Chapter 33: Spirit Tide! The Eruption of Changchun Valley |
In fact, if you look across the entire Longzuo Commandery, the ordinary disciples of the academy are actually not so ordinary.
As the saying goes, "Once you enter the academy, you're destined for the Spirit Platform." For most ordinary people, an Ancestor of the Spirit Platform is already a high and mighty figure.
It's just that Clan Leader Wang Zong'an has been exposed to too high a level of people since childhood.
Among his family members, there are numerous prodigies, and figures like Ancestor Long Yan, his mother Liu Ruolan, and his sister Wang Liyao are even of the great prodigy level.
Moreover, he believes that his father, Wang Shouzhe, will also find a way to further elevate their bloodline...
Compared to them, Wang Zong'an himself seems "quite ordinary," not quite as remarkable.
"Little brother An'an, are you wearing a treasure that conceals your aura?" Senior Sister Bailin curiously asked, "Your aura is hazy, and I can't determine your cultivation level. Could it be that your cultivation is beyond our imagination?"
Just as Wang Zong'an was about to speak, Senior Brother Yuan Mo interjected: "Sister Bailin, don't let your imagination run wild. Since Zong'an has been placed among the ordinary disciples, his bloodline talent is probably just so-so. He's sixteen now, most likely at the sixth level of Qi Refining."
Uh...
Forget it~ Better not to shatter their illusions with the truth, after all, he needs to live a low-profile life in the academy for a few years.
In fact, his innate talent is quite good, starting at the middle grade of the third rank. Coupled with the strict training he received since childhood, the consumption of Marrow Cleansing Pills, and the early "borrowing" of a "Primary Bloodline Enhancement Solution," his bloodline talent has been raised to the high grade of the third rank, and he has awakened the second layer of the Yimu bloodline, not inferior to his sister Lici when she first entered the academy.
Last autumn and winter, during the Royal Dynasty's conscription trial, he easily cleared the third stage, only to fall short at the fourth stage, narrowly defeated.
Being only a step away from defeating a Spirit Platform realm demon puppet, such a performance is already very strong. After all, he was not yet sixteen at the time, his cultivation of Xuan techniques was still short, his combat experience was lacking, and the "Changchun True Scripture" he practiced was not geared towards offense.
However, with his sister Wang Liyao as a shining example, Wang Zong'an, who is "merely" at the prodigy level, seems a bit "quite ordinary."
At this moment, he has already reached the peak of the Qi Refining realm and is ready to break through to the Spirit Platform realm at any time.
According to his parents' wishes, since the family does not lack a Spirit Platform realm member, there is no need to rush the breakthrough. If the clan develops further in a few years and he happens to come across an opportunity, it might be possible to further enhance his bloodline, and then it would not be too late to advance.
After all, although it is very difficult to elevate a double-layer bloodline to a triple-layer in the Qi Refining realm, it is simpler than raising a triple-layer bloodline to a quadruple-layer in the Spirit Platform realm.
The more solid the foundation laid in the early stages, the easier it is later on.
"Actually, to be honest with Senior Sister and Senior Brother," Wang Zong'an revealed some "truth," "I'm just a young clan leader from a seventh-rank family, here to study at the academy through connections, and I'll have to go back to take over the family business later."
A young clan leader from a seventh-rank family?
Senior Sister Bailin and Senior Brother Yuan Mo exchanged glances, slightly surprised, but they didn't pay too much attention.
In fact, there are many students from seventh-rank families in the academy, and quite a few direct descendants come to the academy to "gild their credentials." Not to mention seventh-rank, even sixth-rank families are just so-so. If someone has a stronger cultivation foundation than you, they won't give you special treatment just because you're from a sixth-rank family. After all, the academy is the academy, and its status is above that of the families.
And both Senior Sister Bailin and Senior Brother Yuan Mo are from seventh-rank families, just direct descendants.
"Let's not talk about this anymore," Senior Sister Bailin said with a hint of excitement, "The spiritual mushrooms under the Tree of Longevity are growing exceptionally well this year, probably due to a spiritual tide that occurs only once every few years. Tonight, let's queue up together, and by morning we can pick another batch of spiritual mushrooms."
Spiritual mushrooms are not only delicious but also nourish and enhance qi and blood, making them excellent spiritual food. Of course, the most important thing is that they are a free benefit, which is definitely a boon for most ordinary disciples.
Even many outstanding disciples and core disciples will come to pick some free spiritual mushrooms. However, because the overall atmosphere in Changchun Valley is quite good, those core disciples who are relatively not lacking in resources will just taste a few and won't take more.
After all, they earn credits much easier than ordinary disciples and are not too short of spiritual food.
"I've dug a cellar in my yard and made a tiny ice crystal storage using ice crystal iron. If we can't finish eating, we can store them in the ice crystal storage and eat them slowly," Senior Brother Yuan Mo also agreed, "Tonight we'll team up and try to get more."
