Chapter 23

Seeing Amu's expression, Tieyun smiled and said:

"The so-called spirit coins are refined from special spirit stones. Spirit stones are essential for cultivators, but despite their benefits, carrying too many of them, even in a storage bag, can be inconvenient. Therefore, someone refined spirit coins to exchange for spirit stones. These spirit coins are divided into three grades: copper, silver, and gold. One copper spirit coin is equivalent to a hundred spirit stones, one silver spirit coin is equivalent to a hundred copper spirit coins, and one gold spirit coin is equivalent to a hundred silver spirit coins, or a million spirit stones."

"Such a magical thing exists." Amu took the storage bag from Tieyun and saw two jade bottles and several dozen round spirit coins with a copper hue inside, each about an inch in diameter, truly convenient to carry.

"However, copper spirit coins can only be used for transactions and cannot be absorbed like spirit stones to convert into cultivation energy. Only silver spirit coins and above can be directly absorbed. But even silver spirit coins are limited in our Beihan Sect, let alone gold spirit coins. If you need spirit stones, you can go to the spirit coin bank in the cultivation world."

"Eh? Spirit coin bank!" Amu was taken aback, thinking to himself, "Isn't this just like a bank in the modern world? Hehe!"

At that moment, Amu understood the relationship between spirit coins and spirit stones.

"Those two bottles of pills are both初级丹药 for nourishing essence and cultivating the foundation, suitable for you. For detailed usage, you can ask Lishui." Then, Tieyun took out a spirit talisman and handed it to Amu, saying:

"This is my summoning spirit talisman. In the future, if you have any trouble, just focus your mind, and the talisman will summon me to the Beihan Sect instantly. This talisman can be used three times, and it will dissipate after the third use. Keep it safe, just in case."

Amu knew that he possessed the Qiankun如意 Bracelet and a considerable amount of spirit coins. When Tieyun saw Zhao Xian and others causing trouble for him, he was likely worried about any accidents, so he gave him this spirit talisman to summon him at any time. Amu felt a wave of gratitude.

Amu took the spirit talisman and put it, along with the spirit coins and pills, into the Qiankun如意 Bracelet, saying, "Thank you, Senior Brother Tieyun!"

Then, Amu handed the storage bag to Lishui, saying, "Senior Brother Lishui, you can use this to store things, it's very convenient!"

This storage bag is only possessed by novice cultivators. Although it is not a magical treasure, it is a type of magical tool. Lishui usually envied it but never dared to hope for it. However, he didn't expect Amu to casually give him the storage bag. Although Lishui did not have a celestial root, he had practiced the Root Nourishing Technique and could control the storage bag.

Lishui glanced at Tieyun, seeing that he had no objections, and then took the storage bag from Amu, feeling pleasantly surprised.

"Thank you, Uncle Tieyun, and thank you, Junior Brother Amu!"

Amu smiled, and Tieyun nodded slightly. Perhaps out of affection for Amu, Tieyun, who usually did not discriminate against Lishui but also did not particularly like him, now felt a bit of fondness for Lishui. He sighed inwardly, "Lishui has been on the mountain for over ten years, doing all sorts of chores just to survive, often being bullied. It must have been very hard for him. If he can become friends with Amu, and Amu achieves success in cultivation, Lishui will have a reliable support."

After everything was settled, Tieyun said to Amu, "I've given you everything. I'll come back in two days to take you to Luoyun Cliff for cultivation."

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Amu clasped his hands in gratitude.

"No need to be so formal, but Amu, I have one more thing to say!"

Amu quickly replied, "Senior Brother, please speak your mind, I am all ears."

Tieyun nodded and said, "Zhou Yunji did not have the intention to kill you; he was mostly just trying to humiliate you, using only one or two layers of his power. This allowed you to rely on the Qiankun如意 Bracelet to repel him. But if it were someone else, even a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, let alone a beginner, if they were serious, they could take your life as easily as turning over a hand. Even with a spirit treasure in hand, you wouldn't have the chance to use it, and you would be instantly killed. Do you understand?"

Hearing Tieyun's words, Amu knew he was giving him good advice. He said, "I was rash just now. I will be more careful in the future."

"Against such high-level cultivators, do not engage in battle. Retreat if you can. Fighting is not wise; losing your life means losing all opportunities!" Tieyun added.

"Senior Brother's teachings, I will remember!" Amu nodded, thinking to himself, "Senior Brother Tieyun's words are all wise. I was really impulsive just now. If the other party wasn't a fellow disciple and didn't have the intention to kill, I would have been in real danger."

Seeing Amu humbly accept his advice, Tieyun was very pleased. He then clasped his hands in farewell and left, riding the wind.

