no longer resisting...