Chapter 95 - 40: Upper Vein, Feather Transformation Celestial Pool

Chapter 95: Chapter 40: Upper Vein, Feather Transformation Celestial Pool

"Young man, did you just comprehend the Innate Qi Sword from the One Qi Sword Technique while you were in the Ice Lake?"

Granny Lan’s sudden question didn’t catch Jiang Xuan by surprise. He had never expected to hide the state of his Cultivation Technique from the powerful elders of the Sect.

Besides, there was no need to hide something like that. The secret he absolutely had to keep hidden was his Profession System.

But that wasn’t something one could see with the naked eye.

So, upon hearing her question, Jiang Xuan simply nodded calmly. "Nothing escapes you, Elder. By a stroke of luck, my One Qi Sword Technique had a breakthrough."

At that moment, Xia He didn’t sense anything unusual, and neither did Zhou Qing or Meng Yingyue. None of the three specialized in Swordsmanship. They were unfamiliar with the One Qi Sword Technique, so they had no idea of the difficulty—or the profound advantages—of fusing Five Viscera Origin Qi into the Innate Qi Sword.

It wasn’t until Granny Lan spoke her next words that they froze, utter disbelief written all over their faces.

"Heh. Comprehending the Innate Qi Sword is hardly what I’d call ’a stroke of luck.’" After that assessment, she fell silent for a moment. A few breaths later, she suddenly made a proposal that caused even Jiang Xuan to raise an eyebrow. "Have you considered switching to another Dharma Vein? Your Talent for the Sword Dao is exceptional; it’s a shame to let it go to waste here in Four Seasons Valley. If you’re willing, I can vouch for you and send you to the Celestial Pool to study the sword."

’She wants me to transfer to the Celestial Pool?’

’But aren’t you a senior elder of Four Seasons Valley?’

Just as Jiang Xuan was pondering this, a piece of fruit slipped from Zhou Qing’s hand and fell to the ground with a THUD.

Meng Yingyue, who was always so gentle, poised, and mindful of her decorum, was now dumbstruck. The grains and nuts she was holding scattered across the ground.

"???"

Their reactions only deepened Jiang Xuan’s confusion. Before he could ask, Zhou Qing cried out, his voice filled with shock, "The Celestial Pool... you mean the Feather Transformation Celestial Pool of the Upper Nine Peaks?"

These words stunned Jiang Xuan for a moment. He whipped his head around to look at Granny Lan, not having expected that she had the connections to get him into the Upper Nine Peaks.

To be honest, the offer was incredibly tempting for Jiang Xuan.

Setting aside the rise in status and the admiration of others, one thing alone greatly interested Jiang Xuan: the Core Cultivation Methods of the Upper Nine Peaks were, at a minimum, on par with the Four Seasons Reincarnation Technique after one has passed a Death Tribulation.

They might even be a level higher. After all, it had been several thousand years since Four Seasons Valley became an Upper Vein.

In all those years, due to the dangers of its Cultivation Technique, no peerless geniuses had come to Four Seasons Valley. This lack of top-tier talent had inevitably led the valley to become somewhat stagnant.

The Feather Transformation Celestial Pool, however, was different. It had been developing for millennia, producing countless geniuses during that time.

Of course, the more advanced a Cultivation Technique became, the harder it was to improve. But with so many astonishingly brilliant individuals, their Cultivation Method Grades, even if not directly raised to a higher Grade, would have been polished to absolute perfection.

This meant their Core Cultivation Methods had very likely surpassed even a Four Seasons Reincarnation Technique that had overcome a Death Tribulation.

And a Cultivation Technique determined a Cultivator’s upper limit.

It would be a lie to say that Jiang Xuan wasn’t tempted by an offer from such an Upper Peak.

This scene also made Xia He quietly clench her fists.

However, though her eyes glistened with tears and she looked anxious enough to cry, she didn’t say a word to dissuade Jiang Xuan from choosing the Feather Transformation Celestial Pool.

Clearly, the sweet girl didn’t want Jiang Xuan to leave, but at the same time, she didn’t want to hinder his future.