Ice crystal storage?
Wang Zong'an glanced sideways, not expecting Senior Brother Yuan Mo to have such a "wealthy" side.
"Ice crystal iron" is a relatively rare heavenly material and earthly treasure, smelted from "ice crystal iron ore," constantly emitting cold energy, causing the surrounding temperature to drop. It is a high-quality material for forging Xuanbing series spiritual instruments.
Some well-established families also use ice crystal iron to set up formations, creating low-temperature cold storage for storing spiritual food.
Such a cold storage, not only more effective than ordinary ice cellars but also clean and convenient, has only one flaw: the price is too high.
A piece of ice crystal iron the size of a baby's fist, weighing about one pound, has a market price of around two thousand Top Gold. Even just to create a miniature ice crystal cold storage, it would cost at least tens of thousands of Top Gold.
Such an expense, let alone eighth or ninth-rank families, even some lesser Celestial families might not be able to afford it.
That Senior Brother Yuan Mo's yard actually has an ice crystal storage, this was unexpected not only to Wang Zong'an but also to Bailin.
Faced with their surprised looks, Senior Brother Yuan Mo couldn't help feeling a bit smug, a sense of superiority rising in his heart.
After all, he comes from an old seventh-rank family with a substantial foundation, and the family's annual support for him is not small. This has allowed him to gradually accumulate such a miniature ice crystal storage, which he can use to store some expensive and perishable food ingredients.
"Since that's the case," Wang Zong'an pondered for a moment and then said, "let's go take a look tonight."
Inspired by Senior Brother Yuan Mo, he also had an idea.
There are many spiritual bird carriages in the academy. If he could set up a small ice crystal cold storage in the carriage, he could send the spiritual mushrooms back to his parents and clan members to taste.
As for the quantity issue, he could buy from other disciples with some Top Gold.
After all, it's more cost-effective to transport more in one trip, and he could also transport a batch of fresh spiritual meat from the family. He was already tired of eating dried cured spiritual meat~
Soon, the three of them agreed and dispersed.
All three were ordinary disciples, and there was still much to do.
It wasn't until midnight that the three gathered again. Led by Senior Sister Bailin, carrying large bamboo baskets and holding bamboo baskets, they headed deep into the valley where the Tree of Longevity grew.
From a distance, the three saw the towering ancient tree rooted above the spiritual vein.
Its history is truly ancient, its trunk as thick as a small hill, its plate-like roots like rock walls, and its bark covered with patches of green moss, the traces of time permeating every texture, showing a sense of vicissitudes and simplicity.
Yet even so, its vitality is undiminished.
Under the night sky, its vast canopy spread out like a canopy overhead, emitting a powerful, vast aura like the sea, filled with the strong essence of Yimu.
The rich vitality diffused from its branches and leaves, strand by strand, emitting a green spiritual light. From a distance, it seemed as if a glowing green waterfall spread across heaven and earth, dazzlingly beautiful and vibrant with life.
Although Wang Zong'an had seen it before, he was still awestruck.
Such a huge spiritual tree, how much furniture could be made if it were cut down?
Fortunately, the other disciples of Changchun Valley couldn't hear his thoughts, otherwise, just for that thought, he would be beaten into a pig's head. To think of cutting down the Tree of Longevity for furniture, he must be tired of living~
"Everyone, keep order, no cutting in line~"
From afar, the voice of a senior brother came from under the tree.
Looking ahead, the three saw that many disciples of Changchun Valley were already queuing up.
Senior Sister Bailin immediately regretted: "Miscalculation~ I thought coming to queue up in the middle of the night would be early enough, but I didn't expect these guys to arrive even earlier than us. Shameless~"
"Well, let's queue up."
Senior Brother Yuan Mo advised.
The spiritual tide only erupts every few years, and with the "strange spiritual mushrooms" in abundance, naturally, no one wants to miss this opportunity. Even if they don't eat them themselves, selling them to disciples from other peaks and veins can make a good profit.
As they spoke, the three had already joined the queue.
A core disciple in his forties or fifties stood in front with his hands behind his back, maintaining order with authority: "All disciples of Changchun Valley, listen up. If you want to pick spiritual mushrooms, you must queue up. When the time is right, you will enter under the tree to pick in order. Anyone who disobeys the order will not only be expelled on the spot but will also have their credits deducted."
"Senior Brother Yuzhe, we understand."
All the ordinary disciples obediently agreed.
Senior Brother Yuzhe, already at the third layer of the Spirit Platform realm, was a high and mighty figure in the eyes of the ordinary disciples, and naturally, no one dared to challenge the order.
Moreover, Changchun Valley has always been "averse to conflict," and everyone calmly queued up to sit and practice Qi Refining, and no conflicts arose. However, as time passed, the queue of sitting disciples grew longer and longer, eventually forming a winding dragon.