Left with only Amu and Lishui, Lishui said to Amu, "Amu, I caused you trouble!"

"Ha ha!" Amu laughed, "We are brothers, why say such things."

Lishui nodded heavily. After today's events, Lishui knew that Amu truly considered him a brother. In his heart, Lishui silently vowed to live up to Amu's friendship and repay him in the future, though he didn't know how he could do so.

"Against those who bully you, only being strong can prevent bullying. I think Deng Yan, Zhao Xian, and others will not dare to come to this courtyard again. If they bully you in the future, we will directly tell Senior Brother Tieyun. Such people should be dealt with directly!" Amu said.

Lishui nodded and looked at Amu, smiling, "Your white robe is a pity. I'll get you another one tomorrow!"

Amu saw his white robe with the sleeves cut off and couldn't help but laugh. Then, he thought for a moment and took out the two jade bottles that Tieyun had left in the Qiankun如意 Bracelet.

"Senior Brother Lishui, take a look at what these pills are!" Amu handed the jade bottles to Lishui.

Lishui took the jade bottles, opened them, and saw a green pill in one and a red pill in the other.

The two pills emitted a fragrant aroma, refreshing the mind and lungs.

"The green one is a Root Nourishing Pill, which can help cultivators increase the chances and quality of cultivating a celestial root. The red one is a Qi Recovery Pill, which can help cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage recover their cultivation energy. These are all excellent low-grade spirit medicines, and ordinary disciples can hardly obtain even one. Each bottle contains twenty pills, worth several dozen copper spirit coins. It seems the Sect Master is really taking good care of you," Lishui said enviously.

"Oh! Root Nourishing Pill, Qi Recovery Pill!" Amu was surprised that Lishui could identify the pills in the bottles and seemed quite familiar with their properties.

"Senior Brother Lishui, I didn't expect you to have such knowledge. No wonder Senior Brother Tieyun told me to ask you!"

Lishui shook his head and smiled bitterly, "What's the use of knowing? Without a celestial root, even if I know a thousand techniques, I cannot cultivate. Knowing more about pills won't help me refine them. I still end up sweeping the floor and being bullied."

Lishui's words were quite sad. Without a celestial root, everything is meaningless.

Amu sighed for Lishui. He could see that Lishui was actually very intelligent, but after ten years in Beihan without cultivating a celestial root, he had been neglected and suffered many setbacks, forming his current timid and fearful personality.

"Senior Brother Lishui, if you can't cultivate a celestial root, does that mean you can't become a cultivator?"

"Of course. Without a celestial root, it's impossible to be a cultivator! I have read all the books in the Tianzang Cave and even had the chance to ask the head of the Tianzang Cave. The first requirement for cultivation is to cultivate a celestial root. Without a celestial root, it's impossible to become a cultivator."

Hearing Lishui's words, Amu felt a bit disheartened. Perhaps this is fate. Many things in the world cannot be changed.

"By the way, Senior Brother Lishui, now that I have spirit coins, what can I do with them?" Amu changed the topic, which had become a bit heavy.

"Spirit coins are very useful; you can buy anything, whether in the cultivation world or the secular world." Lishui said, "Your spirit coins can buy many good things! But for now, you don't need anything. If you really want to buy something, I can take you to the market at the foot of the mountain in a few days."

Amu nodded and asked, "One copper spirit coin is worth a hundred spirit stones. Is that very valuable?"

"Of course, it's very valuable. It's said that a high-quality flying sword or magical tool for a beginner cultivator is worth only three to four copper spirit coins."

Amu thought it was quite good, but he was still far from the beginner stage, so these copper spirit coins were not very useful to him.

The two chatted for a while longer, and Lishui explained in detail the various peaks and caves within the Beihan Sect and some miscellaneous matters.

Amu gained a better understanding of the Beihan Sect. The four main peaks of Beihan were dedicated to the path of cultivation. The four caves of Beihan were each located on a peak, but they had different responsibilities within the sect. Their techniques were slightly inferior, but they were specialized.

The Qianyun Cave was in charge of refining various magical tools. The Tianzang Cave was responsible for collecting, organizing, and protecting the various techniques of Beihan. The Zixue Cave was in charge of pills and spirit herbs. The Wanling Cave was responsible for spirit stones and spirit coins.

Each cave had its own responsibilities, and none could be missing. The Beihan Sect had a rich heritage of nine thousand years.

After Lishui left, Amu meditated for half a day, feeling that the spiritual energy in his body had become more abundant. Threads of spiritual energy gathered at the dantian, but it was still far from being able to cultivate a celestial root.

It wasn't until Lishui came to deliver dinner that Amu stopped. The day passed, and Amu waited quietly for the day he would enter the Luoyun Cliff's Number One Cave for cultivation.

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