Chapter 188: Karmic Fire Fenru
“My thanks.” Xu Ziqing accepted the cosmos bag with both hands.
“Not at all, not at all. You are far too polite.”
When Wu Zheng saw Song Yan, he understood his purpose at once. He said a few words requesting a moment’s patience, then retreated to the rear hall.
Xu Ziqing regarded Song Yan and smiled. “You Qi Refining cultivators have your Sword-Wiping. We Foundation Establishment cultivators naturally have ours as well.”
Song Yan suddenly understood. On reflection, it was quite true.
Within the Eastern Abyss Sect, there were no few Foundation Establishment cultivators. The spectator slots for the Nine Veins Grand Competition at Dragon Pool Mountain were plentiful, but the actual competition slots were exceedingly few, and naturally some means of selection were required.
“Only, the Foundation Establishment Sword-Wiping is far less grand. Everyone simply closes the door, exchanges a few blows, and that is that.”
Xu Ziqing gave a rueful laugh. “For them to go to such lengths to have me lead the expedition to Dragon Pool Mountain three years hence, they have clearly exerted considerable effort.”
The two exchanged a few more words before Wu Zheng returned with Song Yan’s Sword-Wiping reward.
“My thanks, Senior Brother Wu.”
“Oh, Junior Brother Song’s talent is truly extraordinary. I am nothing but an old bag of bones, unworthy of the title Senior Brother.”
“Hm? Nephew Song, will you not examine the high-grade magical artifacts and their equivalent spiritual treasures?”
When Xu Ziqing saw Song Yan accept the cosmos bag and prepare to leave, he called out in reminder.
“High-grade magical artifacts are easy to come by, but spiritual treasures that suit one’s own nature are far more difficult to find.”
This time it was Song Yan’s turn to be puzzled. “Elder Xu, when the rewards were announced before, it was only stated that high-grade magical artifacts would be offered. There was no mention that they could be exchanged for equivalent spiritual treasures.”
Xu Ziqing blinked, then explained. “When the rewards were announced, only inferior and medium-grade magical artifacts could be exchanged for equivalent spiritual treasures, because the sect possesses a great number of those.”
“A disciple can always find a treasure that suits him.”
“But high-grade magical artifacts offered as reward choices are something the sect does not have in abundance.”
“In the past, some cultivators would be bewitched by the many things on offer. Even though they were unsuitable, they would stubbornly forfeit their high-grade magical artifact in exchange.”
“So gradually this option was no longer mentioned, and it became an unwritten rule.”
“Did Elder Qin Xijun not bring this to your attention?”
Song Yan smiled awkwardly. “Er, she did not know I was coming to collect the reward.”
“For a cultivator disciple with clear objectives who knows when to advance and when to retreat, I believe it would be worth a look.”
“Since you are already here, go in and take a look.”
“Very well. I thank Elder Xu for his guidance.”
Xu Ziqing waved his hand and departed first.
Song Yan followed Wu Zheng toward the Earth Grade Treasury.
In truth, for him at present, selecting a high-grade flying sword artifact was not the most practical choice.
He had already begun researching the basic sword formation that required three flying swords, and Jilin Jun was merely an ordinary weapon.
If he could exchange for a high-grade magical artifact, it would represent a tremendous boost to his capabilities.
Still, since he was already here, a look could not hurt.
Song Yan followed Wu Zheng through a barrier of shimmering spiritual light, and the view opened up before him.
The Earth Grade Treasury was not a storeroom crammed with wooden shelves like the Worry-Free General Store. It was instead an annular tower.
Countless orbs of light revolved slowly around a central jade platform like so many stars, each orb sealing a treasure within.
“…”
The Earth Grade Treasury indeed held only fine things.
What was called “not many” was in fact still a great many.
“Junior Brother Song, you may use your divine sense to probe the contents of each light orb.”
Wu Zheng pointed to a small bronze mirror at the edge of the jade platform. “If something catches your eye, you may use this mirror to invoke a detailed description of the item. Deliberate carefully before making your decision.”
Song Yan nodded, grateful for the reminder.
The moment his divine sense probed into the first light orb, he vaguely understood why the situation Xu Ziqing had described would arise.
