“That must be Lingjian Sect’s genius, Jian Wuqu, right? Seventeen years old, Eighth-Tier Martial Venerable realm. The disciples of great powers are indeed different, reaching such a level at such a young age. Moreover, Jian Wuqu’s strength is likely far beyond the likes of Cao Youwei or Lu Chao, those Eighth-Tier Martial Venerables!”
Lin Xiao sighed inwardly.
A seventeen-year-old reaching the Eighth-Tier Martial Venerable realm was simply unimaginable in a place like their southeast corner.
Even he, with his life-and-death experiences, miraculous encounters, and the memories of the Swallowing Heaven Spirit Emperor, was only nineteen and had reached the Fourth-Tier Martial Venerable realm.
Cao Youwei, Lu Chao, and other super geniuses from the three major families, who reached the Eighth-Tier Martial Venerable realm, were eight to ten years older than Jian Wuqu, clearly far inferior in talent.
If Jian Wuqu was already this impressive, then Jian Tianjiao, the top prodigy renowned across the southeast domain, must be even more terrifying.
With just a glance, Lin Xiao shifted his gaze to the main seat in the hall.
On the main seat was a purple wooden chair, both simple and grand.
Seated on the chair was an elder, one or two hundred years old, with white hair and a wrinkled, aged face.
Yet he exuded an air of seasoned cunning, his eyes deep and calculating, clearly a shrewd figure.
His aura was restrained, so much so that even Lin Xiao’s divine sense couldn’t gauge it, far surpassing Zi Jinchen in strength.
As the elder’s gaze swept over, his eyes seemed to carry a dagger, piercing straight into one’s heart.
“Is that the Purple Emperor?” Lin Xiao asked Zi Ling curiously through a mental message.
“Great-Grandfather is in seclusion. That’s the Grand Elder, Zi Gong. Although Great-Grandfather holds the position of Zi family patriarch, he rarely manages affairs. That seat isn’t reserved solely for the patriarch. In Zi family meetings, the elder with the highest status takes it,” Zi Ling replied mentally.
“I see. The Purple Emperor is truly magnanimous!” Lin Xiao couldn’t help but exclaim.
In a family where status and power reigned, a single seat symbolised supreme authority. To relinquish such a position showed remarkable breadth of mind.
Worthy of a Martial Emperor, transcending worldly constraints.
“Grand Elder, why the urgent summons back to headquarters?” Zi Ling asked, feigning ignorance.
Zi Gong glanced at Lin Xiao beside Zi Ling, then shifted his gaze, forcing a smile. “Zi Ling, you’ve finally returned. Come, let me introduce you.”
Zi Gong gestured toward two people, introducing them, “This is the Fifth Elder of Lingjian Sect, Elder Zhang Tianze. And this is Elder Zhang’s direct disciple, Jian Wuqu!”
Mentioning Jian Wuqu, Zi Gong’s face lit up with admiration. “Nephew Jian Wuqu is truly a peerless talent, reaching the Eighth-Tier Martial Venerable realm at just seventeen.”
“Elder Zi Gong flatters me. I’m hardly worthy of such praise. If anyone could be called a peerless talent, it would barely be my brother, Jian Wudi,” Jian Wuqu said, bowing with exaggerated humility.
Though his tone was modest, anyone could hear the boast in Jian Wuqu’s words.
Throughout, Jian Wuqu maintained a proud expression.
Mentioning Jian Wudi was clearly a flex. Who in the room didn’t know Jian Wudi was the top prodigy of the southeast domain?
If Jian Tianjiao was only barely a peerless talent, then what were the rest?
“Heh, such humility from Nephew Jian. If your talent doesn’t count, then no one in our Zi family would qualify,” Zi Gong chuckled.
Seeing their back-and-forth, a flash of disgust crossed Zi Ling’s face. She said politely, “Greetings, Elder Zhang, Brother Jian. May I ask, Grand Elder, what does my urgent recall have to do with Elder Zhang and Brother Jian?”
“Heh, I’ve heard Miss Zi Ling is extraordinarily gifted and radiantly graceful, and indeed, your reputation is well-earned!” Jian Wuqu said, clasping his fists toward Zi Ling with a smile. “I’ve come on behalf of my brother to propose to you, Miss Zi Ling. I hope you’ll fulfil my brother’s heartfelt wish.”
With that, Jian Wuqu produced a jade vial and continued, “This drop of Sixth-Grade Primary Jade Clear Spirit Liquid is my brother’s modest gift. I hope you’ll accept it, Miss Zi Ling.”
“Jade Clear Spirit Liquid!” Lin Xiao’s heart jolted.
Jade Clear Spirit Liquid, formed from the essence of heaven and earth’s spiritual energy fused with a trace of the “Charm of the Dao,” was a treasure among heavenly medicines, immensely beneficial to spirit controllers.
A single drop of Sixth-Grade Advanced Jade Light Spirit Liquid could elevate a Fifth-Grade Intermediate Spirit Controller to the Fifth-Grade Advanced realm.
However, refining this naturally formed, pure Jade Clear Spirit Liquid would leave a trace of impurity in the mind. After breaking through, while it wouldn’t permanently halt a spirit controller’s progress, it would delay further advancement for some time.
Only after fully expelling the impurity could one progress further.
To make refining Jade Clear Spirit Liquid more perfect, ancient spirit controllers developed a pill with its effects but without the impurity—Jade Clear Pill.
The Swallowing Heaven Spirit Emperor’s memories contained such a recipe.
However, Jade Clear Spirit Liquid required extremely dense spiritual energy and a trace of the Charm of the Dao to form, making it exceedingly rare.
Jade Clear Pills required additional rare herbs, some no less scarce than the liquid itself, making the pills even rarer.
On the market, Jade Clear Pills were several times more expensive than the liquid.
Only the wealthiest and most energetic high-tier spirit controllers would seek out the materials for Jade Clear Pills.
Otherwise, no one would deliberately gather materials to refine them.
Moreover, Jade Clear Pills required at least a Sixth-Grade Spirit Controller to refine. Even if Lin Xiao obtained all the materials now, he couldn’t produce it.
Still, a drop of Sixth-Grade Primary Jade Clear Spirit Liquid, capable of elevating a Fifth-Grade Intermediate Spirit Controller to Fifth-Grade Advanced, was tempting even to Lin Xiao.
If he reached Fifth-Grade Advanced, his combat strength would see a massive boost.
But considering the side effects of refining Jade Clear Spirit Liquid, he wouldn’t dare use it lightly.
Expelling the impurity would take over a year without specific pills or herbs to aid the process, perhaps even longer.
True powerhouses wouldn’t use breakthrough methods with such drawbacks. Repeated use would increasingly limit future achievements.
Lin Xiao was confident he could break through another spiritual level within a year, so the liquid seemed somewhat redundant.
For Zi Ling, however, it was different.
Her Saint Spirit Vein of Substitution, beyond enhancing her strength and transferring talent, could clear impurities from the mind and body.
If Zi Ling refined it, it would be quite suitable. She could resolve the liquid’s drawbacks in just a few months. This Jade Clear Spirit Liquid seemed tailor-made for her. A modest gift? Likely, Lingjian Sect paid a steep price to obtain it.
