"Near the coming beast tide, such gains are truly a stroke of fortune," Lin Qianshu said with delight after glancing at the ledger.
The harvest from this expedition was extraordinarily abundant. Aside from two Wood Essence Crystals, they had acquired three third-tier artifacts, twenty-nine third-tier spiritual herbs, with over thirteen fully matured.
Additionally, there were over a hundred second-tier mature spiritual herbs and spirit woods, along with numerous second-tier treasures like Wood Essence.
Among the notable finds was a forest of Azure Goldwood. This dual wood-metal attribute spiritual plant, if aged over three hundred years, could be refined into second-tier artifacts. Discovering such a forest within the leyline was a delightful surprise.
After reviewing the ledger, Jiang Linglong closed it and summoned all the Foundation Establishment cultivators who had participated in the battle.
When everyone had gathered, she spoke directly.
"You've all contributed significantly to this assault on the secret realm."
"The spoils have been recorded. I intend to distribute half of the second-tier treasures among the Foundation Establishment cultivators who participated. I've had your contributions evaluated, and you can use your merit points to exchange for these treasures."
The cultivators couldn't hide their joy at this announcement. The haul was so vast that even half of the second-tier treasures would provide everyone with significant rewards.
Most would receive at least one second-tier spiritual herb or rare material, with a combined value exceeding two to three thousand spirit stones. Those who had performed exceptionally well could expect treasures worth seven to eight thousand spirit stones.
After receiving their merit points, the cultivators eagerly left to select their desired treasures.
Elian, too, was about to leave when Jiang Linglong stopped him. She handed him the ledger with a smile.
"Among all the Foundation Establishment cultivators, aside from my disciples, you've contributed the most. You should choose your treasures first."
Elian hesitated briefly but ultimately accepted the ledger without refusing.
Scanning it, his first choice was a Breaking Origin Fruit. He then noticed a Spiritual Focus Flower and Fire Spirit Grass listed. Both were primary ingredients for alchemical recipes his family possessed—the Condensed Focus Pill and the Explosive Essence Pill. Without hesitation, he exchanged for them as well.
With merit points still remaining, Elian continued browsing the ledger for second-tier treasures.
"Ah," he murmured as his eyes landed on the Pure Water Green Lotus, listed among the high-grade second-tier treasures.
This treasure, though technically second-tier, was crafted from third-tier material. Its defensive capabilities were unparalleled among second-tier artifacts.
Such a valuable item couldn't be passed up, so Elian immediately exchanged his merit points for it. Afterward, with only a few merit points left, he selected a handful of first-tier treasures, using up all his points.
"Since you've chosen this item, it seems fate has tied you to something special," Jiang Linglong said with a faint smile as she handed Elian an ancient scroll.
"This," she explained, "was entrusted to me by an old friend before her passing. She asked me to find a worthy successor. Since you've taken the Pure Water Green Lotus, it seems fate has brought you to this inheritance."
Elian accepted the scroll and opened it, his eyes widening in shock.
It contained a highly advanced cultivation technique called the Pure Water Green Lotus Codex, a dual water-wood attribute method that could be cultivated to the third level of the Purple Mansion stage.
Even more astonishing was that the scroll detailed the crafting process for a life-bound artifact, the Pure Water Green Lotus Platform.
The Pure Water Green Lotus Platform was a unique life-bound treasure with modest defensive and offensive capabilities but an extraordinary utility. It could store a cultivator's full reserves of spiritual energy, allowing them to draw upon it at will.
With this artifact, a cultivator could essentially double their energy reserves, enabling them to wield divine techniques and artifacts with greater freedom.
Furthermore, the Pure Water Green Lotus Platform could aid in breaking through cultivation stages. Its ability to protect the body and provide additional energy reserves was said to increase the chances of advancing to the Purple Mansion stage by 20%.
However, crafting such an artifact was incredibly difficult, requiring not only a third-tier lotus but also the exceedingly rare Pure Water Crystal, which could only be found in Pure Water Leylines. Unfortunately, in all of the Chu Kingdom, only a Dark Water Leyline was known to exist, and Pure Water Crystals were likely nonexistent within the kingdom.
Elian felt a mix of excitement and unease as he read the scroll. A third-tier cultivation technique, even among Purple Mansion clans, was considered a prized inheritance that even Purple Mansion cultivators would covet.
Holding such a treasure, it was impossible not to feel tempted, but its immense value also made him wary.
"Ancestor Jiang…" Elian began, looking up to Jiang Linglong, but he paused as her calm gaze met his, her bright eyes reflecting his image.
Suddenly, he felt a serene clarity. He nodded resolutely and said, "By taking this inheritance, I accept the karmic bond. If your late friend has unfinished matters, I will see them resolved."
Jiang Linglong appeared momentarily surprised before smiling faintly. "Her karma is not easily settled."
"Focus on your cultivation. When the time comes, I will tell you her story," she added.
Elian nodded, his heart steady. He understood that walking the path of cultivation inherently meant forming karmic bonds. Growth often required benefiting from the guidance and resources of predecessors. While such blessings came with responsibilities, only those willing to face them could carve their own path to transcendence.
With the Pure Water Green Lotus and a Purple Mansion technique in hand, Elian left the Wood Essence Pool's cavern satisfied.
Three days later, the distribution of treasures was complete, and the group departed the leyline.
Before leaving, Jiang Linglong sealed the wood-aligned leyline with a formation and established a third-tier array. She assigned Lin Qianshu to guard the area.
Upon returning to Tianxu Mountain, Elian immediately rented a ground-fire alchemy room to refine Breaking Primordial Pills.
Although Breaking Origin Pills were low-grade second-tier pills, their role as breakthrough elixirs made them as difficult to craft as mid-grade second-tier pills.
Fortunately, Elian, now a mid-grade second-tier alchemist, had significantly improved his alchemical skills. After seven days of non-stop effort, he successfully produced three pills.
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D