CHAPTER 414: CHAPTER 409 INTERCEPTING SPIRIT NEEDLE! RIGHTEOUS PATH ’DEMON CULTIVATOR’?_1

"Alright, Senior Brother, I’ll do as you say."

Attempting the challenge is one thing, but whether one can pass all ninety-nine levels of the Tongtian Tower is quite another. If I fail, it just means my strength is insufficient... I’ll go back and cultivate diligently for a few more years, delay things. The later I become a True Disciple, the better.

"This Spiritual Treasure is called the Intercepting Spirit Needle. It can be used to pass through the Tongtian Tower."

"With this treasure in hand, passing through the Tongtian Tower will be no problem for you."

Senior Brother Qingge had come prepared. He handed a golden flying needle to Jia Ren, saying, "You’ve cultivated the Communication Treasure Art quite well. Controlling this for a short period won’t be an issue for you."

You’re making things very difficult for me, Jia Ren thought. Why must you force me?! I just want to coast through life, but you’re determined to make me win effortlessly...

Jia Ren stared speechlessly at the Intercepting Spirit Needle that Senior Brother Qingge had forcibly pressed into his hand.

Senior Brother Qingge and Senior Sister Huiling watched Jia Ren intently, their stance clear. We’ve long seen through your little schemes. With a Spiritual Treasure that can control puppets in your possession, we refuse to believe you still can’t pass the Tongtian Tower.

Any other Inner Sect Disciple would have been ecstatic. The answers to the exam were laid out right in front of them, guaranteeing they would pass.

You may have your clever schemes, but I have my ways to cross the bridge, Jia Ren thought, a new idea forming. He then declared with an air of righteousness, "Senior Brother Qingge, this is cheating!"

"I, Jia Ren, have always disdained cheating..."

Senior Brother Qingge was ready with a counter: "Junior Brother, this is a Magical Treasure prepared for you by our Master."

"The upper echelons of the Sect will turn a blind eye."

"If you refuse, you’ll be defying Master’s orders."

This verbal punch, invoking the ’Master’s Mandate,’ was too much for him to bear.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Qingge..."

Promotion to True Disciple is unavoidable. This tribulation, it seems, cannot be dodged.

"Junior Brother, there’s no time like the present. Why not challenge the Tongtian Tower today?" Senior Brother Qingge said, then grabbed Jia Ren and started walking.

Master gave a strict order: if the task isn’t completed, don’t bother coming back, Qingge recalled.

If Jia Ren encountered such a task, he would surely reach an understanding with any slacking junior brother, but Senior Brother Qingge was different. He was a typical battle enthusiast. It wasn’t advisable for sect members to spar casually. Besides, Sect rules imposed severe restrictions; the price for injuring a fellow member was far too great. The opportunity to battle the Shimo Sect was rare. Killing a Divinity Transformation Stage Demon Cultivator meant acquiring all their wealth. A man doesn’t get rich without a windfall, just as a horse doesn’t fatten without night grazing. The Spirit Devouring Treasure Art could be cultivated, and even a depleted Spirit Storing Bag could be replenished. Without experiencing life-and-death battles and plundering others’ cultivation resources, how could a poor cultivator ever hope to strike it rich?

Tasked by their master with supervising his junior brother, Senior Brother Qingge had no desire to remain there. He craved battle; he yearned for riches!

Harried by his resentful, penniless senior brother, Jia Ren was practically dragged towards the Tongtian Tower.

Ancestor Jikong is such an old fox, Jia Ren fumed internally. He just tosses troublesome matters to his disciples, resolving problems without lifting a finger himself. It’s far easier than handling things personally and saves him all the effort and worry.

"Senior Brother, we’re almost at the Tongtian Tower! You can put me down now..."

Senior Brother Qingge hastily released Jia Ren, his face wreathed in smiles. "Senior Brother is doing this for your own good."

"Pass the Tongtian Tower, become a True Disciple, and you’ll receive a Spiritual Treasure."

"True Disciples get a much higher monthly stipend than Inner Sect Disciples. Divinity Transformation Stage Elixirs are priceless, and the Pill Hall’s annual output is limited. You’ll be able to receive Divinity Transformation Stage Elixirs every year, plus many other benefits."

"Furthermore, the Sect grants True Disciples access to exclusive Cultivation Techniques and Divine Skills."

"Have you heard of Great Divine Powers? Only True Disciples who have performed great merits are qualified to learn them."

"Become a True Disciple sooner, and you’ll reap the benefits earlier," Senior Brother Qingge urged earnestly.

