CHAPTER 661: CHAPTER 269: THIS GREAT FAVOR, I ACCEPT (SEEKING MONTHLY VOTES)_3

Concerns of what lies behind us have now been largely dispelled.

"Palace Master, just as Academician Kou Jing said, this Primordial Spirit is truly infinitely useful. Once it has been condensed, Heaven and Earth themselves seem different. The Fire Origin Star Patterns of the Middle Eighth Tier that I couldn’t fathom before are now suddenly becoming clearer." Elder Peng remarked.

Hearing this, National Master Cheng Yuxiao burst into an even broader smile, "It seems that Elder Peng’s likelihood of achieving the Eighth Tier has increased."

"Indeed! Even if I don’t reach the Eighth Tier, my combat power has already improved significantly. If I were to encounter an event similar to Hu Zhen’s case, I would now be of use. I could hold my own against an expert of the Early Stage Eighth Rank." Elder Peng said.

"Ha-ha-ha, good, very good! That’s wonderful! Once Elder Peng makes his breakthrough, I won’t have to be as constrained as I was in the past," Cheng Yuxiao replied.

As Elder Peng nodded, he presented a jade token, "Palace Master, I used sixty percent of the reserve within the jade token during my breakthrough, leaving forty percent remaining, which is roughly equivalent to the drug efficacy of about 45 Dragon Turtle Soul Refining Pills."

"Good, you and Academician Kou can use what’s left; at a minimum, it should suffice to help one person achieve breakthrough."

"We shouldn’t delay. Palace Master, it’s best you make your breakthrough sooner rather than later, the earlier you succeed, the sooner you’ll be at ease," Elder Peng advised.

"That sounds good, I’ll do it now."

With that, Cheng Yuxiao proceeded to the rear hall and began absorbing the Divine Soul Power from within the jade token. In just an hour, the back hall began to resonate with surging Divine Soul fluctuations. For some reason, however, when National Master Cheng Yue Xiao fully condensed his Primordial Spirit, the commotion lasted longer than both Kou Jing’s and Elder Peng’s.

It persisted for a full 15 minutes before concluding.

After 15 minutes, Cheng Yuxiao emerged from the rear hall, spirited and radiant. His entire presence appeared to shine with a luminous quality, exuding an even more gentle and restrained manner, but with an aura that was now impenetrably profound.

"Congratulations, Palace Master."

Cheng Yuxiao nodded with a smile, "Indeed, once the Primordial Spirit is condensed, Heaven and Earth truly appear different. Many puzzles that I encountered while studying the Star Patterns suddenly became clear, and even integrated seamlessly."

"It looks like the Palace Master can now derive several Star Patterns," Elder Peng commented with a smile.

"Certainly! But now that I’ve made the breakthrough, Elder Peng, please personally journey to the Wood Spirit Palace on behalf of Xu Jin and trade for the Thunder Origin Star Pattern. It’s essential to bring along the Low-level Star Healing, and as for the rest, bring what you can, Elder Peng," National Master Cheng Yue Xiao instructed.

"Right, I’ll go now."

Moments later, Chief Peng stepped directly into the Star-picking Tower and was transported away through a Star Gate.

Cheng Yuxiao looked at the three jade tokens in his hand and began to plan. When he broke through, he only used forty-five percent of the Divine Soul Power within that jade token, leaving fifty-five percent unused.

Three Star Jade tokens - one with thirty percent of Divine Soul Power remaining, another with forty percent, and another with fifty-five percent. As long as his luck wasn’t too bad, and with the aid of two Dragon Turtle Refining Pills, helping two people achieve breakthroughs wouldn’t be a problem. With good fortune, there might even be some to spare.

After glancing in the direction of the Star Tower, seeing that Meng Yanhui was still on duty, and Dai Guanwen was also present making it inopportune to call them away, he decided to invite Ji Bang first. Now that there was an opportunity, it was time to repay the Ji Family properly.

While contemplating, Cheng Yuxiao sent a Starlight Transmission to Ji Bang, the Dean of the Great Chen Wan County Taoist Institute.

[Uncle Ji, come quickly.]

