**Chapter 29: Eating and Taking**
"Heart of Heaven Sword Formation?!" Elder Xuanji was instantly shocked upon hearing this.
"You brat, do you know that the 'Heart of Heaven Sword Formation' and the 'Absolute Cloud's Defiance Formation' are both top-tier immortal-grade formations?"
"And it's a 'sword formation' capable of killing and conquering, with extraordinary power! It's much more expensive than the 'Absolute Cloud's Defiance Formation'!"
Elder Xuanji glanced at Leo and found that he was not joking at all and seemed undeterred by his words about the purchase.
But Elder Xuanji didn't want to refuse selling the 'Heart of Heaven Sword Formation' to Leo; he was simply curious about why Leo wanted to buy this 'sword formation.'
"So, Elder, what's the specific price for this sword formation?" Leo asked casually.
"Wow, this young man!" Elder Xuanji gasped, thinking that Leo was being too extravagant. Where did he get this kind of money?
He lowered his head slightly, pondered for a moment, and then raised a hand to Leo:
"Five hundred thousand!"
"Deal!" Leo quickly pulled out a purple spirit ticket worth one hundred twenty thousand spirit stones from his pocket and handed it to Elder Xuanji.
"Elder, please prepare my change."
Elder Xuanji stared at the one hundred thousand spirit ticket in Leo's hand, momentarily stunned. This is… a one hundred twenty thousand spirit ticket?!
He raised his head to look at Leo, then glanced at the spirit ticket in his hand.
This young man was becoming increasingly inscrutable!
With the strength of a Qi Refinement level, defeating Golden Core level cultivators, showcasing the skills of Ancient Daxia, and casually pulling out a million spirit stones! This was enough to demonstrate the terrifying strength this young man possessed!
Elder Xuanji's hand trembled slightly as he carefully took the spirit ticket.
"Actually… forty thousand spirit stones isn't out of the question, I'll give it to you at the lowest price."
He was once again resolute in his mind; he must do whatever it takes to draw Leo in!
This was an incredibly promising young genius! Establishing a good relationship could even bring an unprecedented opportunity to the Spirit Machine Pavilion!
"No, no, no." Unexpectedly, Leo waved his hand repeatedly.
"You've already helped me a lot; I can't let you lose out again. Five hundred thousand, no argument. If you give a discount, I'd feel embarrassed to buy it!" Leo said honestly, which left Elder Xuanji momentarily speechless.
It seemed this kid wasn't that shrewd after all.
"Alright then, just wait a moment, I'll personally go get it for you."
"Thank you."
Elder Xuanji turned and hurriedly walked towards the depths of the courtyard. After a moment, Leo saw him coming out, holding a tray.
On the tray lay a blue spirit ticket worth seventy thousand and a shorter sword tassel.
The sword tassel was entirely ice blue, crystal clear, looking like a delicate little wind chime.
This was the 'Heart of Heaven Sword Formation'! Formations often varied in shape; some sword formations were inscribed on a sword, while others, like the Heart of Heaven Sword Formation, could be attached externally.
"Take it, and I hope you can unleash its full power."
Leo carefully took the sword tassel, immediately feeling the killing intent contained within!
"I really don't know what you want it for; you don't look like a sword cultivator…" Elder Xuanji muttered.
Leo raised his head, revealing a meaningful smile: "Not a sword cultivator? That's just because I don't have a sword yet…"
"...I knew you wouldn't be so generous!" After a moment of shock, Elder Xuanji couldn't help but chuckle.
Elder Xuanji realized that the thirty thousand spirit stones were right here waiting for him!
But the best item he had on hand was only a spirit-grade sword, which was worth around forty to fifty thousand spirit stones, so if Leo wanted one on the side, that would be acceptable.
"Wait a moment, I'll go get you a sword, a spirit-grade one, alright?!"
"Alright, that would be great!" Leo smiled brilliantly, having successfully implemented his scheme.
