Chapter 60: Ren Water Lightning Technique

The Eastern Wasteland consists of nineteen countries.

There are seven major cultivation sects in total: Huitian Valley, Wuxing Sect, Jin Guang Cliff, Shenmu Sect, Liujia Mountain, Hanshan Peak, and Chuixue Palace.

Among these, the Wuxing Sect was originally the dominant force in the entire Eastern Wasteland. However, fifty years ago, after the only Yuan Ying ancestor passed away, the five major lineages split, leading to the formation of Jin Guang Cliff and Shenmu Sect.

But even a lean camel is bigger than a horse, and the Wuxing Sect remains the top force in the Eastern Wasteland.

In the entire Eastern Wasteland, these seven major sects monopolize the supply of Foundation Establishment Pills. Other independent cultivators, cultivation families, or even disciples of small sects must seek these pills from the seven major sects.

Generally, independent cultivators try to directly join one of the seven major sects, becoming disciples. Once they have accumulated enough contributions within the sect, they can exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills.

Cultivation families and disciples of small sects can use valuable resources like spirit stones and spirit medicines to exchange for the pills.

From time to time, the seven major sects release a batch of Foundation Establishment Pills to supply the lower-level cultivation forces.

In addition, the large commercial guilds from the outer regions occasionally leak out some Foundation Establishment Pills to open up the market in the Eastern Wasteland.

The Yun Country, where Nanxi Market is located, was previously a subordinate force of the Wuxing Sect. After the Shenmu Sect split off, it became a border area between the two sects. After several conflicts, each sect supported two cultivation families to control the secular forces and gradually harvest the cultivation resources of Yun Country.

To ensure their absolute position, the two major sects recruit promising cultivation talents with spiritual roots every ten years.

Since the Wuxing Sect was originally the supreme ruler of Yun Country, it has deep roots in the secular world. Whenever a child with spiritual roots is identified, their parents generally send them to the Wuxing Sect rather than the Shenmu Sect.

The leaders of the Shenmu Sect are also very smart. Seeing that they cannot compete with the Wuxing Sect in the secular world, they focus on recruiting independent cultivators. This way, the recruited disciples already have some foundation, saving spirit stones in their cultivation, and there is no need to waste time searching for talents in the secular world.

The only drawback is that the morals of independent cultivators vary, making them less reliable compared to disciples recruited and cultivated from a young age by the Wuxing Sect.

Of course, this does not mean that the Wuxing Sect does not recruit independent cultivators; it just does so very strictly. It is said that independent cultivators must undergo a heart-examining process to ensure they have no ulterior motives.

After Chen Mobai finished reading the introduction to the Shenmu Sect, he also read the introduction to the Wuxing Sect. Comparing it with the records in the water palace, he vaguely understood why Liu Lingpei did not return fifty years ago.

Fifty years ago, the only Yuan Ying cultivator in the Eastern Wasteland, the Wuxing Sect's Hanyuan Old Ancestor, passed away. Subsequently, the Jin and Mu lineages split, leading to intense conflicts.

Liu Lingpei might have been recalled to the Wuxing Sect under such circumstances and possibly met with internal strife, suffering a fatal blow.

For the next twenty years, the Wuxing Sect and the split-off Jin Guang Cliff and Shenmu Sect engaged in fierce battles. This second-tier spirit vein water palace had no value during the war and was naturally forgotten.

"Explained this way, everything makes sense."

Chen Mobai sat in the water palace, summarizing the information he had read over the past few days, including "Introduction to the Major Sects of the Eastern Wasteland," "Distribution of Cultivation Forces in Yun Country," and "Biographies of Cultivators in the Eastern Wasteland." He formed a timeline and analyzed the reason for the current vacancy of the water palace.

"But in the past twenty years, the Wuxing Sect has acknowledged the split of Jin Guang Cliff and Shenmu Sect, and the seven major sects of the Eastern Wasteland have formed a stable structure. This water palace is definitely recorded in the internal archives of the Wuxing Sect. Could they come to reclaim it?"

Chen Mobai thought of another flaw. Liu Lingpei came here to raise fish and plant bamboo mainly to satisfy the appetite of a Golden Core elder.

The Wuxing Sect might not care about this small second-tier spirit land, but what if the Golden Core elder suddenly craved it and remembered this place?

Now, Chen Mobai hopes that this Golden Core elder either died in the internal strife of the Wuxing Sect fifty years ago or was severely injured and needed rest, forgetting about this water palace for raising fish and planting bamboo.

But with this thought in mind, Chen Mobai, who felt safe in the water palace, suddenly felt uneasy.

"This is, after all, a spirit vein of the Wuxing Sect. If they see an outsider occupying it, they will definitely not be pleased. Perhaps I should try to join the Wuxing Sect!"

Chen Mobai had developed some affection for the water palace as his secret base and was reluctant to leave.

However, joining the Wuxing Sect is not an easy task. If he were to undergo the heart-examining process and expose the existence of the Earth Yuan Star, it might trigger a war between the two worlds.

Thinking of the massive casualties recorded in the history of the cultivation sects, Chen Mobai decided to be cautious. To avoid a bloodbath, he would try to join the Shenmu Sect, which is more lenient in recruiting independent cultivators.

"However, before leaving, I should try to open these two side halls. I wonder what's inside?"

After clarifying his short-term goal of joining the Shenmu Sect and his long-term goal of obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill, Chen Mobai stood up and turned to look at the two side halls sealed by lightning techniques.

These two seals have reached the upper level of the first tier, the strongest means of the ninth-layer Qi Practitioner Liu Lingpei.

They are called "Ren Water Lightning Technique."

This is a complementary technique of the Black Water Art, which Chen Mobai learned from Liu Lingpei's cultivation notes in the study.

The old man who died in the water palace was likely Liu Lingpei's disciple, as the complete Black Water Art on his body matched the notes left by Liu Lingpei. The most powerful "Ren Water Lightning Technique" requires the ninth-layer Qi Practitioner level to be cast and was not passed down.

In the cultivation notes left by Liu Lingpei in the study, it is recorded that he once saved a drowning young man nearby, seeing that he had spiritual roots. To free himself from the tedious tasks of raising fish and planting bamboo, he took the young man as a named disciple and taught him the Black Water Art.

The "Ren Water Lightning Technique" is a seal formed by drawing on the spirit energy of the water vein. However, it is not connected to a large array. By persistently attacking it with spirit talismans, the seal's power can be gradually worn down until it disappears.

Originally, Chen Mobai thought that the things in the water palace would eventually be his, so he was not in a hurry. He planned to wait until he reached the later stages of Qi Practitioner and learn a powerful technique to slowly break the seal.

But now, it seems he will have to spend some money to buy powerful spirit talismans or magical artifacts.

One of the side halls, Chen Mobai knows, definitely contains jade bamboo. He wonders if, after fifty years of neglect, it has withered or grown even more lush.