Chapter 39: Consolidating Cultivation

“Xiaobao, during this period, stay at Songyan Peak and don’t go anywhere. Our neighboring country has invaded, and I must go to battle,” Lin Tian said, suddenly recalling something, then continued, “You’ve now reached the fourth stage of the Acquired Martial Artist realm. Do you have the courage to fight alongside me?”

“Father, didn’t you just say I should focus on consolidating my cultivation? I’ll pass this time, but next time, I will definitely fight by your side!” Only a fool would risk their life for a battle with no benefit. It’s not as if I lack contribution points, so why go all out for nothing? Of course, Lin Xiaobao kept these thoughts to himself.

Lin Tian thought it over and agreed. After giving Xiaobao a few more instructions, he left in haste.

The straightforward Wang Dashan seemed to have developed an interest in cultivation, retreating into seclusion a month ago, vowing not to come out without breaking through the Acquired Stage. Now, with all of Songyan Peak left to himself and no urgent need to advance his cultivation, Lin Xiaobao began spending his days learning formations and alchemy from the two elders.

By day, he studied; by night, he continued to train in Divine Mind Waves. According to Elder Wu, Xiaobao had only completed the first layer—transforming illusion into substance. At this stage, he could see images but not perceive vitality. It was only upon being able to sense all vitality in his mind that he would reach the second layer, the Proliferation of All Things. At that level, even someone two major realms above him would be unable to escape his perception. Incidents like the one at the Hall of Enforcement, where someone had broken in without his knowledge, would never happen again.

Time in cultivation slips by unnoticed, and in a blink, half a year had passed. Even though Lin Xiaobao had scarcely cultivated during those six months, the extraordinary efficiency of the Supreme Primordial True Fire Technique pushed him from the fourth to the fifth stage of the Acquired Martial Artist realm.

Meanwhile, the contribution points on his Wind and Snow Token had dwindled from just over twenty thousand to three thousand. These points were spent on materials exchanged while learning alchemy and formations.

If the Mission Hall had a VIP system, Lin Xiaobao’s rate of exchange over the past six months would surely have made him a diamond-level member. Now, whenever he appeared at the Mission Hall, disciples would immediately serve him tea and pastries. After all, they received a commission on contribution points for completed transactions. There was no other generous patron like Lin Xiaobao in the entire Wind and Snow Pavilion, not even among the elders.

With such high expenditure came equally remarkable rewards. Xiaobao could now inscribe many talismans and even some movement techniques. Of course, he had suffered plenty in the process. Each time he learned a new formation, he would hastily try it on himself. But the art of body formations was vastly different from setting up arrays in the world. Elder Wu, eager to cultivate Xiaobao’s creativity, would only intervene when things became life-threatening; otherwise, he let him experiment freely—with predictable results.

Each attempt to try a formation on himself marked the beginning of a fresh nightmare, but having tasted the wonders of body formations, Xiaobao couldn’t resist their allure. Even if he was left half-dead every time, he continued undaunted.

As for alchemy, the Alchemy Tower’s fees were steep, so Xiaobao had yet to truly give it a try. According to Elder Mo, the spiritual fire in the Alchemy Tower was ultimately an external force, lacking true integration, and was unsuitable for cultivation. Once Xiaobao reached the Spirit Dao realm and cultivated the seed of the Supreme Primordial True Fire within himself, it would not be too late to begin refining pills. For now, he only needed to master the basics.

“All right, your cultivation is stable now, and you’ve nearly finished your studies in alchemy and formations. Take today off and start cultivating in earnest tomorrow!” The two elders, in a rare show of kindness, spoke as Xiaobao awoke from his morning practice.

A day off? Only then did Xiaobao realize that in over a year at Wind and Snow Pavilion, he hadn’t taken a single day’s rest—a fact quite out of character for him.

Leaving his room, he walked to the place where Wang Dashan was in seclusion, but the doors were still tightly shut. Xiaobao shook his head, pondering how best to make use of this rare day of leisure.

Perhaps a little wild game to reward himself? Entertainment was scarce in this world, and this was the only thing that came to Xiaobao’s mind. His spiritual sense spread outward, enveloping a hundred yards around him. Suddenly, a flicker of doubt crossed his face—today wasn’t a cleaning day, so why were there formal disciples coming up the mountain?

“Greetings, Senior Brother Lin!” The newcomer saluted Xiaobao respectfully.

“And you are?” With so many disciples at Wind and Snow Pavilion, and Xiaobao rarely stepping beyond Songyan Peak, the people he knew were few indeed.

“Disciple Wang Youcheng, here to inform you that today is your turn to give a lecture to the formal disciples.” Despite his deference, Wang Youcheng’s respect was evident.

A lecture? Only then did Xiaobao recall that this was mentioned in the Wind and Snow Primer. As a personal disciple, unless in seclusion, one was required to take turns teaching the formal disciples, answering questions about their cultivation. After all, aside from the personal disciples, neither the formal nor the outer disciples had a true master guiding them.

However, those chosen as personal disciples were typically at least of the Innate realm. For someone like Xiaobao—who had become a personal disciple at only the seventh stage of the Martial Artist realm—there was no precedent in the history of Wind and Snow Pavilion. No wonder he’d never imagined he’d one day stand on the lectern.

Although Wang Youcheng tried hard to disguise his feelings, Xiaobao was a master at reading people. Quickly, he caught a hint of something unusual in Wang’s evasive gaze. “It really is my turn today?”

“Yes, Senior Brother Lin. Please follow me!” Wang Youcheng, not daring to meet Xiaobao’s eyes, lowered his head even further.

“Then lead the way. I’ve been at Wind and Snow Pavilion for over a year and have never visited Lexuan Peak. It’s good to go and see it for myself,” Xiaobao replied, feigning ignorance.

Lexuan Peak—a mountain reserved exclusively for the cultivation of formal disciples. Upon entering, Xiaobao immediately noticed the spiritual energy drawn in by his body’s gathering array was noticeably weaker than what he was accustomed to at Songyan Peak. After a moment’s thought, he understood. Naturally, not every peak at Wind and Snow Pavilion could have the same level of spiritual energy; the higher the status, the better the accommodations.

Xiaobao had only gained this sensitivity to spiritual energy after advancing to the Acquired Martial Artist stage.

Wang Youcheng led the way, purposefully picking up speed, dashing forward at the full power of his seventh-stage Acquired Martial Artist cultivation. Yet every time he glanced back, he found Xiaobao strolling along at ease, always maintaining a distance of about six meters. Wang was shocked. Though he couldn’t discern Xiaobao’s exact cultivation, he was now certain Xiaobao had reached the Acquired stage.

To progress from a novice to an Acquired Martial Artist in just over a year at Wind and Snow Pavilion—how could Wang Youcheng not be astonished?

With that, he abandoned the idea of embarrassing Xiaobao through speed.

As for Wang Youcheng’s intentions, Xiaobao didn’t care. He was merely an errand boy, unworthy of being considered an opponent. As for who was behind him, it would surely become clear in due time.