Chapter 130: Shimada Takes on a Disciple

Wang Jie stared blankly at the disheveled old man before him, seemingly reluctant to accept such a mentor. He asked tentatively, "Are you going to be my teacher?"

"Indeed. I am an ancestral-level cultivator who has undergone the baptism of nine heavenly thunders. Perhaps you do not yet understand the significance of such a feat, but suffice it to know that my cultivation is the highest existence in the mortal realm; teaching you is more than enough. What, you don't want to be my disciple? Do you have any idea how many people in this world beg to be my student? Don't let my current appearance fool you—it is precisely because there are too many people begging to be my apprentice that I have changed my look like this, so that no one can tell who I really am!"

As Ning Daotian spoke, Wang Jie shook his head repeatedly, casting glances between Xu Cheng and the unkempt old man.

"This elder's cultivation is indeed the most formidable in this mortal realm. You need not worry about anything else; just follow him and practice in peace!" To corroborate Ning Daotian’s claim, Xu Cheng chimed in. He had no desire to take on an apprentice himself, and since Ning Daotian was looking for one, why not do a favor for both?

"Even if I am to follow him for training, I shall still address you as Teacher," Wang Jie said to Xu Cheng with a solemn expression.

"I don't know what kind of luck the Envoy has! What is your name, young man?" Ning Daotian sighed at Xu Cheng before turning his attention to Wang Jie.

"Wang Jie. 'Wang' as in prince, 'Jie' as in outstanding," Wang Jie replied.

"Good, Wang Jie. I ask you once more: are you willing to be my disciple?" Ning Daotian asked again.

After one last glance at Xu Cheng, Wang Jie knelt before Ning Daotian and said earnestly, "Teacher is above, please accept this disciple's kowtow!"

"Good, good, good! My fine disciple, your aptitude is one in a million. Although you have started your path of cultivation late, you will catch up to others sooner or later!" Ning Daotian said, quite pleased. With such a student, in time, he would soar into the sky like a true dragon, roaming between heaven and earth.

"Congratulations to Ancestor Tianji for finding such a fine disciple!" Xu Cheng bowed with hands cupped in the traditional martial arts manner, and Boss Chi did the same.

"Then I am your Senior Sister from now on!" Ning Daocha reached out happily, wanting to welcome her new junior apprentice brother. Wang Jie seemed distracted and did not reach out immediately, but Daocha grabbed his hand, and the two were, for the most part, introduced.

"Envoy, now that matters here are concluded, I shall take my leave!" Ning Daotian said with a slight bow.

"Until we meet again!" Xu Cheng waved his hands.

Soon after, Ning Daotian and Ning Daocha, accompanied by the novice Wang Jie, transformed into a stream of light and vanished. The gathering had come to an end, but Xu Cheng was not without his gains.

"Boss, what are your plans now?" Boss Chi asked.

"I shall continue my journey, but before that, I need to find a secluded place to enhance my strength," Xu Cheng replied.

"A secluded spot, you say?" Boss Chi pondered for a moment before saying, "There is a meditation chamber for my Wudoumi Dao nearby! Follow me."

Xu Cheng nodded, signaling for Boss Chi to lead the way. Passing through the backyard of the tavern, the two went straight into the cellar, where a hidden space lay beneath. Boss Chi traced the air with his hands, revealing a portal. While the facilities were not as well-equipped as the meditation rooms of the Jade Toad Palace elders, it was still a superior space.

"Boss, this is it!" Boss Chi said, pointing to the room ahead.

"Not bad," Xu Cheng nodded in satisfaction.

"Then I shall not disturb your cultivation! I will handle the other matters." Boss Chi must have possessed methods from the Wudoumi Dao to handle the memories of commoners; that was likely why he had dared to reveal his identity so openly that day.

Entering the chamber, Xu Cheng sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion. He silently circulated his profound arts and took out the agate stone. What kind of artifact could be forged from this? It was not particularly large, and it bore a slight resemblance to a human brain.

Brain... At this thought, Xu Cheng’s eyes lit up. Then, he would forge it into a brain!

However, how to place it within his own skull was a challenge. Xu Cheng removed the Moon Wheel from his earlobe and instantly activated the Great Wisdom Seal, contemplating the arcane patterns that allowed for expansion and contraction. Being a product of the Yellow Springs, the sheer number of patterns on the Moon Wheel was unimaginable; without the enhancement of the Great Wisdom Seal, he doubted he could have comprehended even a fraction of them even after years of study.

Ignoring the layers of complex patterns, it took him three days and five nights to finally locate the transformation-type arrays. The rest was simple: first, he inscribed the transformation patterns onto the crimson agate, then he imprinted the Great Wisdom Seal. He wondered if this would allow him to maintain the state of 'Great Wisdom' permanently. If he could sustain that boosted state, his strength would see a quantum leap!

Next were the other patterns, etched along the veins of the agate. He focused intently for two days and nights, and finally, all the patterns were inscribed, including those for the Lesser Five Elements Creation Art.

With a hint of delight, Xu Cheng controlled the stone, shrinking it to the size of a pea. He guided it through his nasal cavity into his skull, then expanded it until it perfectly filled his brain. In an instant, Xu Cheng felt his thoughts become much clearer. It had not reached the level of the Great Wisdom Seal's full boost, but it was still quite significant.

Next was the Merit Golden Light. He originally did not want to convert it into personal cultivation, but the situation was urgent. If he could not reach the Pure Yang Primordial Spirit realm before winter, he would have to wait until next year to undergo his first baptism of heavenly thunder.

The Supreme Treasure Record also held many mysteries, and Xu Cheng had only mastered thirty-six of its talismans. If he could master them all, he would gain additional means at his disposal.

"Eye of the Yellow Springs, Great Wisdom Seal!" Xu Cheng chanted, casting the two wisdom-enhancing spells upon himself. He then combined the Merit Golden Light with his own Green Jade mana to convert them into the patterns of the Supreme Treasure Record.

Thirty days passed, and he finally succeeded in condensing the remaining seventy-two talismans. However, the consumption of his Merit Golden Light was immense; over those thirty days, he had depleted one hundred and fifty thousand points of merit.

"Convert! Convert it all!" Xu Cheng shouted, hoping to seize the opportunity to elevate his cultivation to the Pure Yang Primordial Spirit realm.

Yet, reality did not follow his wishes. All one hundred and fifty thousand points of merit were exhausted to enhance his primordial spirit, but he still could not touch the threshold of the Pure Yang stage. Blindly increasing the strength of the primordial spirit was perhaps not the way!

Unless he changed his strategy. Sparks of wisdom flickered in Xu Cheng’s eyes, bolstered by the Wisdom Seal within his head and his own spell enhancements. Through relentless contemplation, he finally grasped one thing: the meaning of "Pure Yang." When a cultivator first enters the Primordial Spirit realm, the spirit's attribute is essentially "Yin." The stages of moving objects, transforming matter, and eventually reaching "Pure Yang" represent the step-by-step transition of the primordial spirit's essence from Yin to Yang. Only when the primordial spirit can manifest before others, appearing no different from an ordinary person, is it truly a Pure Yang Primordial Spirit!