“Soul-Calming Incense. Burn the incense to still the soul and soothe… vengeful spirits?!”
Young Song Yan verified the descriptive text three times over.
These items were of such variety and strangeness that even if they were of little use to him, they could easily tempt one into making an exchange.
“Soaking materials for wine. Spirit Terrace Medicinal Sprout.”
“For one incense stick’s time after drinking, the duration of any avatar-type Dao arts may be slightly extended.”
“…”
Song Yan had had little contact with avatar-type Dao arts, but their rarity was likely comparable to that of techniques for cultivating divine sense.
No wonder such an item could be placed here.
The benefit of powerful divine sense revealed itself in this moment. Song Yan simply divided his divine sense into multiple strands, rapidly brushing against the orbs of light surrounding the jade platform.
A dizzying array of spiritual treasures flashed before his eyes. On several occasions he truly nearly failed to restrain himself and would have exchanged on the spot.
Fortunately, his clear sword heart kept him lucid in time.
After considerable effort, he had surveyed roughly seven or eight tenths of the treasures.
Thus far, the item that most tempted Song Yan was an ancient relic called the Proxy Death Puppet.
“Proxy Death Puppet.”
“Capable of substituting the puppet for the user’s true body to withstand a fatal blow from a Foundation Establishment cultivator.”
“The nature and origin of this item remain unclear. Whether its use carries adverse side effects is unknown.”
It was a formidable life-preserving treasure.
The Proxy Death Puppet was about the same size as a clay figurine from Southern Hong, with a texture resembling silk.
The item’s uncertainty gave Song Yan a moment’s pause.
“Hm?”
Just as Song Yan hesitated, a scorching streak of red caught his eye.
Within one of the light orbs, a wisp of purple-red spiritual flame burned quietly.
“A supreme spiritual treasure: Karmic Fire Fenru.”
“A spiritual flame of unknown origin, capable of assisting in the cultivation of certain fire-attribute techniques or secret arts.”
“…”
It was actually a supreme spiritual treasure.
Upon seeing this spiritual flame, Song Yan stopped in his tracks.
His mind began to churn with calculation.
Three choices now lay before him. The first was to leave this place and go to Guiyan Peak to honestly select a high-grade flying sword artifact.
The second was the Proxy Death Puppet.
The third was this Karmic Fire Fenru.
“High-grade magical artifacts are precious, and they can directly increase one’s combat power, yet they are not impossible to obtain in the future.”
The Proxy Death Puppet would grant him a slim chance of survival against a Foundation Establishment cultivator. By all reason, this should be the optimal choice.
Once one’s life was lost, everything else became meaningless.
However…
First, the Proxy Death Puppet was far too eerie, and its description stated that the specific adverse effects were unknown.
Second, this supreme spiritual treasure could strengthen the Seed of Sword Dao, bringing great benefit to his future cultivation of the Sword Dao. Its attraction for Song Yan was not slight either.
“…”
“Enough. The Proxy Death Puppet is, in the end, merely an external tool.”
After prolonged deliberation, he finally made his decision.
“Moreover, with such an object on hand, it would likely encourage me to take even greater risks, making me more prone to danger.”
Song Yan gazed upon the flame and hesitated no longer.
“I shall choose this.”
A supreme spiritual treasure was not easily obtained in ordinary circumstances.
After confirming with Wu Zheng once more, Song Yan withdrew a jade tally from the cosmos bag he had just received as his Sword-Wiping reward.
It represented the opportunity to exchange for a high-grade magical artifact.
He handed over the tally, and Wu Zheng assisted him in retrieving the true spiritual flame.
The outer layer of Fenru was a deep crimson, like congealed scabs of blood. Its flame heart, however, was utterly pure, suffused with a thread of purple gold.
It burned in utter silence, yet emitted a faint, heart-stopping sense of searing heat.
Facing this flame directly, Song Yan finally felt the violent fire-attribute spiritual energy concealed beneath that tranquil exterior.
The quantity of Karmic Fire Fenru was not great—a single wisp no larger than a fingertip.
Yet he did not mind. So long as even this small amount entered the Two-World Boundary, it would be enough to advance the Seed of Sword Dao.
At his current level of cultivation, any more than this would be more than he could consume.