Chapter 744: The Grand Assembly

Chapter 744: Chapter 294: The Grand Assembly

Chen Qing did not challenge the higher floors. Obtaining the All Heaven Myriad Phenomena Map was already an unexpected windfall, far exceeding his expectations.

He took a deep breath, tucked the All Heaven Myriad Phenomena Map away, and then turned and walked out of the Celestial Treasure Tower.

The daylight outside the tower was perfect. When the Tower Guardian saw him emerge, he hurried forward, cupped his fists, and said, “Congratulations, Chen Zhenchuan, on clearing the thirty-third floor! Your talent is exceptional and your strength, unfathomable. We are all truly in awe!”

He had guarded the tower for many years and naturally understood the significance of the thirty-third floor, not to mention that Chen Qing had only just broken through.

Chen Qing’s expression remained composed. He simply gave a slight nod, then headed straight back to his small courtyard on True Martial Peak.

After returning to his Quiet Chamber, Chen Qing took out the All Heaven Myriad Phenomena Map once more.

He sat cross-legged and immersed his Heart and Spirit in the map, studying it intently.

The information contained within the scroll was as vast as a sea of mist. In addition to a comprehensive overview of array formations, it also held a wealth of foundational knowledge on the Array Path, analyses of common arrays, and secret techniques for using the Treasure Map to rapidly deploy and integrate arrays.

‘Truly, its wonders are endless…’

The more Chen Qing read, the more astounded he became, yet he also felt a surge of excitement.

However, he was also well aware that the path of arrays was vast and profound; mastery could not be achieved overnight.

Even with the Treasure Map to aid him, he would need to invest a great deal of time and energy in study and practice to truly unleash its power.

After a preliminary refinement of the Array Map to establish a connection with his Heart and Spirit, Chen Qing stored it away and began to plan his future Cultivation.

‘I’ve reached the entry-level for the Mountain and River Seal and the Profound Turtle Spirit Armor Technique. The next step is patient, grinding work to gradually raise my proficiency to the Perfection stage. The Cultivation of the Taixu Scripture is my foundation and requires constant dedication.’

‘Beyond that, I must also prioritize the two immensely powerful Divine Techniques: the True Martial Demon-Vanquishing Sword Array and the Void Annihilating Divine Light.’

He thought to himself, ‘I can also start preparing the eighteen Treasure Swords, as well as the Celestial Yang True Water.’

At the thought of Celestial Yang True Water, he took out the inventory list for the Sect’s Secret Vault and glanced at it again.

As expected, the price listed beside it made the corner of his eye twitch—eighty thousand Contribution Points!

It was even more expensive than the Void Gold Stone, which cost sixty thousand.

‘Eighty thousand Contribution Points…’

Chen Qing took a deep breath. ‘Just as I thought. None of these top-tier Cultivation Resources come easy.’

As for the eighteen Spirit Treasure-level Treasure Swords, according to Elder Pei Tingchun’s earlier suggestion, it would be best to have them custom-forged by someone from the Forging Hall. Only then could he ensure they had compatible attributes and interconnected spirituality, which would unleash the Sword Array’s maximum power.

But commissioning a master from the Forging Hall, not to mention providing the materials himself, meant the forging fee alone would be a massive expense.

‘Having them forged by the Forging Hall… that’s no small price to pay.’ Chen Qing rubbed his brow, feeling the pressure mount.

The faster his strength increased, the more terrifying the resource consumption became. It was practically a bottomless pit.

Fortunately, his status was nothing like before, and his channels and ability to acquire resources were far greater than in the past.

‘I can’t get ahead of myself. I need to focus on the present.’

Chen Qing focused his Heart and Spirit, pushing his tangled thoughts aside for the time being.

He took out the monthly Cultivation Resources provided by the True Martial Lineage.

In addition to the usual supply of auxiliary Dust Suppressing Pills, there were three Jade Bottles.

In addition to the Concentration Pill for Nurturing Divine Sense—of which he could only claim one every three months—he was also supplied with five True Essence Pills each month.

This was the primary elixir that True Essence Realm Cultivators consumed for their daily Cultivation, which could advance their Cultivation and accelerate their True Essence accumulation.

‘Five pills a month?’

Chen Qing weighed the Jade Bottle in his hand. ‘How could this possibly be enough?’p>For an ordinary cultivator who had just entered the True Essence Realm, five True Essence Pills a month, supplemented by daily arduous Cultivation and their Grotto Heaven, would likely be enough.

But his foundation was exceptionally robust. He had merged Five True Astral forces into one to reach the True Essence Realm, making the capacity of his Sea of Qi and the quality of his True Essence far surpass those of his peers. Furthermore, he possessed the Heaven Rewards Diligence Fate Plate, which demanded diligent Cultivation.

These five True Essence Pills were merely a drop in the bucket for him, nowhere near enough to support his daily Cultivation needs.

If he wanted to exchange Contribution Points for True Essence Pills, the cost was extremely high.

This was especially true since Chen Qing was currently in desperate need of a large number of Contribution Points.

To make matters worse, even exchanges within the Sect were strictly limited: only masters who had reached the True Essence Realm were eligible, and even then, each person could only redeem a maximum of five pills per month.p>From this, it was easy to see that once one entered the True Essence Realm, Cultivation Resources were not nearly as abundant as they were in the Astral Force stage.

Even the Sect strictly rationed these resources.

‘Resources… I still don’t have nearly enough. I’ll go visit Elder Zhang Yi tomorrow.’

Chen Qing let out a soft breath and placed a True Essence Pill in his mouth.

The elixir dissolved the moment it entered his mouth, transforming into a gentle yet immensely powerful warm current that surged through his limbs and bones before finally converging in his Dantian Sea of Qi.

…..

The next day, at first light, Chen Qing rose and left his small courtyard on True Martial Peak, heading straight for Danxia Peak.

The morning mist had yet to fully dissipate, but the air on Danxia Peak was already thick with the fragrance of medicinal herbs. Numerous disciples and Stewards bustled between the various halls, creating a scene of busy yet orderly activity.

Chen Qing navigated the familiar path to the Hundred Herbs Hall, where Elder Zhang Yi usually spent his days.

Just as he reached the entrance, he heard Zhang Yi’s slightly stern voice coming from inside.

“…Controlling the heat requires absolute precision! Off by a hair, and you’re off by a mile with the medicinal properties! You, girl, how many times have I told you? When extracting the Jade Marrow Mushroom, your mind must be still and your spirit must be focused! How can you ever accomplish anything great if you’re so impulsive?”

Inside the hall, He Zhi stood with her head lowered, wringing her hands nervously. She looked like a frightened quail, listening to her master’s reprimand without daring to utter a single word in her own defense.

Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed a figure appearing at the hall’s entrance. When she saw it was Chen Qing, her downcast eyes instantly brightened as if she had just grasped a life-saving straw. “Brother Chen!” she hurriedly called out. “You’re here!”