"By the way, Elder Xuanji, there's one more thing."
Elder Xuanji was just about to turn around when he heard Leo speak again.
"Do you have any suitable cultivation techniques for beginners, preferably above Tao grade…"
As Leo watched Elder Xuanji's expression darken, he obtained a spirit-grade sword and a Tao-grade cultivation technique called 'Haori Jue'.
Additionally, he received two meditation cushions, filling both of Leo's hands. After several hints from Leo, Elder Xuanji even gifted him a storage ring.
Leo clasped his hands together in salute, bowing to Elder Xuanji as he took his leave. Elder Xuanji stood alone at the door, disheveled in the wind…
He silently calculated; it seemed that the heart of the 'Heart of Heaven Sword Formation', which was originally a bottom-of-the-barrel item, was finally sold to Leo for over three hundred thousand spirit stones?!
He suddenly recalled that the previous Wu Chi seemed to want one hundred thousand spirit stones in exchange…
Over the next two days of the small competition in Zone Three, nothing interesting happened, and Leo defeated three opponents in succession.
Upon learning that he had firmly secured a spot in the first district of the Hidden Hero Valley, he decisively conceded and returned home to accompany Reina.
The 'Haori Jue' was also given to Reina for her to start cultivating.
Reina's innate talent for cultivation manifested for the first time, startling Leo; such a thick cultivation technique, and she actually finished it completely in just two days, comprehending it thoroughly and able to guide her genuine qi to function correctly.
Such comprehension was almost inhuman!
But considering the signs she demonstrated before awakening, those laws that symbolized the world's fundamental origins, amidst the spectacle of flying spirits…
For Reina, such a cultivation speed was quite normal. Meanwhile, Leo was also preparing to break through to the Qi Refinement level.
Once a cultivator reaches the 'Congealing Spirit level', they begin to possess "spiritual consciousness," allowing them to extend their awareness beyond their body, sensing their surroundings, and control magical treasures with their mind, enabling sword control abilities.
Spiritual consciousness is also an important foundation for cultivators; at the 'Congealing Spirit level', they undergo six major stages of spiritual consciousness: 'Stone Bamboo Soul', 'Stone Radiance Soul', 'Gravel Gold Soul', 'Crimson Gold Soul', 'Jade Soul', and 'Spirit Jade Soul'.
This process isn't as random as refining genuine qi during the Qi Refinement period; all cultivators will reach the six major stages as long as they progress step by step.
The key is that your own level will not wait for you. If a cultivator breaks through from 'Congealing Spirit Ninth Layer' to 'Golden Core Level', while their spiritual consciousness is still at the 'Crimson Gold Soul', they will forever remain a 'Crimson Gold Soul'.
In terms of spiritual power, they will be weaker than cultivators of a lower cultivation level but with a higher level of spiritual consciousness.
Previously, Leo had promised Zhong Haoran to accompany him deep into the Leaving Mountain to seek the imminent beast 'Bai Ze'.
The Confucians needed a drop of 'Bai Ze's' blood to heal the dying ruler of the Xuanqin nation, Ying Yan.
This was also the reason he went to exchange for the 'Heart of Heaven Sword Formation'.
Of course, it was impossible to obtain 'Bai Ze's' blood with just the two of them; Zhong Haoran said there would be other teammates but didn't tell Leo, only mentioning that he would know when the time comes.
As a reward, Zhong Haoran offered: one hundred thousand spirit stones! If successful, the reward would double!
The Confucian sect is indeed the true court of the Central Continent; their financial power is astonishing.
In addition to spirit stones, there were other reasons why Leo agreed to Zhong Haoran's invitation, namely; the Leaving Mountain region is a pure, primitive forest that has not been stepped upon for tens of thousands of years. Once cultivators pour in, there would no longer be any external constraints, turning it into the most brutal and merciless hunting ground! Leo thought that since he could plunder Wu Chi's genuine qi, could he do the same with others…