Nine Evolutions of the True Spirit

After some careful consideration, Lu Ping decided it was best to consult with Jiang Tian-Lin on the matter.

Jiang Tian-Lin was already waiting for Lu Ping’s arrival at the entrance.

“Teacher!" Lu Ping bowed and greeted.

“How was Ice Frost Island? Was the trip fruitful?” Jiang Tian-Lin smiled.

“It was very rewarding. Thank you for giving me a chance, teacher.” Lu Ping replied before then expressing his thoughts.

Jiang Tian-Lin kept quiet for a while, and then said, “Huang Li Island’s development is astonishing. No one, including the sect, saw it coming. With the island reaching full capacity, it needs to expand in order to grow. Hmmm. It’s good that you brought this up with me. Recently, the island has gathered a lot of resources, and I assume you’ve amassed quite a bit of wealth. Junior Niece Hu is selling two Blood Condensation Pellets on the island every month, and you are still producing the required Blood Condensation Pellets requested by the sect each time. As an alchemist of the sect, you’ve never asked for alchemy materials, indicating that Huang Li Island has provided you with more than enough alchemy materials, let alone other resources.”

Realizing that Jiang Tian-Lin wasn’t done, Lu Ping kept quiet and waited patiently.

Jiang Tian-Lin was pleased with Lu Ping’s response, but he felt the need to clarify some things further. He said, “Many people in the sect have their eyes on this island. With your teacher’s reputation, my presence, and your strength, no one will voice their displease. However, the island is bound to become a cash cow sooner or later, which will inevitably cause an uproar. After all, the island is a property of the Zhen Ling Sect; it isn’t yours alone. While it’s an undeniable fact that you were the one that started the campaign and successfully recaptured the island, you didn’t pull it off single-handedly. Do you think you can win against invading enemies without the sect's assistance? Additionally, you and I are both aware that someone must have leaked your information to the enemy's back then. Without the support from the sect’s cultivators, you wouldn’t have been surrounded by only six hostile Core Forging Realm cultivators. There are also the people like Xuan-Chang; they are unhappy with you but they showed up regardless to help. Do you think they would show up if the island was your own private property?”

Jiang Tian-Lin’s words were reasonable. In fact, Lu Ping was considering how to include the sect in the management of the island, but he hadn’t expected Jiang Tian-Lin to bring it up while they were discussing the expansion of Huang Li Island.

Wealth had always been a great temptation, and in the cultivation world, wealth equaled cultivation resources. Lu Ping was well aware that he could never keep the island to himself, or he would become a common enemy to everyone; even the sect would grow unhappy with him if he insisted on doing so.

As a result, Lu Ping asked Jiang Tian-Lin’s opinion on how he should expand the island.

Jiang Tian-Lin replied, “There is a technique that can move mountains, but it is very difficult to master it. Destroying a mountain is one thing, moving the debris is another.”

“The island is just a tiny island, so I’m not planning to expand it by too much. I just want to make it slightly larger than it is currently.”

Jiang Tian-Lin nodded in approval. “That’s much easier. The technique isn’t as simple as just moving mountains, it’s about moving the spirit veins that are attached to the mountains. Otherwise, I could just move mountains, or even an island, and connect it with Huang Li Island, if I were to ignore the spirit veins underneath.”

The connection between the mountain and the veins would be severed, eliminating the veins’ regenerative abilities and leaving the land infertile.

“If that’s the case, do any elders in the sect cultivate such a technique?”

“There is actually someone.” Jiang Tian-Lin nodded. “Junior Martial Uncle Tian-Kang knows how to. However, an incident I caused back then left him heavily injured. As a result, he’s nearing the end of his life. However, he has taught the technique to someone else. The other person who has mastered this technique is Guo Xuan-Shan, your junior uncle.”

Lu Ping instantly realized that there was a connection between the incident mentioned by Jiang Tian-Lin and the mistake that his master had made years ago. “It seems like it’s the same incident, but is it also the reason the teachers turned sour with each other?”

However, Lu Ping wasn’t foolish enough to blatantly inquire about this. Instead, he said, “Teacher, I know a technique called [Vicissitudes of Ocean Art]. It’s somewhat similar to the technique you mentioned just now.”

Lu Ping explained the [Vicissitudes of Ocean Art] of the [North Ocean Twelve Ultimates] to Jiang Tian-Lin.

“The techniques are of a similar tier, but their power varies depending on the user.” Jiang Tian-Lin smiled and glanced at Lu Ping.

The [Vicissitudes of Ocean Art] and [River Unification Ocean Sword Art] were the only two great divine abilities in the [North Ocean Twelve Ultimates]. Lu Ping had cultivated the [River Unification Ocean Sword Art] to the peak, but he had barely mastered the [Vicissitudes of Ocean Art]. Furthermore, the technique wasn’t used in combat. Instead, it was a technique that required a long channeling time. The longer it was channeled, the stronger the technique would become.

“Then again.” Jiang Tian-Lin uttered. “Junior Uncle Tian-Kang’s technique is agile, but it’s also incredibly domineering. It would be fine if you were moving some rocks, but we’re talking about an island here. The island’s spirit veins are going to be damaged if you use this technique to move it. Hmmm…[Vicissitudes of Ocean Art] is a little different. At first glance, it seems like it needs a very long casting time, but after giving it a closer look, it seems like we could use it to move an island spanning a larger area without damaging the spirit veins. The problem is that it requires immense energy to cast. I’m afraid you can’t pull it off without reaching the Avatar Realm.”

Lu Ping nodded and bowed at Jiang Tian-Lin, “Thank you for your advice.”

