Chapter 1566: Opportunity
Besides the matter of the spatial nodes, Chongyangzi didn’t specifically mention the Gui Qu Lai Xi shop again. For something like this, if inquiries yielded results, it was real; if not, it remained unknown. As for why Li Yan was so insistent on going to the lower realm and finding a particular shop, Chongyangzi wouldn’t pry.
“Is there anything else?” Chongyangzi asked casually. He figured Li Yan’s needs were likely met.
However, after a flicker in his eyes, Li Yan spoke once more. “Senior, you are now a Void Refining Realm expert. I wonder if you could help me exchange for some supreme-grade Spirit Stones?”
Chongyangzi was slightly taken aback for a moment before replying, “How many do you need to exchange? I have about a dozen on me right now. If you don’t need many, I can just give you a few!”
Li Yan’s heart leaped with joy upon hearing this. But he couldn’t possibly accept the other’s supreme-grade Spirit Stones. A single one of these in the lower realm could be worth the entire fortune of a Nascent Soul cultivator. “No, no, I need quite a large number. Senior could perhaps exchange a few for me for now and help me keep an eye out for more in the future. After all, the amount I can exchange at one time isn’t very large. I’m just hoping to establish a channel for exchange so I can slowly accumulate them.”
Hearing this, Chongyangzi understood Li Yan’s meaning. It was not easy for a cultivator at or below the Spirit Transformation Realm to obtain supreme-grade Spirit Stones, and their personal wealth wouldn’t allow them to exchange for many. Even the core Nascent Soul disciples of the Pure Yang Hall, after saving up for a long time, could probably only exchange for six or seven at once at most, and that was within the Pure Yang Hall itself.
Connecting this with Li Yan’s constant inquiries about a passage to the lower realm, Chongyangzi guessed that Li Yan might want to use supreme-grade Spirit Stones to find that supreme treasure capable of concealing one’s aura.
Afterward, Chongyangzi took out ten supreme-grade Spirit Stones. In the end, Li Yan only exchanged for five, and the price was practically a gift from Chongyangzi. Even so, Chongyangzi felt that Li Yan’s wealth was considerable among ordinary Spirit Transformation cultivators. But how could he know that if Li Yan wasn’t afraid of exposing himself, and if Chongyangzi himself were willing, Li Yan could have exchanged for all dozen or so supreme-grade Spirit Stones on Chongyangzi at once.
Li Yan was planning for the long term, hoping to exchange for more after many years. Once his strength was prepared, he would make a large exchange. Combined with his previous accumulation, he might just meet the requirements for a single activation of a Cross-Realm Grand Formation. Of course, he wouldn’t exchange them all from Chongyangzi; this was just one channel. He wanted to find more. He knew that once Chongyangzi reached the Void Refining Realm, his own need for supreme-grade Spirit Stones would also increase. If Chongyangzi was willing, he would help Li Yan find other channels, allowing Li Yan to slowly exchange for them from others. Combined with other methods he would devise himself, exchanging once every few years, as long as no one deliberately investigated, he wouldn’t attract attention.
This was a preparatory method Li Yan could think of for now. The time required would likely not be short, but as long as he took action, there would be a day of completion.
Seeing Li Yan put away the supreme-grade Spirit Stones, Chongyangzi’s eyes flickered a few times, and he suddenly spoke. “It seems you are in great need of supreme-grade Spirit Stones. There is actually another way to obtain a considerable amount without having to exchange for them.”
Li Yan’s expression froze upon hearing this.
‘Obtain supreme-grade Spirit Stones without an exchange? Robbery?’ This was the first thought that flashed through Li Yan’s mind. But he immediately felt it wasn’t right. Every cultivator knew about murdering and stealing goods. However, it wasn’t easy to know for certain which cultivator possessed supreme-grade Spirit Stones. The easiest to identify were cultivators at or above the Void Refining Realm. With Spirit Transformation cultivators, it was a matter of luck, and they wouldn’t have many on them. The other party couldn’t possibly think his strength had reached the point where he could rob a Void Refining Realm cultivator, could he?
