One hundred taels per drop!
Ten drops meant a thousand taels!
This was going to completely drain the modest savings he had worked so hard to scrape together!
No wonder Duan Hongling spent decades struggling in the sect and still couldn't even scrape together the cost of the elixir she needed when she reached the Great Perfection of the Anjin Rank and wanted to break through to the Huajin Rank...
So this is where the bulk of cultivation expenses actually goes!
Shen Xiuhan felt a dull ache in his chest, but he also knew there was no avoiding this expense. Since it was unavoidable, he had to find a way to make every tael count.
So, he gritted his teeth and said, “Senior Sister, I heard that this spiritual spring has a vast spiritual aura and is also wonderfully effective at improving one's constitution...”
He was calculating rapidly in his mind. If he could seize this opportunity to push his constitution to the Seven-Form Constitution, his cultivation speed would skyrocket in the future, making this expense truly worthwhile.
Unfortunately...
Zheng Hongxiu shook her head, instantly shattering his hopes. “It is useful, but it isn't as miraculous as you think.”
“The primary effect of the spiritual spring is to solidify your foundation and accumulate force. Improving your constitution is merely a side benefit.”
“Just look at its name, 『Star-Moon Marrow-Washing Spring』. ‘Star-Moon’ comes first, and ‘Marrow-Washing’ comes second. Isn't it obvious which is more important?”
She paused, then her tone shifted. “However...”
Seeing that she had more to say, Shen Xiuhan's eyes lit up, and he quickly cupped his hands. “Please enlighten me, Senior Sister!”
“I only heard this from First Senior Brother. Just take it as an interesting story.”
Zheng Hongxiu didn't keep him in suspense and continued, “A ten-year-old spiritual spring indeed has limited efficacy in improving one's constitution. However, at the bottom of the lake, within the spiritual spring's eye, there is century-old 『Star-Moon Marrow-Washing Spring』, and even older spring water of even higher vintages.”
“It is said that the Kaiyang Academy Head once refined a single drop of three-hundred-year-old spiritual spring water, forcing his constitution up by a whole form!”
“Oh?”
Shen Xiuhan's heart leaped, and he asked in a hurry, “Senior Sister, how can one obtain this century-old 『Star-Moon Marrow-Washing Spring』?”
“What are you dreaming about...”
Zheng Hongxiu burst out laughing. She tapped her finger toward him and teased, “You certainly are greedy. How precious do you think century-old spiritual spring water is? Even the Academy Heads of the Four Academies don't have enough to share among themselves. How could it ever be your turn? Besides, a portion of it must be paid as tribute.”
“Tribute?” Shen Xiuhan was startled, a look of confusion crossing his face.
“Indeed.” Zheng Hongxiu nodded slightly, her expression turning more serious as she explained in detail, “Most of the annual yield of the Star-Moon spiritual spring is left to accumulate in the spring's eye. However, the batch with the finest quality must be offered as tribute to the Guanhua Sect.”
Hearing this, Shen Xiuhan understood immediately. Only great sects guarded by Xiantian Divine Ability experts could be called a “Sect.”
Years ago, when the Dayang Dynasty collapsed and rival warlords vied for supremacy, the Jiang clan was able to carve a bloody path through dozens of powerful factions, relying precisely on the full support of the upper sects of each province.
After peace was restored to the world, the Qi court divided the vast territories and placed them under the jurisdiction of these upper sects as a reward for their contributions.
Each upper sect occupied an entire province, enjoying the right to self-governance. The taxes, spiritual materials, and treasures of the prefectures and counties under their jurisdiction could all be shared with the imperial court.
And in the entire Qi State, there were only five such upper sects.
The Guanhua Sect!
It was precisely the upper sect that governed Cangzhou's nine prefectures and eight hundred and thirty-two counties.
Among the Four Sects of Nanxiang, except for the Zhenhai Marquis Mansion which held a unique status, the other three sects—including the Star-Plucking Sect—were all subordinate sects of the Guanhua Sect.
Every year, the taxes and spiritual resources collected from each county had to be handed over to the upper sect according to regulations, without the slightest discrepancy allowed.
