Chapter 106: Flower-Colored Robes

The pagoda of scriptures had three levels. Ordinary cultivators in the Qi Refinement realm could enter only the first floor to choose mental arts, martial techniques, and spells. Those at the Foundation Establishment stage could go to the second floor, while only Golden Core cultivators were allowed into the highest third floor.

The sect’s foundation far surpassed that of ordinary clans. Ye Yun went straight to the second floor of the pagoda, where rows upon rows of shelves stood in neat order, filled with jade slips and books.

Most of the methods were of the lowest grade, with only a very few reaching the middle grade. It was said that only on the third floor would one find high-grade and top-grade methods.

But to Ye Yun, none of the methods here could catch his eye. After all, the techniques he had already mastered were all of exceptionally high caliber.

In addition, the mountain range where the sect’s gates stood was entirely within its territory, and disciples could seek out their own places for cultivation in the nearby mountains.

Beyond this mountain range, after traveling west for more than fifty miles, lay the wild lands.

Ye Yun did not rush into the wilderness to temper himself. Instead, he chose to continue refining his cultivation and strength near the sect gates.

Among the Nine Totem Battle Arts, the Aurora Sword Art, the Heaven-Burning Seal, the Small Three Talents Sword Formation, the Spring-Filled Scripture, and the Prison-Dragon Art, all these methods and secret techniques he possessed could only be improved through relentless, painstaking practice if his strength was to keep advancing.

Among the Nine Totem Battle Arts, only the qilin totem remained beyond Ye Yun’s ability to perform. The other eight totems, however, he had already cultivated to completion.

The dragon totem possessed the strongest burst of power; the tiger totem excelled in slaughter; the phoenix totem enhanced the might of Crimson Flame true qi; the black tortoise totem offered the greatest defense; and the great roc totem was renowned for speed, making it a supreme movement technique.

With this single set of methods alone, one could lay the very foundation of martial cultivation. It combined offense and defense and was exquisitely refined. Even under the exacting eye of the Peerless Demon Lord, the totem battle arts drew nothing but praise.

While cultivating martial techniques and spells, Ye Yun also spent those days becoming familiar with the environment around the sect gates of the Spring Palace.

After all, he would be cultivating here for a long time. According to his plans, he intended to remain until he had at least reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm before leaving.

"This valley is不错."

One day, Ye Yun found a place where heaven and earth spiritual energy was abundant. Birds sang and flowers scented the air, while grasses and trees grew thickly throughout the valley. It could truly be called an excellent place for cultivation.

"I'll cultivate here from now on." Ye Yun smiled, then stepped into the valley.

"I just saw someone enter the Flower Fairy Valley."

Not far away, two outer disciples in gray long robes were also seeking a suitable place for cultivation. One of them, in a daze, seemed to glimpse a figure entering the Flower Fairy Valley.

"Who would dare enter the Flower Fairy Valley? That's Fairy Color Robe's private forbidden ground!" the other outer disciple cried out in alarm.

By then, Ye Yun had already entered this so-called Flower Fairy Valley, and what startled him even more was that the spiritual energy within it was far denser than what he had felt outside.

"Kid, you're lucky. There should be a spiritual spring eye in this valley!" Wuji Demon Lord's voice rang out in Ye Yun's mind.

"A spiritual spring eye?"

"Indeed. Wherever spiritual energy gathers, it is suitable for cultivation. When the earth veins condense and qi turns to spring, bursting forth, that is a spiritual spring. A higher level is a spiritual stream, and above that, a spiritual vein."

Wuji Demon Lord explained, "Beneath the main peak of the Spring Palace, there should be a low-grade spiritual stream."

Spiritual springs, spiritual streams, and spiritual veins were all divided into grades: low, middle, high, and top.

The many wondrous treasures of the cultivation world were clearly ranked, with distinctions as sharp as a dividing line. The higher the grade of a treasure, the greater its aid to a cultivator’s training.

Although there was a spiritual stream beneath the Spring Palace’s main peak, such a precious thing would likely be available only to the sect master and elders for cultivation.

As for ordinary outer, inner, and core disciples, merely having a spiritual spring eye to cultivate beside was already an immense blessing.

For a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, cultivation beside a spiritual spring eye could yield the effect of a month’s effort in a single day. One could fully cultivate all the way to the peak of Foundation Establishment without worrying about insufficient spiritual energy.

Just as Ye Yun was using his divine sense to trace the flow of spiritual energy in search of the spiritual spring eye, a lovely figure suddenly appeared before him.

She had a head of smooth, glossy black hair and delicate, beautiful features. She was a girl as graceful as an immortal, her skin pale as jade, pure and transcendent.

"Who are you? Why have you come to my Flower Fairy Valley?" the beautiful girl asked, her brows knit in displeasure.

The girl wore purple, which meant she was likely a core disciple of the Spring Palace. The valley she mentioned, the Flower Fairy Valley, was presumably her cultivation place.

The spiritual spring eye already had an owner, and a trace of disappointment rose in Ye Yun’s heart. This place was not far from the sect gates of the Spring Palace. For such an excellent place to cultivate, he should have realized long ago that it already belonged to someone.

"So this is your cultivation place. I just arrived and didn’t know. I’ll leave at once." Ye Yun smiled apologetically and turned to go.

Unauthorized intrusion into another’s cultivation ground was taboo, for nothing vexed a cultivator more than being disturbed during cultivation.

"Just arrived? You’re a new core disciple?" the purple-clad girl suddenly called after him.

"Yes. My name is Ye Yun, and I did indeed come to report to the Spring Palace only a few days ago." Ye Yun replied with a smile.

"So you’re new, and not knowing the rules can be forgiven. But I became a core disciple of the Spring Palace more than ten years ago, so I count as your senior sister. You barged into my cultivation place and you won’t even offer an apology before leaving?" the girl said with a frown.

Ye Yun had no choice but to clasp his hands and say, "I have troubled Senior Sister. I ask your forgiveness."

Yet the girl seemed unwilling to let him off so easily. A sly smile appeared at the corner of her lips as she said, "Since you’ve called me Senior Sister, and we’re all from the same sect, then this senior sister will test just how strong her junior brother is."

Though it sounded like a question, she did not wait for Ye Yun to agree or refuse before attacking directly.

A long sword flashing with golden light appeared in the purple-clad girl’s hand. Her movements were extremely fast, and in an instant she was right before Ye Yun, bringing the golden sword down in a fierce cleaving strike.

"Late Foundation Establishment cultivation!"

In a single glance, Ye Yun discerned the girl’s realm. He did not sense any killing intent from her, and did not wish to damage the harmony between fellow disciples over such a small matter. Thus he did not draw a weapon, but instead formed a hand seal and used the Wind-Riding Art to bolster his movement technique, swiftly drifting backward.

"Giggle giggle, little junior brother, you’re quite fast," the purple-clad girl laughed, also using movement technique to give chase.

"Why does Senior Sister still insist on chasing me?" Ye Yun said over his shoulder, exasperated.

"Why chase you? I, Hua Caiyi, am already invincible and utterly bored among the younger generation of the Spring Palace. You brat trespassed into my cultivation place. If I let you walk out unharmed, would that not tarnish the reputation of my name as the Scarlet-Robed She-Devil?"

The purple-clad girl gave a sharp shout, and her words made two black lines appear on Ye Yun’s forehead.