Yao Tuohai was one of the most famous Heaven Ascension cultivators in the southwest province of the empire. Only Governor Liu Wujun could be compared to him in terms of power and status.
Lian Fei was the son of Lian Rufeng. He was born in Feiyun Village but he went to Donglin Academy in Donglin City to cultivate.
Lin Xun was extremely familiar with the two.
Lian Fei had often looked for opportunities to plot against Lin Xun when he was in Donglin City. Similarly, when Lin Xun took part in the district exam, Yao Tuohai also did the same. If the queen of darkness hadn’t arrived in time, he and Xia Zhi would have been killed.
Now, after one year, when he heard the names Yao Tuohai and Lian Fei again, he felt a wave of anger and hatred surging in his heart.
The incidents that year, the oppression, despair, and helplessness that he suffered were unforgettable like they were deeply carved in his heart.
Lin Xun was only surprised that Lian Fei had become Yao Tuohai’s son-in-law. However, he found it understandable after a thought. Yao Tuohai likely attacked him to stand up for Lian Fei!
“Hmph, he became a dazzling genius talent in Qingfeng County after opening up a second-grade aeth power reservoir? How ridiculous!” Lin Xun sneered inwardly.
This wasn’t because Lin Xun thought highly of himself but that he had met many remarkable talents in Blood Kill Camp. The second-grade aeth power reservoir that Lian Fei formed wasn’t particularly dazzling when compared to theirs.
Of course, in the vast empire, it was understandable that Lian Fei was crowned with the title of genius youngster after opening up a second-grade aeth power reservoir.After all, a second-grade aeth power reservoir was already an incredible breakthrough achievement to countless cultivators in the world.
“When this guy comes to participate in the provincial examination, perhaps I should look for a chance to get revenge…” Lin Xun contemplated.
After a moment, a sudden loud cheer awakened him.
A huge space appeared in the rune transmission light screen and tens of thousands of people were gathered there, cheering wildly while waving their arms.
In the center of the huge space stood a figure on a platform illuminated by gorgeous columns of light. The illusionary-like figure was about to sing.
It was an incomparably beautiful maiden. Her light purple hair flowed down her shoulders, her crystal clear eyes sparkled, and her skin looked soft and delicate. Her face was exquisite but it gave off a unique cold aura.
Countless young men and women at the bottom of the platform raised their hands while shouting a name.
“Liu Qingyan!”
“Liu Qingyan!”
“Liu Qingyan!”
The cheers were rhythmic and uniform. The tens of thousands of people cheering and shouting together created a magnificent and buzzing scene.
Lin Xun was taken aback for a moment before the passionate atmosphere also affected him. He glanced around and saw many passersby gazing at the rune transmission light screen with admiration and many young men and women scream out loud.
But soon, the light screen changed to the dignified woman again.
“Since her debut last year, art cultivator Liu Qingyan has gained countless fans due to her heavenly voice, her unique pure and cold personality, and her delicate and beautiful face. In just one year, her song Drunken Flowers Part From Dreams has swept the entire empire and became one of the favorite songs of young cultivators in the world. She has also been known as a Soul Singer.”
“According to reliable information, in three months, Liu Qingyan will come to Haze City to celebrate Stone Cauldron Alms one hundredth anniversary and it is very likely that she will sing on stage then again.”
Cheers erupted from the crowd and made Lin Xun’s ears tremble. He couldn’t help but smack his lips in amazement. Liu Qingyan has such tremendous popularity.
Art cultivation was a type of cultivation just like sword cultivation, blade cultivation and medical cultivation.
Art cultivation entered the Dao through the four arts—zither, chess, calligraphy and painting, as well as poetry and music. It was considered a more elegant way of cultivation and was fairly rare in the world.
This was because the conditions to become an art cultivator were incredibly demanding. Not only did the person had to have a cultivation base but they also had to be skilled in one of the following: zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry or music.
For example, those who entered the Dao with music would practice cultivation techniques related to music and their combat methods involved sound waves.
Of course, art cultivation wasn’t used for fighting. Art cultivators had an extremely prestigious status in the world and were often the guests of honor of the rich and noble families.
Liu Qingyan was an art cultivator skilled in music and an expert in singing. She also had some talent in writing lyrics and composing music. She had gained countless loyal fans in the empire very soon after her debut.
Lin Xun had never heard of her before, but he knew that she was a famous art cultivator in the empire given the reactions of the people around.
“Stone Cauldron Alms is impressive to be able to invite Liu Qingyan to sing! I must go and watch it live that day!”
“Yes, me too!”
“Hmph, don’t be so happy too early. I heard that Stone Cauldron Alms is only giving out three thousand seats and the influential figures in Haze City have already bought them all!”
Clamor of discussions rang in every corner. The young men and women were all eagerly looking forward to the day of Liu Qingyan’s arrival.
Lin Xun had no interest in it but Stone Cauldron Alms’ wealth shocked him a little. In his opinion, it had to cost an astonishing figure to invite such a famous art cultivator to perform.