Summoned by the National Master, Ji Bang, despite his seniority, hurried over as quickly as possible. Moreover, Ji Bang had always held National Master Cheng Yuxiao in great respect.

"State Preceptor, may I know the reason for your summon?" Ji Bang asked urgently upon arrival.

National Master Cheng Yue Xiao smiled, not in a hurry to explain, but instead asked with a smile, "As I recall, Uncle Ji, you turned 105 this year, right?"

After stroking his partially white beard, Ji Bang responded with surprise, "Why is the State Preceptor concerned about an old man’s age? I would be considered a senior brother to your teacher, seven years his senior, which makes me 108 this year. Yet, I am still capable of serving Dachen for another two or three decades. Does the State Preceptor find me too old and decrepit?"

"Why would I!?"

Cheng Yuxiao laughed, "Uncle Ji is one hundred and eight now. If my master were still alive, he would be one hundred and one."

Hearing this, Ji Bang’s expression turned solemn, but Cheng Yuxiao continued, "I wonder, does Uncle Ji have any wishes now?"

"Wishes?"

Ji Bang pondered for a moment, feeling as if there was a deeper meaning in Cheng Yuxiao’s words, before he slowly said, "Wishes? I only wish for Dachen Country to prosper and its people to be at peace, and to see the national strength further increase under the leadership of the State Preceptor. Oh, and there’s my most precious granddaughter; I hope to see her break through to the Sixth Tier within my lifetime. Then, I would be content."

"Has Uncle Ji not considered something for himself?"

"Considered what?"

"For example, prolonging your life?"

At that, Ji Bang gave a bitter smile, "I wish I could! Unfortunately, I have failed in achieving breakthroughs in the Water Series, Gold Series, and Wind Series. The Fire Series conflicts too much with my main Water Series cultivation, and I don’t wish to delve into it. As for cultivating the Earth Series, the chances of making a breakthrough below the Seventh Tier are just too low."

"As for condensing the Primordial Spirit, you, the State Preceptor, haven’t made a breakthrough for so many years, nor has Elder Peng. How am I supposed to make a breakthrough? It’s too difficult..."

While he was speaking, Ji Bang’s expression suddenly froze in surprise.

He saw a halo of light unexpectedly appear above State Preceptor Cheng Yuxiao’s head, and within that halo was a miniature version of Cheng Yuxiao, giving a bow with a smile.

"State Preceptor, you... you’ve made a breakthrough? You’ve condensed the Primordial Spirit!"

"That’s right."

Cheng Yuxiao nodded, and while Ji Bang congratulated him, he suddenly became stupefied again.

Ji Bang had been in the officialdom for so long, with so many years behind him. At this moment, he realized that State Preceptor Cheng Yuxiao urgently summoning him here could not possibly be just to boast about his Primordial Spirit.

If Cheng Yuxiao were that foolish, Great Chen would have perished long ago!

Then...

Thinking of a certain possibility, Ji Bang’s heart trembled.

If it was really like that, he might actually prolong his life! To live! Who would choose death?

In the next instant, Cheng Yuxiao already slapped two pieces of Star Jade into Ji Bang’s hands and informed him of their usage.

"This... this is too precious! State Preceptor, you must have paid a tremendous price to obtain these, right?"

"It wasn’t me."

"Oh? Then these are?" Ji Bang was now the one surprised.

"I cannot go into the details, but whether it’s for me or for Uncle Ji, all we need to do is to be grateful to Xu Jin. He went through enormous efforts, risking his life to acquire these and specifically requested that they be given to you and me among a few others!" Cheng Yuxiao explained.

"Xu Jin?"

"Specifically requested?"

The State Preceptor’s brief words contained a wealth of information, leaving Ji Bang stunned on the spot.

Such precious items, and Xu Jin had specifically asked for them to be given to him... This...

After a long while, Ji Bang, surmising a certain possibility, gently nodded in acknowledgement.

"State Preceptor, I won’t say thank you. But I, Ji Bang, accept this massive favor from you and young Xu Jin!"

"I’ll borrow the main hall for a moment, please act as my protector, State Preceptor."

Having said that, Ji Bang took the two pieces of Star Jade and went straight into the back hall.