Even when the ancestors of the Star-Plucking Sect first discovered the eye of the Star-Moon spiritual spring, they did not understand the method of refining it. In the end, they had to seek guidance from the high-stage cultivators of the Guanhua Sect. Only after receiving instructions did they travel far to the 『Ice Limit Sect』 of Beizhou to purchase the cold fire, which eventually led to the creation of today's 『Tingwu Pavilion』.
Back then, Nanxiang Prefecture was not as peaceful as it was today. Demonic scoundrels roamed the land, and war and chaos were everywhere.
With the Star-Plucking Sect possessing such a treasure capable of cleansing marrow and tempering bones, how could it not attract envy? They had endured countless overt and covert schemes and murderous intents.
It was precisely by regularly offering century-old 『Star-Moon Marrow-Washing Spring』 to the Guanhua Sect in exchange for protection that the Star-Plucking Sect managed to secure its foundation in this war-torn region and survive to this day.
Since it is so precious, it seems ordinary methods won't be enough to obtain this century-old 『Star-Moon Marrow-Washing Spring』...
Shen Xiuhan sighed softly to himself, but he was not discouraged. His thoughts spun, and a sudden idea popped into his head.
Blinking, he suddenly asked Zheng Hongxiu a question that seemed completely unrelated: “Senior Sister, does that Kaiyang Academy Head enjoy fishing?”
“Fishing?” Zheng Hongxiu was caught off guard by his sudden question and could barely follow his train of thought. She knit her brows and pondered for a moment before slowly shaking her head. “I have never heard of such a thing.”
Pausing, she added, “In our Star-Plucking Sect, the only high-ranking members who enjoy fishing are the Sect Master and our Academy Head.”
“The Sect Master is a born fish fanatic. As for our Academy Head... it is out of necessity for alchemy; he specifically fishes for Precious Fish to use as medicine.”
“Oh,” Shen Xiuhan replied softly, keeping his face expressionless.
There's probably no hope with the Sect Master... But Master Wen...
His eyes darted around as he secretly suppressed his thoughts. Well, I'll wait until I return from the Blessed Land to think about it!
...
Chiming Island.
An ancient pavilion stood quietly, spiritual light subtly shimmering amidst its upturned eaves and brackets like flowing stardust. This was the restricted area of the Star-Plucking Sect... the 『Tingwu Pavilion』!
The exterior of the pavilion was heavily guarded. Several disciples stood in two rows on either side, their hands resting on the hilts of their sabers, their gazes cold.
Zheng Hongxiu revealed her Tingquan Academy Affairs Token and explained their purpose.
The guard took the token, inspected it carefully to ensure there were no errors, and then pulled out a register to record Shen Xiuhan's name, academy, and the time. Only then did he step aside to lead him into the pavilion.
Stepping into the pavilion, Shen Xiuhan paid one thousand taels of silver to the deacon guarding the place and received a jade plaque.
After counting the banknotes, the deacon gave a solemn warning: “There are others cultivating in the pavilion, so do not make any noise or cause trouble.”
“Once you drop the spiritual spring water into the array device, do not touch it again. Otherwise, if anything goes wrong, you will have to pay for the damage.”
Shen Xiuhan's expression turned serious, and he cupped his hands. “Thank you for the reminder, Deacon.”
“Mhm. Go on, Grade B Room One.”
Shen Xiuhan walked along the deep, quiet corridor. On both sides of the corridor were thick stone walls, with an ever-burning lamp embedded in the wall every few paces.
Before long, he stopped in front of a heavy stone door. Carved on the door were four ancient seal characters: Grade B Chamber One.
Shen Xiuhan presented the jade plaque to the door, and it suddenly lit up with a soft glow.
Immediately, a muffled sound of gears turning echoed as the stone door slid open to both sides, revealing a quiet room about ten feet square.
There was nothing else inside the room. Aside from a futon, there was only a half-man-high stone platform in the dead center, upon which a copper-furnace-like array device was embedded.
The surface of the array device was engraved with dense array lines, and beneath the copper furnace, a wisp of pale blue flame flickered silently.
That was the “Cold-Branch Spirit Fire.”
The air was filled with a peculiar scent of faint spiritual aura intertwined with the cold fire. It felt cool and refreshing, like deep autumn night mist.
Shen Xiuhan took a deep breath and stepped inside.
Behind him, the stone door shut with a heavy thud, completely sealing off all noise from the outside world.
Rate on N.U.