In contrast to her inner conflict, Jiang Xuan’s response was quick. "The Upper Nine Peaks... I never expected someone like me, whose Spirit Root is only rated Profound Level Middle Grade, would receive such an invitation. Thank you for holding me in such high regard, Granny Lan."

After thanking her, Jiang Xuan’s refusal was decisive. "But it’s not necessary. I’m very comfortable here in Four Seasons Valley. It’s a great place."

"..."

"CRUNCH..."

Everyone was astonished to hear Jiang Xuan turn down an invitation to the Upper Nine Peaks. Zhou Qing’s eyes went wide, and he even considered saying a few words to change Jiang Xuan’s mind.

But he quickly realized that having the extraordinarily talented Jiang Xuan remain in Four Seasons Valley was actually what was best for him, so he swallowed the words he was about to say.

Meanwhile, a complex light flickered in Meng Yingyue’s eyes.

As for Granny Lan, she was a little disappointed by Jiang Xuan’s choice, but also somewhat relieved. No one likes a person who casts aside loyalty for profit.

But her personality was an odd one, and the words that came to her lips emerged as sarcasm. "Well now, I didn’t take you for such a loyal person."

Jiang Xuan shrugged at her comment. Then, he said bluntly, "You give me too much credit, Elder. I’m not as noble as you think. A big reason I’m staying is that in Four Seasons Valley, I can be nurtured with the sect’s full support. If I went to the Feather Transformation Celestial Pool, I’d just be one disciple among thousands. They’re not going to just throw all their resources at me, are they?"

Granny Lan rolled her eyes at him in exasperation. "Of course not. Just getting you in would require this old woman to call in every favor she has. A Profound Level Middle Grade Spirit Root is, in the end, a huge drawback. If you went, you could only start as an Inner Sect Disciple, and a substitute one at that."

Her words confirmed for Jiang Xuan that staying in Four Seasons Valley was the right choice.

’With my professional panel system, my future is bright. Even the most fundamental issue—my Cultivation Technique—is something I can resolve in the later stages.’

’I don’t even need to bother scheming for other professions.’

’The Scripture Profound Daoist path is intimately connected to the Scripture Pavilion. In the game, the Scripture Pavilion wasn’t just a place for storing Cultivation Techniques; it was also where you could deduce, optimize, and raise a Cultivation Method’s Grade. Once this profession reaches the high-end stages, raising a Cultivation Method Grade will be a piece of cake for me.’

’But the future is the future, and right now is now.’

Jiang Xuan knew very well that due to his mediocre Spirit Root Talent and the relative weakness of his profession in the early stages, the most important thing for him right now was to acquire cultivation resources. He needed to use a massive amount of them to get through this fragile developmental phase as quickly as possible.

In Four Seasons Valley, Jiang Xuan could obtain everything he needed.

Take the Feast Ceremony for example. While this Purple Treasure Level Skill was powerful, it still required a sufficient amount of food to fully unleash its potential.

Within Four Seasons Valley, as long as he could stomach it, he could have Spiritual Food for every meal. At the Feather Transformation Celestial Pool, however, they would not necessarily grant him such preferential treatment.

...

Granny Lan was also able to figure out Jiang Xuan’s reasons for staying in Four Seasons Valley.

However, while she could understand his logic, the fact that Jiang Xuan stated it so openly—this candid and upright disposition—was something she greatly appreciated.

Furthermore, Jiang Xuan’s ability to resist temptation and recognize what he truly needed—this temperament that was unconcerned with empty fame, clear-headed, and self-aware—made Granny Lan regard him in an even better light. And because of this, she gave Jiang Xuan a promise:

"I’ll keep the spot at the Feather Transformation Celestial Pool reserved for you. If you ever change your mind and want to go, just come find me."

"Also, the Innate Qi Sword. You must cultivate it well. Forged from the Five Viscera Origin Qi, it represents the densest and most fundamental Vitality within the human body... When you have time, you should pay close attention to Spirit Trees related to the Five Elements."