Lin Xun didn’t stay any longer and left.
By the time he returned to his residence, it was already midnight. Xue Jin was asleep in a corner but he suddenly yelled out when he heard Lin Xun return, “Hurry, hurry, hurry, my stomach is crying for alcohol. Hurry up and bring the alcohol over!”
Lin Xun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He took out the bottle of Soul Burning Spirit from his storage ring and tossed it towards Xue Jin.
“Such good wine!” Xue Jin hurriedly took a few sips and exclaimed, “It still tastes the same. It’s so damn good! By the way, when do you plan to register?”
Lin Xun said casually, “I have checked, the provincial examination registration starts in one month.”
Xue Jin acknowledged Lin Xun’s response and quickly fell asleep with the bottle of alcohol still in his arms.
Lin Xun walked into his room, sat at the desk, and took out the rune ink and materials he had purchased. He drew a deep breath before he picked up the rune brush and began to create aeth tools.
Outside the window, the stars twinkled and the night wind blew gently. Except for Xue Jin’s snoring, it was particularly quiet.
Hunched in front of a desk, Lin Xun looked concentrated and focused as he controlled the rune brush with smooth, flowing motions.
If he wanted to continue to live in Haze City, he had to make money, and the only way he could do so was to produce aeth tools.
This was considered his speciality. After all, he was already a rune master able to form rune arrays.
An hour later, a mid human-grade Snowfury Blade was successfully created. Based on the market price in Haze City, ignoring the cost of production, a Snowfury Blade should be able to fetch three hundred silver coins or three gold coins.
However, Lin Xun wouldn’t follow the market conditions.
His experience in Donglin City made him realize that the aeth tools he created were visibly much more powerful than those on the market despite looking identical.
This was the conclusion that Lin Xun came to after what Boss Gu Yanping from the Golden Jade Hall told him and the companions he made himself.
Lin Xun didn’t know the reason for the difference in power, but he noticed that the Omega Secret Door in his mind-sea rippled in an imperceptible manner every time he succeeded in producing an aeth tool.
He realized that the reason he was able to successfully refine an aeth tool every time likely had something to do with the movements from the Omega Secret Realm.
Of course, this was just Lin Xun's speculation.
After Lin Xun made an aeth tool, he sat down cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes and began to practice the Little Divine Meditation Art. After reaching the human dipper stage, he illuminated eighteen spirit stars in his mind-sea and his perception power could detect everything within a radius of hundreds of feet.
The average human dipper cultivator could at most perceive within a radius of sixty feet.
This was one of the unique benefits from cultivating the Little Divine Meditation Art. Of course, the strengthening of his spirit power also brought other benefits.
After practicing the Little Divine Meditation Art, Lin Xun continued to practice the Mystery Grotto Devour Wilderness Scripture.
This kind of hard work lifestyle was the same as when he was in Donglin City. The only difference was that Xia Zhi wasn’t around him anymore and she was replaced by Xue Jin.
……
Rumble—
The pure spirit dipper qi glowed a golden hue as it circulated back and forth along Lin Xun’s meridians like a roaring river.
The aeth power reservoir rotated like a storm in his sea of qi and coordinated with the aeth power vortex in his four heart acupuncture points to produce a terrifying tempering force.
The spirit dipper power circulating through his body was constantly tempered as though it was being compressed by two millstones. It emitted an illusionary pale golden light.
This was a sign that the grade of the spirit dipper power had reached the pinnacle level. It was terrifyingly pure and a wisp of spirit dipper power unleashed from Lin Xun could suppress the majority of human dipper stage cultivators in the world!
This was all due to the unique aeth power reservoir in Lin Xun’s body. It wasn’t the first-grade Eye of Storm aeth power reservoir because it wouldn’t have such astonishing tempering power.
Lin Xun called it the Storm Grinder.
Lin Xun swallowed one azure jade dipper pill after another and refined them until they were completely absorbed into his body. He continuously tried to temper and solidify his cultivation.
Lin Xun stopped his practice when he swallowed six azure jade dipper pills as he had reached the limit that he could bear.
Laying on the bed, Lin Xun began to quietly review his cultivation.
After advancing to the human dipper stage, he was able to release spirit dipper power to attack enemies from a distance and that brought about a change in his fighting style.
The Marching Army Fist he had mastered was no longer useful to him. Only the first move of the Heavenly Yuan Blade, Star-Gather, and the Six Word Blade Art could be put to good use
Of course, he had also learned combat skills in Blood Kill Camp. However, combat skills were different from combat arts. Cultivators had to be equipped with compatible combat arts if they wanted to display their true fighting strength in battle.
However, Lin Xun had to grasp those combat methods again. After all, he hadn’t fought in battle ever since he broke through to the human dipper stage.
Lin Xun was full of anticipation. He was curious to know what sort of power he could display in battle now that he had reached the human dipper stage.