Chapter 28: Cultivation
Upon hearing Elder Su's voice, Li Changsheng immediately left his cave and headed toward the center of the secret realm.
When he arrived, Elder Su was standing by a spiritual spring. Seeing Li Changsheng approach, Elder Su injected a surge of energy into Li Changsheng's body.
"Average bone structure and talent… You shouldn't be progressing so quickly."
After carefully examining Li Changsheng's bone structure, Elder Su frowned slightly.
He initially thought he might have misjudged Li Changsheng during their first meeting, but now he was certain—Li Changsheng only had a four-element spiritual root, and his body showed no extraordinary traits.
If it weren't for the fact that no Vajra Sect disciple had entered this place in a hundred thousand years, Elder Su wouldn't have imparted the Divine Devil Nine Transformations and the Starry Sky Sword Technique to someone with such mediocre talent. At most, he would have given them some small opportunity before sending them on their way.
Yet, this young man before him had given him a pleasant surprise.
"Never mind. Since you can cultivate so quickly, you must have your own opportunities."
"I've waited here for a hundred thousand years without seeing any sect members come. The Vajra Sect is likely no more."
Elder Su sighed and looked at Li Changsheng. "From today onward, you are an inner disciple of the Vajra Sect."
"Today, I'll grant you a great opportunity."
As he spoke, a trace of melancholy appeared on Elder Su's face. He continued slowly,
"Though it's not really a huge opportunity. This is just a privilege that inner disciples of the Vajra Sect could enjoy."
"In the past, inner disciples would have to wait at least ten years to enter the spiritual pool. Now, no one has entered it in a hundred years, so it's accumulated a lot. You're lucky."
With a flick of his sleeve, Elder Su sent Li Changsheng spiraling through space. When the scene settled, Li Changsheng found himself in an ancient cave.
At the center of the cave was a small pool filled with a pale golden liquid. Even from a distance of several meters, Li Changsheng could smell an intoxicating fragrance.
Just taking a single breath made him feel his physical body strengthening.
"Go in."
Elder Su's voice echoed in Li Changsheng's ears.
"No one has used the spiritual pool for ten thousand years, so a lot has been wasted. But there's still enough here for you to cultivate the Divine Devil Nine Transformations to the peak of the first transformation."
Without hesitation, Li Changsheng walked to the center of the pool and sat down cross-legged.
"Start the simulation."
Instead of beginning his cultivation immediately, Li Changsheng opened the Cultivation Simulator and used his last simulation opportunity.
[Simulation begins.]
[At twenty years old, you cultivate in the spiritual pool of the Vajra Sect's secret realm.]
[At twenty-three years old, you successfully reach the middle stage of the first transformation of the Divine Devil Nine Transformations.]
[At twenty-nine years old, you successfully reach the late stage of the first transformation of the Divine Devil Nine Transformations.]
[At thirty-nine years old, you successfully reach the peak of the first transformation of the Divine Devil Nine Transformations.]
[At forty years old, you leave the secret realm with Zhao San, who has successfully reached Foundation Establishment. You arrive at the headquarters of the Tianxia Society in Wushan City, only to discover that the once-hidden Tianxia Society was destroyed nineteen years ago. Loyal subordinates like Bai Qing'er and Qin Yi were brutally killed.]
[You secretly investigate the cause and kill those responsible for Qin Yi and Bai Qing'er's deaths.]
[Two months later, members of the Setting Sun Sect take action. A Foundation Establishment cultivator and over a dozen Qi Refining cultivators come after you, but you kill them all with a single sword strike.]
[At forty-one years old, you charge into the Setting Sun Sect, displaying overwhelming strength. You defeat the Golden Core cultivator of the Setting Sun Sect with ease.]
[A mysterious peak Golden Core expert emerges from the back mountains of the Setting Sun Sect. You battle him for half an hour without a clear winner, then leave the sect.]