After that, Lu Ping returned to his residence and retrieved the Golden House from the cultivation room. The lone mountain within the Golden House was capable of storing spiritual energy. After placing the spirit vein underneath it for almost five years, it contained more than enough spiritual energy to sustain the Golden House for fifty days.

Lu Ping then made some arrangements and delegated some tasks to Hu Lili before returning to Tian Ling Mountain. He retrieved the jade scroll he had acquired from his teacher’s residence and stopped in front of a lake right outside Chong Hua Palace. Three figures flashed across the surface and dived right into the Golden House in Lu Ping’s hands.

Shortly later, he arrived at Guo Xuan-Shan’s place and explained his purpose.

“The [Mountain Moving Art]? Junior Uncle Tian-Kang taught the technique to me, but I’m not as good as him. I could move some rocks, or perhaps a small piece of land. Moving an island is beyond my capabilities; I’m afraid I’ll damage the spirit veins underneath when I cast the technique. Additionally, we also have to go through a series of troublesome preparations, which will cost us a lot of time.”

Lu Ping nodded. “I understand. I have instructed the cultivators on Huang Li Island to prepare us some pellets and spirit stones that can aid our recovery. I’ll also have Hu Lili assist you in this matter, and teacher is on the island as well. He has promised to help too.”

Guo Xuan-Shan’s eyes lit up, “Oh? So you’re already able to make pellets for Late Core Forging Realm cultivators? Good. Good. Previously, only Xuan-Yan and Xuan-Yue could do so in the sect. Xuan-Jing and Xuan-Dian aren’t strong enough. All they can make are Mid Core Forging Realm pellets; their success rates are horrific when it comes to making Late Core Forging Realm pellets. I never expected you to be able to make them whilst you were still in the Mid Core Forging Realm.”

Lu Ping couldn’t help but wonder how Guo Xuan-Shan would react if he knew that he was already capable of making half-step Avatar Realm pellets.

Guo Xuan-Shan continued, “With Senior Brother Tian-Lin’s help, moving a couple of islands is no longer a problem. Do you have any islands in mind?”

“There are four of them, actually. One of them once birthed a miniature spirit vein and possessed a couple of spirit-gathering lands. However, it is now being occupied by the monster race. The others are isolated islands that cultivators discovered during their adventures in the ocean. There are spirit veins and spirit-gathering lands on these islands. There is even a medium-sized spirit vein, although it is a little barren.”

Guo Xuan-Shan shot a surprised glance at Lu Ping. “I didn’t think you'd be so prepared already. Hmmm. The islands around seem fine. It is said that you’ve gathered two miniature spirit veins on Huang Li Island. We could put the newly attached islands to good use with these spirit veins. No wonder people say Huang Li Island is a treasure island.”

Lu Ping immediately said, “I have something else to report. Since acquiring Huang Li Island, I have received a great deal of help from the sect. Given that the island is the sect’s property, I’m afraid that the surge of visitors on the island will make it difficult to manage. I hope the sect can dispatch more cultivators to the island and help manage it. In doing so, we will be able to maintain order and gather more wealth for the sect.”.

Guo Xuan-Shan burst out laughing. “Haha! You’re very sensitive, aren’t you? Don’t worry. Huang Li Island will still be placed under your management. The island may have gathered a lot of resources, but they are mostly suitable for Blood Refining Realm and Blood Condensation Realm cultivators. As for the sect, all you have to do is provide them with slightly more pellets than you promised, and no one will bat an eye!”

Lu Ping’s worries were purged by Guo Xuan-Shan’s guarantee. During the last few years, the prosperity of the island had raised dissatisfaction from the cultivators of the sect. They had accused Lu Ping of all sorts of audacious acts, claiming that he was planning to leave the sect and start building his own empire after acquiring a piece of land for himself. Although these accusations were based on nothing but rumors, words could become a lethal weapon.

It turned out that all the sect wanted was a gesture from Lu Ping. The resources the island earned were only suitable for lower-level cultivators. The ones that were jealous of him were just a couple of high-level cultivators. The rumors and false accusations they had created only fooled some foolish low-level cultivators; the higher-level cultivators didn’t believe a single word and only chimed in to pressure Lu Ping.

After Lu Ping showed his gesture to Guo Xuan-Shan, the sect’s person of authority, Guo Xuan-Shan responded by giving him some advice. Making Blood Condensation Realm and Blood Refining Realm pellets wasn’t a problem for Lu Ping. As long as he was supplied with the necessary resources, he would be able to produce an endless amount. Once he delivered the pellets to the Zhen Ling Sect’s branch on the island, or sold them off at a lower market price, he would be able to eliminate the rampant rumors surrounding him and even build up a good reputation.

After bowing and trying to bid Guo Xuan-Shan farewell, he was stopped.

With a serious expression, Guo Xuan-Shan asked, “Is Junior Uncle Tian-Hu taking you to the North Ocean alchemy conference?”

As the sect’s person of authority, Guo Xuan-Shan naturally knew about many matters. When he received a confirmation from Lu Ping, he continued, “The thing that Junior Uncle Tian-Hu cares about the most is the Xuan Ling Sect’s recipe for the Five-year Longevity Pellet. It is of utmost importance, but the Xuan Ling Sect will try to extort as much as they can from us. If you are able to help, please do me a favor and help out as much as you can. Great Ancestor Tian-Kang is on the verge of dying and has contributed a lot to the sect. Keep in mind that the [Mountain Moving Art] is a heritage I received from Junior Uncle Tian-Kang.”

Seeing how serious and respectful Guo Xuan-Shan was towards Tian-Kang, Lu Ping replied seriously, “Yes, sir!”