Chapter 134: Chapter 133: Level 9 Qi Cultivation

Unlike the previous two times, for his third trip, he went to the Spirit Puppet Tower. He handed over the few Ice Wind Wolf Puppets and Water Spirit Turtle Puppets he had refined over the past six months to Lin Yuanshan. After Lin Yuanshan inspected them and found no issues, he readily paid him nearly a thousand Spirit Stones.

After receiving the Spirit Stones, Lu Zhao asked Lin Yuanshan, "Fellow Daoist Lin," Lu Zhao got straight to the point, "I was wondering if you could help me keep an eye out for a certain material: the complete corpse of a Tier One High-Grade Crane-type Demon Beast? Preferably one with a dominant Wind Attribute."

Hearing this, Lin Yuanshan’s brow immediately furrowed. He gave a wry smile. "Mr. Lu, you’ve really given me a difficult task. The corpses of Tier One High-Grade flying type demon beasts are already in high demand, and you’re specifying a crane-type... That’s much harder to acquire than an ape-type.

"Even if one occasionally appears in the Marketplace, it’s likely been pre-ordered by an Artifact Refiner or someone cultivating a special Cultivation Technique. I can only say I’ll do my best to ask around for you, but I really can’t make any guarantees."

After hearing this, Lu Zhao first thanked Lin Yuanshan, then added, "I have one more question. Do you happen to know where I can find ’Void Spirit Iron’?"

"Void Spirit Iron?" Lin Yuanshan looked surprised. He mused, "That item... is one of the Spiritual Materials for refining Tier Two Flying Ships. It’s under extremely strict control and rarely circulates, even in the Black Market. If Mr. Lu is in urgent need, I’m afraid... your safest bet is to find a way through the Bixia Sect itself."

The first time, he was uncertain. The second time, he was rejected outright. Although Lu Zhao had anticipated this possibility, he was still a little disappointed to hear it confirmed. Still, it made sense. Lin Yuanshan might have a way to find a Tier One High-Grade Crane-type Demon Beast, but for Void Spirit Iron, he was probably truly out of options.

’The Spirit Puppet Tower can’t keep up with me anymore. It’ll probably be hard to find the materials I need here in the future,’ Lu Zhao thought. He thanked Lin Yuanshan again, then took his leave.

After leaving the Spirit Puppet Tower, Lu Zhao walked along the main street of the Marketplace, mentally calculating his net worth. His Spirit Stones had surpassed the nine thousand mark, and he had two hundred and sixteen Merit Points. Thinking about his savings, Lu Zhao made a decision.

He once again went to the Bixia Pill Room, run by the Sect, and purchased a large batch of Pills suitable for advancing his Cultivation in the Late-stage of Qi Cultivation. Lu Zhao decided that starting this month, he would increase his monthly intake of Pills!

’One year! I must break through to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer within one year!’ After leaving the Alchemy Room, Lu Zhao’s eyes gleamed with determination. Only by reaching the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer would he be qualified to officially join the Sect’s queue to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill.

After leaving the Alchemy Room, Lu Zhao decided to try his luck and went to find Hu Ming.

When Lu Zhao arrived at Black Stone Lane, Hu Ming also shook his head after hearing his request. "Brother Lu, Crane Demons are already rare, and those that reach Tier One High-Grade are even more so. Their movements are erratic, making them extremely difficult to hunt. I don’t have any leads at the moment, but I’ll ask some of the Demon Hunting Teams that travel far afield to see if they have any news."

Lu Zhao cupped his fist, thanked him again, and left.

After leaving Hu Ming’s place, Lu Zhao thought for a moment and decided to pay a visit to Zhao Xiaoshu.

When he arrived at his residence, Lu Zhao discovered that Zhao Xiaoshu had finally broken through to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer.

"Senior!" Upon seeing Lu Zhao, Zhao Xiaoshu was even more respectful than before, his eyes filled with awe and gratitude.

Lu Zhao nodded and handed him a Jade Scroll. "This records several materials. Keep a close eye on news in the Marketplace, especially regarding the corpse of a Tier One High-Grade Crane Demon and a Spiritual Material called ’Void Spirit Iron.’ If you find any leads, same as always, send a message to the Spirit Puppet Tower."