This was indeed true. If the benefits afforded to True Disciples weren’t so astonishing, why would so many disciples aspire to become one?

He’s worried about fighting the Shimo Sect after becoming a True Disciple, showing such reluctance and cowardice. No wonder Master looks down on this junior brother, Senior Brother Qingge thought.

"Senior Brother, I understand!" Jia Ren had no choice but to brace himself and challenge the Tongtian Tower.

With the Lingbao Sect at war with the Shimo Sect, the disciples felt a sense of crisis. The Lingbao Sect Cultivators who used to gather near Tongtian Tower for entertainment had all but vanished. They were all in seclusion, cultivating to raise their Cultivation Levels. Even those who wanted to test their combat strength would directly challenge the tower rather than watch from the sidelines.

Jia Ren strode into the Tongtian Tower, took out the Intercepting Spirit Needle, and activated his Communication Treasure Art to connect with it. He demonstrated a Grandmaster Level of the Communication Treasure Art, effortlessly establishing a temporary link. The next moment, the Intercepting Spirit Needle moved on its own.

A flash of golden light streaked past. Any puppet it touched experienced a malfunction in its Spiritual Power flow, collapsing to the ground as a lifeless object.

Huh, is this a special Spiritual Treasure designed to counter puppets’ Spiritual Power? Jia Ren wondered.

With Heavenly Vision activated, Jia Ren saw that the Intercepting Spirit Needles had somehow multiplied. They were forcefully severing the puppets’ Spiritual Power supply, rendering them inoperative.

Could this be used as a reference for the Dusk Treasured Light?

Jia Ren, who had been passively drifting like a dead fish, suddenly came alive. He stared intently at the Intercepting Spirit Needle, its importance in his mind skyrocketing.

One level!

Ten levels!

Ninety-nine levels!

Whether they were Second Order puppets or Fifth Rank puppets comparable to the God Transformation Level, none could withstand the Intercepting Spirit Needle. As soon as a puppet came into contact with a needle, its Spiritual Power was severed, and it instantly malfunctioned.

This treasure is truly the bane of puppets. Jia Ren realized. No wonder Senior Brother Qingge had been so confident. With the Intercepting Spirit Needle in hand, clearing the Tongtian Tower was effortless.

As a qualified merchant, Jia Ren immediately saw a loophole in the tower challenge and a way to maximize profits. If the Lingbao Sect were to start a Spiritual Treasure rental business that guaranteed passage through the tower, it would undoubtedly rake in a fortune daily. Inner Sect Disciples could easily clear the Tongtian Tower and obtain a Spiritual Treasure.

However, the Lingbao Sect isn’t run by fools. If such a loophole were discovered, they would surely patch it promptly.

Upon his completion of the ninety-ninth level, an insignia bearing a special mark materialized before quickly vanishing. This was the proof of clearing the Tongtian Tower. The mark soared into the sky, erupting in a cascade of light before disappearing.

When Elder Lianxu of the Lingbao Sect witnessed this phenomenon, they would know that a promising talent had emerged. If an Elder took a liking to a disciple, they would accept them as a True Disciple. Clearing the Tongtian Tower was proof of strength, but not everyone would be noticed by a Refining Void Ancestor and accepted as a True Disciple. Those who cleared the tower would receive better treatment and could choose to join one of the five branches. Although their status wasn’t on par with True Disciples, they would most likely become Stewards, Law Enforcement Elders, or Spirit Treasure Guards within the Lingbao Sect.

"Junior Brother Jia, you’ve done me a huge favor! Master can finally rest easy!"

"You should head to Heterodox Peak now to claim your True Disciple Robe and select your Spiritual Treasure reward."

"I have matters to attend to, so I’ll be off!"

Senior Brother Qingge was a prime example of fickleness. He had clung to Jia Ren earlier, refusing to leave his side. Yet, once the task was complete, he cast Jia Ren aside like garbage.

Senior Brother Qingge’s talk of owing him a favor was just empty words. Once this moment passed, it would be utterly worthless, Jia Ren mused.

"Senior Brother Qingge, I have a somewhat impudent request."

Qing Ge couldn’t help but frown, displeasure on his face. I was just being polite, and this fellow is really pushing his luck!

Since they were fellow disciples under the same master, it wasn’t good for their relationship to become too strained. Jia Ren had astutely cleared the Tongtian Tower, doing him a small favor. As long as the request wasn’t excessive, Qing Ge was willing to grant it.

"The Intercepting Spirit Needle is quite remarkable. Senior Brother, could you lend it to me for a few days so I can examine it?"

