Chapter 35 – She Said It Wouldn’t be Dangerous!

  Jun De descended to the basement of the Nine-Treasure Pagoda, following the Elder’s directions. The air grew colder with every step, and his footsteps echoed off the stone walls. At the bottom of the stairs were an enormous set of double doors, sealed tightly with restrictions.

  He took a deep breath of frigid air and placed the wooden token in the center of the doors. The runes flared to life, and the doors swung open without a sound.

  The chamber beyond was a circular room of completely bare and unadorned stone. The only object was a single cultivation mat at the center, surrounded by a carved array of glowing lines and dozens of Spirit Stones slotted around it.

  It was smaller than he expected from the grand doors, and Jun De was intimated as he stepped inside.

  As soon as he crossed the threshold, the doors closed behind him.

  “There’s nothing to worry about. The Elder said that there would be no risks involved. I just need to sit here and cultivate. I can handle a few days of that, even two weeks if I need to.” Jun De assured himself.

  He would have much rather have just taken pills to increase his cultivation, but he had to admit that the Elder was right when she told him that it wouldn’t be good in the long run. Better to be safe.

  Motivated to avoid the Tower of Tempered Will, Jun De walked to the mat, sat down cross-legged and placed three bottles of pills on the ground in front of him: the two bottles of Qi Gathering Pills and the single bottle of Barrier Breaking Pills.

  “This has to be enough.” Jun De said.

  Taking another deep breath, Jun De pressed his palm down onto the ground to activate the array. It took a moment for it to begin to work. He saw lines of spiritual energy leave the spirit stones and flow into the glowing lines surrounding him.

  “Alright, just let it gather some spiritual energy from the stones and the surrounding environment, and I should have no problem cultivating.” Jun De said as he waited patiently.

  When he cultivated in his chamber at home, the energy would slowly build before cycling through his body. It was gentle, like he was sitting on the edge of a beach by a lake, and the water softly lapped at the shore.

  He expected something similar to happen here.

  Jun De couldn’t have been more wrong.

  A wave of spiritual energy slammed into him like a flood. It was more dense and violent than anything he had ever felt in either of his two lives.

  His Qi, normally calm and placid when he was in the Sect, churned wildly in response. His meridians lit up with heat and pain as if they were being scoured by fire.

  Jun De gasped in shock, then screamed as his body convulsed.

  “What the hell is going on!?”

  Jun De stumbled to his feet, staggering under the continual assault of spiritual energy that kept growing stronger as the Ninefold Refinement Array drew more deeply on the spirit stones embedded in the floor.

  He reached the door and tugged on the handle, but they remained sealed.

  Panicking, Jun De slammed his fists against the door.

  “I changed my mind; let me out! This isn’t cultivation, it’s torture!” He shouted, and he would punctuate his words with heavy thuds of his hand against the hardwood. But the seal not only kept spiritual energy within, it prevented sound from leaving as well.

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  As for Jun De, he didn’t have any hope of leaving until the array let him.

  The array didn’t show any sign of slowing down or stopping and a pulse of white light shot through the lines etched into the floor. A new wave of spiritual energy surged into his body, pressing him to the floor like a mountain of fire or a molten sea.

  Jun De dropped to his knees; his teeth gritted as his vision blurred from the pain.

  “I hate this place! The Elders are all liars! Screw the Tranquil Mountain Sect! Once I get out of here, I’m leaving!” Jun De threatened, but the only response came from the array, which sent another pulse of energy outward.

  Jun De’s screams echoed around the chamber, unheard by anyone in the Sect.

  Page Break

  Elder Hua silently climbed the stairs from the first floor of the Nine-Treasure Pagoda, which she oversaw, to the 9th. Elder Hua had been the one to give Jun De his token to enter the Ninefold Refinement Array, and she was feeling quite pleased about it.

  ‘To think he wanted to resort to using only pills to cultivate. Jun De must be frustrated by the lack of spiritual energy in the Outer Sect and desires to enter the Inner Sect as soon as possible.’ Elder Hua thought to herself, shaking her head sadly.

  ‘He is single-minded in his desire to train himself. He is a rare talent indeed.’ Elder Hua silently praised as she recalled the handsome young man who had seemed disappointed when she told him she wouldn’t allow him to purchase as many pills as he required.

  When Elder Hua reached the top of the Pagoda, she walked out to see a gorgeous view of the Outer Sect spread out in front of her.

  She wasn’t alone, as Elder Mu Yanyu stood at the edge of the pagoda, waiting for her. As Elder Hua approached, the Core Formation Inner Sect Elder turned toward her. The difference between them was stark, not just in cultivation but also in appearance.

  Elder Mu appeared to be a young woman, beautiful beyond compare and in the prime of life. Her talent in cultivation was only matched by the Sect Master himself, and she had reached the Core Formation stage before the age of 60, a feat that few in the southern continent could equal.

  “Senior Elder Mu, thank you for coming.” Elder Hua said, bowing low to her superior.

  “Your message said it concerned Jun De’s cultivation. As you know, Disciple Jun De is very important to the Sect.” Elder Mu reminded, and Elder Hua nodded her head. She had sent a message to Elder Mu as soon as Jun De had come to the Nine-Treasure Pagoda in search of pills.

  Truth be told, everything Jun De did was reported to the Sect Elders. The rules forbid them from giving him too much special attention, but they would be foolish not to take an interest in his development.

  “Jun De visited the Pagoda earlier and requested an immense quantity of pills to accelerate his cultivation. I feared that he would harm himself in his desire to cultivate. As you know, he is incredibly focused on his cultivation, rarely leaving his courtyard in order to cultivate further.”

  Elder Mu nodded, indicating for the Elder to continue.

  “I gave him two bottles, then offered him something more appropriate for his development, something to temper him while aiding his cultivation. He is currently in the Ninefold Refinement Array.” Elder Hua explained.

  Elder Mu Yanyu’s expression shifted, and a slight interest flickered in her eyes.

  “He accepted? I would think it would be too tame for Disciple Jun.”

  Elder Hua allowed herself a faint smile, recognizing Elder Mu’s concern immediately. The Ninefold Refinement Array could be adjusted to the Disciple’s cultivation level. The one in the basement of the Nine-Treasure Pagoda was suitable for Disciples from the 1st to the 7th Level of Qi Condensation.

  “Jun De is concealing his true cultivation level with a technique that I am unable to pierce. I have adjusted the array to its maximum in order to provide an adequate environment for him. His foundation is stable; it will not be a concern to him.”

  Elder Mu’s gaze returned to the horizon.

  “He is more than he appears. I, too, am unable to pierce the concealment around his cultivation. He appears to be, for all the Inner Sect Elders as well, a Disciple of the 3rd level of Qi Condensation.”

  “Such a ridiculous thing to conceal. I do not understand why he chooses to do so. No one of such a low cultivation could have seized the Inheritance.” Elder Mu said with amusement, shaking her head and smiling gently.

  Her cold expression was nowhere to be seen.

  “His contribution points will allow him to remain inside the array for two weeks.” Elder Hua finished, and Elder Mu flicked her sleeve gently, sending out a small pile of spirit stones for the Elder to take.

  “Allow Jun De to remain inside until the opening of the Tower of Tempered Will. He has contributed much to the Sect, and it is only proper that we reward his performance inside the Inheritance Site in such a way.” Elder Mu finished before disappearing from sight.

  If Jun De knew that his time inside the Ninefold Refinement Array had just been doubled as a ‘reward,’ he would have spat out blood and cursed the Sect even more.