Chongyangzi would certainly not ask him to do something so brainless. That would be sending him to his death.
However, Chongyangzi’s next words took Li Yan by surprise. “To say it’s robbery… is not far off! Hehehe…”
Li Yan didn’t respond. He knew the other would give him the answer shortly. And indeed, after a brief laugh, Chongyangzi immediately continued. “The sect you are in now already has three Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators. This has actually met the minimum requirement to apply to the Pure Yang Hall for promotion to a third-rate sect. There are two ways to classify the strength of sects in the Immortal Spirit Realm. One is to directly look at the cultivation of the strongest cultivator in the sect, and then let other sects gauge it. The other is when your strength is clearly sufficient, but you remain at your previous rank. This latter situation invariably applies to subordinate sects of a larger power. At that point, it’s not up to you to decide when to upgrade.
“This is because under every major power, there are bound to be various cultivation sects and families of different ranks. If you want to raise your rank, it means you will receive more cultivation resources within this power. And where do these resources come from? They don’t just blow in with the wind. They must be reallocated to you by the power above. And for the superior power to reallocate cultivation resources to you, it must have its own approval, as well as the approval of other sects. Otherwise, on what grounds should they be given to you?
“The Broken Army Sect is a fourth-rate sect. If you wish to be promoted, you must first submit an application. Only after passing various screenings can you be promoted. And to be promoted from a fourth-rate sect to a third-rate one, a necessary condition is that the sect must have three or more Spirit Transformation cultivators to even apply. You currently meet this minimum standard. If the sect’s promotion is successful, as a congratulatory gift to a subordinate sect, the Pure Yang Hall usually awards a one-time reward of one hundred supreme-grade Spirit Stones. As the sect’s Supreme Elder, no matter how stingy Shangguan Tianque is, he wouldn’t deny you a few dozen Spirit Stones.
“At the same time, the sect is also rewarded with a large amount of other cultivation resources, including an expansion of its territory and so on. In fact, what I’m trying to say is that the one-time reward of supreme-grade Spirit Stones might not even be the main point. The subsequent cultivation resources are renewable and can be used repeatedly. Every year, they will bring the sect an astonishing amount of wealth. As a third-rate sect, obtaining supreme-grade Spirit Stones will naturally be a trivial matter. You might even get a few every year. It’s just that the rules and methods for each sect promotion assessment are different, but they are guaranteed to be difficult. So, to say it’s like robbery is not without justification. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Chongyangzi spoke faintly, but Li Yan listened with his eyes flashing repeatedly. He had never imagined there was such a way to obtain supreme-grade Spirit Stones. This would save him the trouble of having to carefully consider how to make an exchange each time in the future. That would be very troublesome, as he would have to expend great effort to conceal his actions every single time.
“Senior, this junior understands. Does this mean that if we apply for a sect promotion, we must submit it to the Blood Lantern Sect?”
“You can only apply to the Pure Yang Hall. The qualification for a third-rate sect can only be determined by a second-rate sect. Moreover, to put it bluntly, if you submit an application to the Blood Lantern Sect, it would be strange if they didn’t suppress you! You originally belonged to their sphere of influence. Once you submit this application, it’s a clear indication of your intention to break away from their control. If you think about the relationship between sects like the Blood Lantern Sect and the Seven Tigers Alliance, it’s not hard to guess. The human heart is a difficult thing to measure. And if a sect like the Blood Lantern Sect wants to be promoted, they would only apply to a first-rate sect, and similarly, not to the Pure Yang Hall.” Chongyangzi shook his head.
He didn’t mention what the Pure Yang Hall would do if it wanted to be promoted. That would likely mean rebelling against their supreme power. Within a power, there can be many subordinate lords and princes, but there can and must be only one emperor.
“Then how does one apply? Could Senior inform me? I imagine it’s not just a matter of having enough Spirit Transformation cultivators!” Li Yan was already somewhat moved. However, it was just a passing thought. The other party had listed a heap of benefits, but things were never that simple.