Merely observing the Intercepting Spirit Needle’s exterior won’t reveal much, making it difficult to replicate. This Intercepting Spirit Needle might be the breakthrough I need for my research into the Dusk Treasured Light. Now that I’ve encountered it, I absolutely cannot miss this opportunity, Jia Ren thought.

Senior Brother Qingge eyed Jia Ren warily, his voice rising a few notches. "You’re not planning to use the Spirit Devouring Treasure Art to devour this Spiritual Treasure, are you?"

"Wait, no. You also received the Treasure Light Body Refining Technique from Master Jinguang. Are you planning to devour and refine its treasured light?"

Both the Treasure Light Body Refining Technique and the Spirit Devouring Treasure Art could destroy Spiritual Treasures. How could Qing Ge dare to lend out his precious darling? Wouldn’t that be like sending a lamb into a tiger’s den?

"Senior Brother, am I really that kind of person in your eyes?"

"I’ve been studying Artifact Refining recently, and the Intercepting Spirit Needle has given me immense inspiration. Observing it for a few days could lead to unexpected insights."

Senior Brother Qingge clearly has a prejudice against me, seeing me through tainted glasses, Jia Ren thought. He didn’t mind, though. As long as I can borrow the Spiritual Treasure, that’s all that matters.

The words "Refining Treasures" held a strange power. The expressions of Senior Brother Qingge and Senior Sister Huiling changed, a hint of urgency in their voices. "Junior Brother, how proficient are you at Refining Treasures?"

"Junior Brother Jia, are you confident you can refine a Spiritual Treasure?"

"Studying Artifact Refining offers a limitless future. Junior Brother, you must delve deeply into this path."

"I’ll be staying in the Sect for seven days at most. I’ll lend you the Intercepting Spirit Needle for seven days. Is that satisfactory, Junior Brother?"

Jia Ren’s mention of wanting to refine Spiritual Treasures implied his Artifact Refining skills were not insignificant. In the Lingbao Sect, a sect famed for Artifact Refining, Artifact Refiners held considerable status. Those who could refine Spiritual Treasures were held in high esteem.

The reason for Senior Brother Qingge’s sudden change in attitude was, of course, because...

Ancestor Jikong’s lineage had an abysmal reputation among Artifact Refiners. They were shunned by those who specialized in Refining Treasures, and the price to commission one of the Sect’s Artifact Refiners was at least thirty percent higher than the market rate.

The root of all this was the Spirit Devouring Treasure Art. For cultivators seeking rapid advancement in their Cultivation Level, the Spirit Devouring Treasure Art was a heaven-defying Divine Skill, its only drawback being its exorbitant cost. To Spirit Treasure Refiners, practitioners of this art were Demon Cultivators disguised in righteous robes. Spiritual Treasure-level Artifact Refiners were masters deeply devoted to the art of Refining Treasures, exceptionally skilled in Artifact Refining. Creating a Spiritual Treasure imbued with intelligence was akin to creating life. You pour your heart and soul, your emotions, into crafting this masterpiece, and then someone comes along and... eats it. Any Spirit Treasure Refiner who learned of this would be infuriated enough to have a stroke; naturally, they held them in disdain.

The vast majority of Artifact Refiners refused to craft Spiritual Treasures for Ancestor Jikong’s lineage. The few who did would charge exorbitant prices, making a killing. Senior Brother Qingge and Senior Sister Huiling were acutely affected by this, forced to resort to market stalls to acquire Spiritual Treasures. Even then, they couldn’t avoid being ruthlessly fleeced by unscrupulous merchants within their own Sect.

If Ancestor Jikong’s lineage could produce its own Spirit Treasure Refiner, we wouldn’t have to suck up to others and could buy Spiritual Treasures at normal prices! they hoped.

"I’m fairly proficient in Artifact Refining, though still some way off from being able to create Spiritual Treasures."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Qingge."

Before I reach the Divinity Transformation Stage, I don’t want to divert my focus to Artifact Refining, Jia Ren thought, using this as an excuse. After cultivating the Spirit Devouring Treasure Art, if I have any surplus Spiritual Treasures, selling them to my dear Senior Brother and Senior Sister here would be a good option.

"Junior Brother Jia, you must work hard! Your Senior Brother and Senior Sister are counting on you for our Spiritual Treasures!" Qingge exclaimed.

"I’ll take you to Heterodox Peak to claim your True Disciple Robe now."

Senior Brother Qingge’s mood could change faster than flipping a page.

It’s rare to find a junior brother with talent in Refining Treasures; I must naturally cherish him, he thought.