Chapter 69: Distribution of Spoils

“To use ‘Formless’ as his title…” It seemed that among the legacy inheritance Elder Lin Qinglong had obtained, apart from the two pieces of calligraphy, this was the most important item.

Song Yan suddenly recalled the autobiography inscribed along the corridor of the cave dwelling.

In those early days, when Elder Lin Qinglong first obtained the inheritance, a rogue cultivator had scoffed:

How can rotten wood hold dew? In the end, it is mud that cannot be plastered to a wall.

Now, looking at this Dao manual and the elder’s self-deprecating title, it only added a sigh of lamentation for the impermanence of the Heavenly Dao.

A single incomplete volume of a Dao manual.

It could elevate a cast-off disciple of a minor sect into a late-stage Foundation Establishment expert.

Its value, then, went without saying.

If taken to auction, fetching several thousand spirit stones would pose no difficulty.

In particular, Wu Huaguo had once mentioned that behind her lay a minor clan — the Wu clan.

The development of a clan naturally thirsted all the more for such a treasure of immense potential.

Song Yan had made his own calculations. He figured he could take roughly five hundred low-grade spirit stones from this.

In this consideration, the primary factor was that the couple had sacrificed quite a bit to serve as his guardians while he extracted the spiritual essence.

Under their protection, the growth of his sword Dao seed had achieved a qualitative leap during this venture.

Out of a sense of humanitarian goodwill, yielding a small measure of profit was of no great consequence.

“Phew…”

As though he had made some resolute decision, Rong Xiaofeng brought out the three mid-grade spirit stones from his pouch, along with the three his couple had obtained previously, placing them all together.

His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. At last, through gritted teeth, he pushed the spirit stones to the center of the table, sliding them before Song Yan.

“Fellow Daoist Song, we two wish to make a proposal with you.”

The ever-composed Rong Xiaofeng was now somewhat ill at ease.

Song Yan could not help but find it faintly amusing.

“All the mid-grade spirit stones from this venture shall go to you.”

“As for the Remnant Scroll of the Formless Art, along with the spirit talismans, magical artifacts, and miscellaneous items from the cosmos pouches of these three — we would like to keep those.”

“What do you think…?”

Song Yan’s eyes lit up.

Profit.

A small profit, at that.

He had already scanned every item within the cosmos pouches.

There was nothing he had use for.

Even if there were, they were common goods such as protective talisman amulets — the sort one could buy elsewhere.

Aside from the Remnant Scroll of the Formless Art, there was nothing of particular note.

Xiao He had also peeked inside and found not even a single small trinket that caught her interest.

That the couple wanted these things came as no surprise to Song Yan. He had in fact already guessed as much.

With a clan behind them, whether it was pills, spirit talismans, magical artifacts, or formation disks — naturally they needed everything.

Upon careful reflection, this venture — perhaps aside from Che Ning, who had obtained those two pieces of calligraphy — the greatest winners were in fact the two before him.

The Remnant Scroll of the Formless Art, together with all manner of spiritual materials and resources, would surely secure a splendid future for the Wu clan on the path of immortal cultivation.

Song Yan mused silently.

Looking back on the life of Elder Lin Qinglong…

Of course, the dead should be spoken of with respect. It would not do to gossip carelessly.

However, to speak plainly:

Before this elder obtained the legacy of his predecessors, his situation had been rather lamentable. If one were to offer an assessment…

One could only say he was unlearned and without skill.

“The Formless Wanderer…”

He himself had judged his aptitude to be exceptionally poor, which likely meant he possessed four spiritual roots, or perhaps even five.

So long as the Wu clan managed their affairs well and developed steadily.

So long as the younger generation produced a few with three spiritual roots, or even a handful with two spiritual roots, who possessed good temperament and comprehension.

Then, with the aid of this Dao manual, they could firmly establish themselves in their home county and prefecture.

Who could say — perhaps they might even make a name for themselves in the Kingdom of Chu.

At this thought, Song Yan even felt a preposterous notion: that when this clan one day flourished and prospered, a share of the credit would belong to him.

Elder Lin Qinglong’s path of immortal cultivation could not be encapsulated by a single Dao manual, and his final achievements were not something that could be replicated. However, who could say that among the descendants of the Wu clan, there might not arise someone of great fortune?

The only thing Song Yan could not quite fathom was…

What exactly was the situation with this clan, that they needed to send two mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators to serve as their supporters?

He considered many things, but only a few breaths had passed.

Song Yan said nothing superfluous. He simply nodded. “Very well.”

Rong Xiaofeng and Wu Huaguo breathed a sigh of relief.

In terms of sheer quantity of items, Song Yan was in fact the one who had profited more.

It was simply that the value of the Remnant Scroll of the Formless Art, for cultivators at the Qi Refining stage, was truly difficult to appraise in practical terms, which was why the couple had felt some apprehension.

They feared that Song Yan might make an exorbitant demand.

At the very least, they were determined to obtain the Remnant Scroll of the Formless Art.

As Song Yan had surmised, this was of vital importance to the entire Wu clan.

His agreeable answer caused the couple’s impression of him to rise yet another notch.

“Then we thank you, Fellow Daoist Song.”

Due to the unique nature of Song Yan being a sword cultivator, the speed of the division left the couple stunned.

This young man truly desired nothing but spirit stones.

For the two of them, this was naturally exactly what they wished for.

None of them had the mood for idle chatter. They prepared to part ways here.

“If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave.”

Song Yan rose and took his leave. The couple saw him to the door.

Rong Xiaofeng’s face was bright with good cheer, his mood truly quite fine. “Fellow Daoist Song, if you should ever have occasion to visit North Cliff Mountain in Dragon Spring Prefecture, my wife and I will surely prepare a feast in your honor.”

“Very well. I certainly will.”

Song Yan nodded in agreement.

These two were quite interesting people, and they were not the sort of vicious evildoers.

Moreover, it was merely a courtesy. There was no harm in giving a verbal agreement.

…

After parting from the couple, Song Yan wasted no time and hurried back to the sect.

Having refined the Withered Wood Gale and Thunder, he had a faint premonition.

The Dao seed within his body had likely already reached the limit of what was possible at his current stage.

If he wished to advance further, the only path was to perfect his Dao heart and sword intent, and truly possess a bonded flying sword.

Moreover, Song Yan had discovered something he could not yet be certain of.

For sword cultivators, the elevation of spiritual energy cultivation and the breaking of cultivation bottlenecks appeared to be inextricably linked to the transformation of the Sword Dao seed.

Previously, according to the teachings of the Seed Planting Art, Song Yan had believed that improving the grade of the Sword Dao seed merely enhanced one cultivation aptitude.

After all, he had always assumed that the Sword Dao seed was simply the sword cultivator’s spiritual root.

But this time, upon refining the Withered Wood Gale and Thunder, the barrier that had still been some distance from the sixth level of Qi Refining now felt as though it was within reach.

The strengthening and enhancement of the Sword Dao seed seemed to have simultaneously nudged Song Yan’s cultivation forward ever so slightly.

Though it was only a negligible amount.

It was nonetheless enough to excite him.

Thinking about it, he arrived at a rough hypothesis.

Spiritual objects of the highest purity were essentially attribute spiritual energy refined to its extreme. When they enhanced the Dao seed, it was only natural that some stray spiritual energy would seep into his meridians.

In any case, it was a good thing. Song Yan did not dwell on it further.

There was now only a single thought in his mind.

“Breakthrough…”

The sixth level of Qi Refining.

It was time to break through.