“The qualification to apply is, in fact, the main condition I just mentioned: the sect must have three or more Spirit Transformation cultivators. Then, the Pure Yang Hall will send people over for a preliminary assessment. If there are no problems with the assessment, the spot will be secured. But as for when the assessment will be given, that will only be decided after the Pure Yang Hall has considered it collectively.
“After the incident with the Great Nothingness Fruit, you know that besides the Blood Lantern Sect and the Seven Tigers Alliance, the Spirit Subduing Manor and the Heavenly Mountain Garden have been destroyed. As a result, many powers are eyeing the vacated cultivation resources. The ones who want these resources the most are, of course, the Blood Lantern Sect and the Seven Tigers Alliance. And over these years, many fourth-rate sects have even spent fortunes to invite external Spirit Transformation cultivators as Guest Elders, and then applied for sect promotion, hoping to grab a piece of that fat meat.”
“However, after the lesson learned from the Heart-Refining Valley, we have become very strict with the assessment of third-rate sects. The rules are much stricter, but not completely prohibitive. The Spirit Transformation Guest Elders invited by those powers to meet the application requirements are a very mixed bag. How they use these Guest Elders behind their own closed doors is their own business. But if they want these elders to participate in the determination of major inter-power matters, they must undergo careful verification. Otherwise, it’s not impossible for the Heart-Refining Valley to secretly make a move and deliberately cultivate a few sects.
“So, in those few waves of enthusiasm, none of the major or minor powers that went to great lengths and expense to invite Guest Elders managed to pass the assessment. In the end, those sects had to swallow their teeth and suffer in silence! And it is precisely because everyone is eyeing this piece of fat meat. Therefore, having the qualification is a necessary condition, but what’s even more difficult is the difficulty of the assessment. It will definitely be hard!”
As Chongyangzi said this, a look of ridicule appeared on his face. Of course, he was mocking those sects that were trying to fish in troubled waters.
“Wherever there is profit, there will always be people coveting it. A while ago, a sect finally passed the initial assessment. This sect is called the ‘Bright Flame Sect’. They themselves only have three Spirit Transformation cultivators, but they still invited three more Spirit Transformation-level Guest Elders. The reason they invited so many Guest Elders is, one, they were originally a subordinate power of the Spirit Subduing Manor. After the Spirit Subduing Manor fled and there was no one to restrain them, they began to recruit Guest Elders on a large scale. This was to allow them to stand out among the original powers of the Spirit Subduing Manor. Secondly, they continuously strengthen their power in hopes of contending with the Blood Lantern Sect and the Seven Tigers Alliance after their sect is successfully promoted in the future.
“However, because the Pure Yang Hall’s review of Guest Elders is strict, they didn’t dare to invite just anyone. It must have taken them a great deal of effort and cost to find three Spirit Transformation cultivators with clear origins. And half a year ago, these three Spirit Transformation cultivators finally passed our assessment and were confirmed to be without issue. So, this Bright Flame Sect now has the qualification to be promoted. Their promotion assessment has also been set for ten years from now. If you were to submit this request at this time, you would probably also catch this assessment period.
“As for your qualifications? The origins of Shangguan Tianque and the other are crystal clear. And after that battle for the Great Nothing-ness Fruit, we have long since investigated your background, Li Yan. So there’s no need to worry at all; you will definitely pass. As for the assessment rules and content arranged by the Pure Yang Hall later, we certainly don’t know now. You will only be notified a short time before the assessment, or perhaps even on the same day.” Chongyangzi laid out everything he knew.
“Senior, is death possible during the assessment?”
“Death is permitted during the assessment. But there will be elders from the Pure Yang Hall overseeing it. As long as you admit defeat in time, the assessment will be stopped. If it were just a symbolic assessment, it would be meaningless. The Pure Yang Hall does not wish to have useless subordinates,” Chongyangzi said faintly.