Chapter 536 - 534: Spiritual Source Pool

Generally speaking, repairing a Divine Artifact is no better than forging a new one, as the cost is roughly the same. The crucial component is the Divine Beast Essence Blood. That is the most precious ingredient; while other materials are valuable, they pale in comparison to a Divine Beast’s Essence Blood.

Of course, the one thing Lin Xuan had in abundance was his soul, so he didn’t have to worry about that. He just wanted to repair the artifact’s appearance and strengthen it a bit.

This would require a Forging Furnace. A Divine Artifact was difficult to melt with his current Flame, so he had no choice but to use one. An ordinary Forging Furnace wouldn’t do; he needed to use the best one here!

He also needed certain materials for the repairs. As a Core Disciple, he could obtain many materials for free, but they were all common ones. As for materials to forge a Divine Artifact, that was simply impossible! He would have to either acquire them himself or purchase them.

’Materials...’

Lin Xuan had already decided to take a trip. His excuse would be to search for materials—or rather, to go out for training—but in reality, he was going to find the Lin Family. He wanted to go to the Lin Family’s residence and see for himself what their current situation was.

The Bu Family didn’t manage its disciples’ whereabouts too strictly; they were generally free to come and go. However, if someone was gone for too long, problems could arise.

That was why the Bu Family used a Jade Pendant linked to each person. If the person died, the Jade Pendant would shatter. At least this way, they would know if the person was dead or alive and could understand the situation.

Just as he was about to leave, someone knocked on his door and delivered a message. "Senior Brother Mu Shuang, the Patriarch requests your presence at the First Celestial Peak."

Now that he was a Core Disciple, he was to be addressed as "Senior Brother." Even if he was much younger than the others, his status meant they had to address him as such. It was similar to how if Lin Xuan, upon reaching the Spirit Pill Stage, were to return to the Soaring Dragon Empire, those old-timers who were only at the Essence Pill Stage would still have to respectfully call him "Senior!"

’What’s happening?’ Lin Xuan frowned. He had just been planning to head to the Lin Family, and now Bu Lingyu was summoning him. ’Could my bare-handed Artifact Refining have caused some major incident?’

Puzzled, Lin Xuan walked out of his room to see a disciple of the same clan bow respectfully before leading him toward the First Celestial Peak. In the distance, a hint of viciousness flashed in Bu Fantian’s eyes. ’A summons from the Patriarch is definitely no small matter.’

"Mu Shuang..." Bu Fantian let out a cold snort, then turned and left.

When Lin Xuan arrived at the palace on the First Celestial Peak, there weren’t as many people as before. None of the Elder Level figures were present, leaving only a few Stewards. In addition, there were some other disciples, and when they saw Lin Xuan walk in, their eyes filled with dissatisfaction.

This sense of ostracism was nothing new; it was directed at anyone not from the Bu Family. While not every member of the Bu Family was like this, the vast majority were.

So why recruit outsiders at all? It was to expand the Bu Family’s power, of course. The more geniuses, the better; no one ever complained about having too few.

Fortunately, the number of outsiders had always been small, so the Bu Family had never had any major issues. This time was different. Lin Xuan had, so to speak, risen above their heads, which greatly displeased those who now felt overshadowed.

’As expected. It’s easy to be ostracized when you’re not one of their own...’

Lin Xuan wasn’t surprised. Forget about outsiders; even within the clan, those with poor strength were discriminated against. The discrimination against outsiders was just more severe. Unless Lin Xuan possessed some Heaven-Defying ability, forcing them to look up to him, their scorn wouldn’t matter. They couldn’t compare to him anyway.

Previously, Lin Xuan’s Seventh-class Talent had been a subject of ridicule for a long time; they believed he was doomed to be a cripple in cultivation. Now, however, he had gained the title of Artifact Refining Master, which only made them more resentful.

"May I ask why the Patriarch has summoned me?" Lin Xuan asked respectfully after entering.

"It’s nothing too serious," Bu Lingyu said. "I just wanted to let you enter the Spiritual Source Pool. Undergoing an immersion there will enhance your strength. I had originally intended to let you in from the start, but I decided to wait for you to settle in first. Your progress has been good, so you may enter now."

The Spiritual Source Pool. Lin Xuan had heard of it; it was a well-known treasure among the five great families. It was a pool located at the center of the Fifth Layer Celestial Peak, containing incredibly dense Elemental Power infused with the essences of various Spirit Medicines.

Only the most talented geniuses were allowed to enter for a single immersion. The effects included a boost in one’s Cultivation and a strengthening of the physical body, providing a sensation of total rebirth.

The surrounding disciples all looked on with jealousy. This was a truly significant reward, one that most of them had never experienced. Now, it was being given to an outsider. How could they not be jealous?

Lin Xuan sneered inwardly. Bu Lingyu made it sound so pleasant, saying he was waiting for him to "settle in." ’In the end,’ Lin Xuan thought, ’if I hadn’t demonstrated extraordinary ability, it would never have been my turn—not with my Seventh-class Talent and Moderate Constitution.’

Of course, he didn’t feel any hatred. Bu Lingyu’s actions were understandable. With such poor aptitude, giving him this opportunity would have been seen as a waste, so naturally, they wouldn’t have. Even though he had won first place in the Empire’s grand competition, they still wouldn’t have granted it. They were looking at long-term potential, not a moment of glory.

"Thank you for this reward, Patriarch!" Lin Xuan still said respectfully.

They then led Lin Xuan down from the First Celestial Peak, circling around to the side before heading straight toward the base. He hadn’t even reached the bottom when he could see a large pool from above. On closer inspection, however, it wasn’t water at all. It was streams of transparent Elemental Power, surging and swirling. The Elemental Power was so dense it had liquefied, and within it were multicolored, iridescent shimmers, creating a magnificent sight.

This was the Spiritual Source Pool. All around it grew various precious Spirit Medicines; he could even see a Coiling Dragon Ginseng. The very same Coiling Dragon Ginseng that cultivators in the Divine Martial Hall would fight to the death over was simply planted here by the side. There weren’t many, just two stalks.

It was enough to show that a Super Race was indeed a Super Race. Their resources were on another level entirely, occupying a veritable holy land of the Treasures of Heaven and Earth!

’So this is the Spiritual Source Pool. It seems you have to fight for your own opportunities. If I had been too low-key, how could I have obtained this?’ Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes. He had always lived by a simple theory: be low-key when you should be, and high-profile when you must be!

If he hadn’t made a show of his Artifact Refining, how could he have received such a reward? This was why it was sometimes necessary to be high-profile. Being too low-key meant you would languish in obscurity, gaining nothing.

Of course, if you didn’t have the strength to back it up, you couldn’t be high-profile even if you wanted to...