[Half a month later, experts from the Medicine King Sect suddenly appear. You resist fiercely but are ultimately captured by a single palm strike from a Medicine King Sect expert. They interrogate you about the location of the Vajra Sect ruins. You remain silent and are killed with a single palm strike.]
[You died!]
[Simulation ends. You may retain one of the following.]
[1. Cultivation level at 41 years old.]
[2. Combat experience at 41 years old.]
'Where exactly is the Medicine King Sect?'
Li Changsheng's expression turned grave. It was clear that the Medicine King Sect's target was this secret realm. Moreover, the Medicine King Sect gave him the feeling of being omnipresent. Every time he used the Vajra Sect's techniques in the simulation, the Medicine King Sect would find him immediately.
It seems that after leaving, I'll have to avoid using the Vajra Sect's techniques as much as possible!
"Choose the second option."
As Li Changsheng made his choice, his body became as if cast from bronze, glowing with a golden light. A wild, ancient aura emanated from him, akin to a primordial beast awakening.
This caught Elder Su's attention repeatedly.
"I really have found a treasure!" Elder Su muttered as he looked at the meditating Li Changsheng. "He hasn't even absorbed the spiritual liquid yet, but he's already reached the peak of the first transformation. This kid might actually cultivate the Divine Devil Nine Transformations to the ninth transformation."
If Li Changsheng could cultivate the Divine Devil Nine Transformations to the ninth transformation, gaining strength comparable to gods and demons, there would be hope of rebuilding the Vajra Sect!
Exhale!
Half an hour later, the fluctuations in Li Changsheng's body gradually subsided, and he began to cultivate using the spiritual pool.
One year later, the spiritual liquid in the pool had nearly dried up. Li Changsheng still sat cross-legged in the pool, his cultivation having reached the peak of Foundation Establishment.
His body now exuded a fierce aura reminiscent of an ancient beast.
Exhale!
Li Changsheng opened his eyes and let out a long breath.
As expected of an opportunity that even inner disciples of ancient sects had to wait in line for! If he hadn't run out of spirit stones, he could have used the spiritual pool to cultivate the Divine Devil Nine Transformations to the second transformation.
However, his cultivation had already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, and he was just one step away from reaching the second transformation.
"But it's time to leave!"
"If I didn't know, it would be one thing. But now that I know someone is targeting the Tianxia Society, I can't just stand by and do nothing."
Li Changsheng stood up and murmured to himself.
At that moment, Elder Su appeared in the cave. Looking at Li Changsheng, he nodded with satisfaction and said,
"Good. Although you haven't fully absorbed the opportunities from the spiritual pool, once you reach the second transformation, you'll be able to fully digest them, and your strength will improve by leaps and bounds."
Li Changsheng also smiled. He knew that although he had absorbed all the spiritual liquid in the pool, he hadn't fully refined it. Instead, the energy was stored within his body. Once he reached the second transformation, he could absorb the liquid again, and his physical strength would undoubtedly advance further.
"Thank you, Elder Su."
Li Changsheng's tone was sincere.
He could see that Elder Su genuinely treated him as a junior of the sect.
"If you didn't use these opportunities, they would just go to waste."
Elder Su waved his hand slightly and looked at Li Changsheng.
"From the look of it, you're already thinking of leaving."
"I won't stop you, but when you're outside, try not to reveal yourself as a disciple of the Vajra Sect. Our sect's enemies are too powerful. Unless you reach the Great Ascension stage, you won't have the strength to protect yourself if our old enemies discover you."
Great Ascension!
Li Changsheng took a sharp breath!
The nine major stages of cultivation in the immortal world were: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Soul Formation, Unity, Great Ascension, and Heavenly Tribulation.
After overcoming the Heavenly Tribulation, one would ascend to the immortal realm and achieve an immortal body.
Great Ascension could be said to be the pinnacle of the mortal cultivation world. Yet now, Elder Su was telling him that only after reaching Great Ascension would he have a sliver of self-preservation?