And time gradually approached the early morning dew.
As the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon, the concentration of Yimu spiritual energy between heaven and earth seemed to reach a certain limit, and even breathing could feel the nourishment of qi and blood within the body.
At the same time, on the ground around the Tree of Longevity, spiritual mushrooms magically broke through the soil, unfolding, with thick roots and plump, round caps.
The senior brothers all showed mischievous smiles, and although the senior sisters blushed, they were unwilling to miss the opportunity.
One tactless senior brother deliberately teased a few words, trying to amuse a junior sister, but was promptly scolded by two fiery senior sisters on the spot, leaving him embarrassed and fleeing in disgrace.
Seeing this, Senior Brother Yuzhe scolded a few times, and the queue quieted down.
Everyone entered in turn, and soon it was Wang Zong'an and the other two's turn. Following their plan, they stood in a "品" shape, searching in one direction, picking only the large mushrooms as they went, and their efficiency was not low.
Just as Wang Zong'an was focused on picking mushrooms with the senior sister.
Suddenly!
The ancient Tree of Longevity trembled, as if stretching, and dozens of leaves rustled down.
Those leaves were fresh and green, containing rich wood energy.
"It's the leaves of the Tree of Longevity."
The ordinary disciples who were picking mushrooms were overjoyed and hurried over to pick them up.
Since the leaves fell while it was their turn to pick, naturally whoever picked them up would keep them.
The leaves of the Tree of Longevity are excellent healing treasures. When fighting, just holding a leaf in your mouth can provide continuous healing effects. If sold, one leaf can fetch at least a hundred or two hundred Top Gold.
With a slight movement of Wang Zong'an's "relatively strong" divine sense, two leaves of the Tree of Longevity fluttered into his hands.
He was no stranger to these leaves. In his hidden storage ring, he still had two leaves for emergencies.
He had thought that these leaves were picked by disciples from the Tree of Longevity, but it turned out that they had to wait for the tree to naturally shed them.
No wonder, the Tree of Longevity is the foundation of Changchun Valley, with a very long history and an extraordinary status, so naturally, it would not be harmed casually.
Moreover, as the senior brothers and sisters chatted just now, the Tree of Longevity is a sacred tree that has opened its spiritual intelligence, not comparable to ordinary spiritual trees.
When it's in a good mood, it can even speak human language and chat with you.
And there's a legend that the Tree of Longevity's strength has reached the peak of the eighth rank. If it really came to a fight, only the dean and vice-dean could suppress it. Who would dare to pick its leaves or peel its bark? Do they think they have too long to live?
The sudden shedding of leaves from the Tree of Longevity naturally caused a commotion.
Even Senior Brother Yuzhe was somewhat envious: "This time the ordinary disciples are really lucky~ They even encountered the rare shedding of the Tree of Longevity's leaves."
In just a short while, Wang Zong'an secretly used his divine sense to influence the trajectory of some leaves falling, allowing himself to pick up six leaves, "helping" Senior Sister Bailin to get four, and Senior Brother Yuan Mo managed to pick up one on his own.
After all, Senior Brother Yuan Mo had a solid foundation and could even afford to build a miniature ice crystal storage, so these small leaves of the Tree of Longevity probably didn't catch his eye.
Although Wang Zong'an had not yet opened his Spirit Platform, he was a prodigy with a double-layer bloodline and had reached the peak of the Qi Refining realm. His divine sense was not as strong as that of the Spirit Platform realm, but it was not far behind.
In fact, with Wang Zong'an's current divine sense and agility, he could have taken eight or nine out of ten leaves from the Tree of Longevity. However, he has always been kind-hearted, and it was okay to take a bit more, but he also had to consider the other senior sisters and brothers.
Therefore, the ordinary disciples who witnessed this scene basically got a share, with some even getting two leaves. This made everyone happy, considering it an unexpected joy.
But the surprises were not over yet.
Just as everyone was excitedly picking up the leaves of the Tree of Longevity and preparing to continue picking mushrooms, the Tree of Longevity trembled again, and some of the ancient bark naturally peeled off.
This was the bark of the Tree of Longevity, also one of the special products of Changchun Valley, which could be used to refine the wood attribute spiritual instrument "Ancient Tree Armor," known for its outstanding defense and self-healing properties.
At the same time.
The spiritual light flickering on the branches of the Tree of Longevity suddenly brightened, and the specks of light converged into streams, illuminating half of the night sky.
Then, a flower bud suddenly appeared among the branches, and the spiritual flower bloomed at an incredible speed, then withered, and shortly after, a fruit the size of a fingernail appeared on the Tree of Longevity, beginning to rapidly swell and grow larger.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
The Fruit of Longevity!
This was the Fruit of Longevity that could extend one's life!
Was this year's spiritual tide so powerful that even the Fruit of Longevity had grown?
......