Chapter 417 16: Improving Comprehension

"You're back."

Pei Jingque walked out of the Cave Mansion to greet Zhu Ju, who was descending from the sky.

"Did you find anything?"

"Yes," Zhu Ju nodded.

"I got a few Pill Formulas and two Artifact Refining Methods, but unfortunately... I couldn't find a Method that could help you."

"There's no rush." Pei Jingque smiled sweetly.

"My consciousness will remain clear for the next sixty years. We have plenty of time to search."

As she spoke, she stepped forward to take the items he handed her.

"I heard that the Profound Clarity Sect has an Ancient Cultivation Technique called the Primordial Spirit Treasure Refining Technique. It might be useful to you."

The two entered the Cave Mansion, and Zhu Ju said,

"I asked around. The Cultivation Technique does exist, but it was lost long ago. However, there seems to be a fragmented scroll left. I'll see if I can find a chance to get my hands on it."

"Primordial Spirit Treasure Refining?" Pei Jingque seemed lost in thought.

'Ancient legacies are different from what we have now. Their wording and references were very precise. When the ancients spoke of the Primordial Spirit, they were usually referring to the Nascent Soul. You and I are only at the Golden Core Realm. I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to practice it even if we obtained it.'

"...We have to try," Zhu Ju said.

"What if it works?"

Pei Jingque smiled and didn't disagree.

For the past few years, Zhu Ju had spent most of his time in seclusion stabilizing his Realm. Almost every trip he took outside was related to her problem.

Pei Jingque knew this very well.

Zhu Ju was not one for banquets and gatherings; he much preferred peace and quiet.

But for her sake, whenever he heard of a small gathering of Golden Core Cultivators, he would go and ask about Refining God Methods, even delaying his own Cultivation to do so.

Alas.

He had gained nothing of significance.

In truth, Pei Jingque had already lost hope. Seeing him go to all this trouble for her only filled her with gratitude and heartache.

"Times have changed," Zhu Ju said with a sigh as he sat down.

"At this banquet, someone brought out two legacies that lead directly to the Immortal Dao, and they sold for only two Top-Grade Spirit Stones."

"A few thousand years ago, even the Jade Void Sect wouldn't have dared to pass on such a legacy to their disciples so easily. Who would have thought it would one day be sold so cheaply?"

"Indeed," Pei Jingque nodded.

"With the collapse of the Great Dao, the legacies of the past have all become poison. Even the higher Realms have become dead ends."

"Speaking of which, I got a very interesting Pill Formula this time." Zhu Ju took out a Jade Scroll.

"It's called the Six Passes Alchemy Dao. Take a look, my dear."

"Oh!" Pei Jingque reached out and took it. Her expression changed the moment her Divine Thought swept inside.

"A Pill Formula that can increase a person's Comprehension... It's somewhat similar to the legendary Spiritual Medicine, the Bodhi Fruit."

The Bodhi Fruit was a legendary Spiritual Medicine.

It was said to blossom over several thousand years and bear fruit over several thousand more. The first time it bore fruit, a single stripe would appear on its surface, and it would be called a One-Stripe Bodhi.

Consuming it could bring enlightenment to even the dullest person.

If no one consumed it, it would shrink back into its branch and once again undergo the cycle of blossoming and bearing fruit over thousands of years.

In this way, a Two-Stripe Bodhi or a Three-Stripe Bodhi could be formed.

This would continue until it became a Nine-Stripe Bodhi, which could allow even an ordinary person to comprehend Immortal Techniques and Divine Techniques!

The Nine-Stripe Bodhi was a divine medicine of legend, something that even Divinity Transformation and Integration Great Powers couldn't hope to obtain.

"The Bodhi Fruit is a thing of legend, something you can only stumble upon by chance. But this Six Passes Alchemy Dao is real," Pei Jingque said.

"However..."

"The cost is too great!"

An Innate or even a Dao Foundation Cultivator who gathered the necessary materials could use the Six Passes Alchemy Dao to quickly comprehend all sorts of Methods, which would undoubtedly give them a massive advantage in their Cultivation.

But the materials were incredibly rare!

Although the Six Passes Alchemy Dao didn't rely entirely on luck like the Bodhi Fruit, it wasn't much better.

In Pei Jingque's opinion, it wasn't worth it.