Zhao Xiaoshu accepted the Jade Scroll with both hands and solemnly replied, "Yes! This junior will do his utmost!" However, Lu Zhao didn’t hold out much hope. Given Zhao Xiaoshu’s level, the chances of him coming into contact with such high-end materials were minuscule. It was simply laying another piece on the board, just in case.

Lu Zhao returned to the Xin 210 Cave Mansion and completely settled down. He adjusted his cultivation plan: he would focus all his main energy on cultivating the Little Spirit Rain Technique, using the power of Pills to push for the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer with all his might!

Besides that, he only kept his plan to read scriptures at the Library Pavilion for one hour each day. He would mainly browse through insights related to Foundation Establishment. These materials were provided for free within the Sect. Lu Zhao had been quite surprised when he first found out, but it was a good thing.

Lu Zhao didn’t dwell on it, simply treating it as a perk from the Sect to support disciples in reaching Foundation Establishment.

In addition to the insights on Foundation Establishment, he also planned to read more geographical records to try and find the origin of that Yin Thunder Bead. As for Puppet Refining, he would continue at his previous pace.

Once his plan was set, Lu Zhao sat cross-legged on the stone couch and began to cultivate. From the Tier One High-Grade spiritual veins, rich Spiritual Qi flowed continuously into his body. Finding this still insufficient, Lu Zhao took out a Water Spirit Pill and consumed it. The Pill melted the moment it entered his mouth, and a torrent of mellow Medicinal Power instantly erupted, rushing through his limbs and bones.

Lu Zhao immediately activated the Little Spirit Rain Technique, guiding this torrent into his meridians. Like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, it was ultimately drawn into his Dantian Qi Sea. Inside his Dantian, eight condensed streams of pale blue Magical Qi were nourished by both the Medicinal Power and the Spiritual Qi. They slowly grew stronger and more solid, their connection to one another becoming tighter and more harmonious, showing faint signs of transforming into a ninth stream.

Time flew by in silent cultivation. Bottle after bottle of Pills were consumed, and the Spiritual Qi from the Spirit Stones was absorbed. Supported by the Pills and the Spirit Vein, Lu Zhao’s aura steadily and firmly climbed upward.

His meridians grew wider and more resilient with each wash of Spiritual Power. His Dantian Qi Sea, filled with the eight streams of Magical Power, began to give off a faint feeling of being full to bursting—a sign that he was approaching the limit of his current Realm.

「Ten months later.」

The Cave Mansion was silent. Lu Zhao sat cross-legged on his couch, his aura fluctuating like the tide, having clearly reached a critical point.

Inside his body, the circulation speed of the Little Spirit Rain Technique was pushed to its absolute limit. Within his Dantian, the eight streams of pale blue Magical Power, condensed to the point of being tangible, were now like eight long-restrained glaciers. Fueled by a continuous infusion of immense Spiritual Power, they roared and surged, frantically battering against the formless barrier!

BOOM!

The saturated Dantian Qi Sea abruptly expanded outward! A stream of pale blue Magical Power, far purer and more potent than the previous eight, was born from the deepest part of his Dantian!

The ninth stream of Magical Power!

In that instant, the aura around Lu Zhao surged violently. His robes fluttered without any wind, and a Spiritual Pressure belonging to a Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer cultivator spread out.

Lu Zhao slowly opened his eyes. A flash of icy blue light seemed to flicker within their depths, as profound as a Cold Pool, before vanishing. He let out a long, turbid breath, his breathing now long and steady.

He had reached the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer!

Sensing the immense power from the nine streams of Magical Power circulating harmoniously within his Dantian, and the feeling of lightness and clarity coming from his meridians, Lu Zhao’s heart was completely calm.

At this moment, however, his gaze looked past his immediate success, toward the gate that symbolized a higher Realm—Foundation Establishment! And the first stepping stone to that gate was the incomparably precious Foundation Establishment Pill.

"Time to get in line," Lu Zhao muttered to himself, his voice clearly audible in the silent Cave Mansion.

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