"I want to try it," Zhu Ju said.

"If we really can't find a solution, then our only option will be to find a wisp of Innate Origin Qi."

Pei Jingque looked up.

'Innate Origin Qi is even rarer.'

'So...'

'Zhu Ju didn't mean they should go looking for Innate Origin Qi. He meant they should snatch a Spiritual Artifact from someone else's hands.'

'A Spiritual Artifact would definitely contain Innate Origin Qi.'

'But in the vast Cultivation Realm, there were only a handful of Spiritual Artifacts, and each of their owners was a top expert of the current age. Moreover, the power of a Spiritual Artifact itself was terrifying. With their current strength, it would be nothing but wishful thinking. That's why he was trying to find any way to increase his own power.'

"You..." Pei Jingque opened her mouth, then sighed helplessly.

"Alright."

* * *

「Night.」

Zhu Ju sat cross-legged on a meditation mat.

A dozen or so Spiritual Medicines floated around him, arranged in a specific pattern.

For the Bright Void Sect, which had two Golden Core Cultivators and the Langya Secret Realm, gathering the materials for one dose of the Six Passes Alchemy Dao wasn't difficult.

The difficulty lay in sustaining it.

"Go!"

With a flick of his finger, multicolored Spiritual Light rose from the Array beneath him, and all the Spiritual Medicines shattered, merging into it.

A short while later, wisps of Spiritual Qi intertwined in mid-air, converging into a single crystalline drop of liquid that sank into Zhu Ju's forehead.

Instantly, all the distracting thoughts in his Sea of Consciousness vanished.

Uranium Ring Chain Killing Palm!

This was a top-tier Martial Skill from the Otherworld. It could cause a chain reaction in a Cultivator's flesh and blood, unleashing terrifying power.

Zhu Ju had almost no experience with technological Martial Arts, and this was a top-tier Martial Skill to boot. Even with his Celestial Impact Spirit unlocked, he had no idea where to begin.

But now, with the help of the Six Passes Alchemy Dao and his Celestial Impact Spirit, his Comprehension was forcefully elevated to an unimaginable Realm.

Even a Nascent Soul True Man probably couldn't compare to him right now.

In an instant, all the knowledge he had seen in the library a while ago swarmed into his mind, connecting with the Uranium Ring Chain Killing Palm. The many confusing aspects of the Palm Technique were forcefully blasted open.

*

*

*

A dinner of six dishes and a soup was something the Wuh Family had seemingly never had before.

Tonight's meal was especially full of hearty main courses, giving Zhu Ju a huge appetite. He patted his chest and sighed in satisfaction.

"Not bad!"

He picked his teeth and glanced sideways at Wuh Qing.

"With skills like these, you could find a job in a restaurant even if you quit school. Your old man taught you well."

"By the way," Zhu Ju's brows furrowed.

"What's the occasion? Why'd you make so much good food?"

Wuh Qing was utterly speechless.

'I was lying in the infirmary for so many days, and as my father, Wuh Tian never visited me once. He disappears for so long, and when he comes back, he doesn't have a single word of concern. And now... he doesn't even know what day it is.'

"Dad," Wuh Ping spoke up.

"The college entrance exams are tomorrow."

"Oh!" Zhu Ju realized.

"So it's already time for the exams. You look like hell, kid. Are you still planning to take them?"

As he spoke, he shot him a sidelong glance.

"I've been cultivating diligently recently. I've already reached the Mastery Realm in Cannon Fist," Wuh Ping said.

"If I get lucky and face a few weaker opponents, there's still... a chance I can get into a High-Level Academy."

Although the hope was slim, he wasn't willing to give up.

"Heh..." Zhu Ju stood up, cracking his neck, and beckoned to him.

"Come on!"

"Let me see how your Fist Technique is."

"Dad!" Wuh Qing was stunned and quickly said,

"My brother has his exams tomorrow! He needs to rest and save his strength."

"Rest and save his strength, my ass." Zhu Ju's face was full of contempt.

"Sparring is the best practice. I never got into a High-Level Academy back in the day, but I still became a Martial Artist, and a High-Level Martial Artist at that! That's because I fought my way up, step by step!"

"Come on, kid!"

"Come on!"

He gestured with his hand.

"Let me see what you're made of!"