Inside Tianyi’s inner world, there seemed to have an additional sense of completeness and order that was not present before. It was an invisible feeling that could not be formed into words.
Tianyi’s soul had fallen down back down within a Core Formation Master’s level, but his soul was even more pure and dense than before. And it was quickly rising in strength once more. Before long, with half the effort and half the time, his soul would return to the threshold of a Nascent Soul Grandmaster.
Recalling the attack from Monarch Soulfish, Tianyi felt sweat sliding down his neck. Just from the immortal’s title as Monarch Soulfish, Tianyi would have to be a nitwit to not come to the correct assumption that Monarch Soulfish was a soul cultivator.
The attack of Soul Cultivator was mysterious and unfathomable. Those of the same realm would not dare to take one lightly. So how in the world did I offend this Monarch Soulfish to lower himself to attack me? He called me an outsider. Does he have a history with the Dragon Emperor, or… is he referring to my status as a transmigrator?
Right after Tianyi found a solution to his cultivation problems, another problem arose. After experiencing the queer attacks of a Soul Cultivator, Tianyi greatly desired a soul cultivation method. Or at the very least, a soul defensive method.
He had been lucky that the Three Pure True Self visualization technique had saved him from Monarch Soulfish’s attack, but ultimately he didn’t know how or why it saved his life. Instead of relying on chance, Tianyi would rather control a method in his own hands.
Tianyi resolved to cultivate a soul cultivation manual as soon as possible. And for the foreseeable, Tianyi will refuse to exit the sect. At least until his mother came back or a Monarch level immortal was accompanying him. The situation concerning his ambush was queer. How did Monarch Soulfish know where his location in the endless seas?
Monarch Soulfish didn’t happen to pass by and then attack since he was an “outsider” as Monarch called Tianyi, but rather lay down an ambush. Although it seemed that not much effort in the ambush, coupled with Tianyi’s treasures and Elder Meng’s help, he escaped in the end. Perhaps Elder Meng had called forth Grand Elder Zhang.
And the timing of Elder Meng was extremely on point as if she was there the whole time. But Tianyi could not answer these questions now that Elder Meng wasn’t here. At the very least, Elder Meng protected him.
Tianyi opened his eyes once more, and his heart felt at peace when he saw that he was once more in his room. For several years, he had not visited the Jade Lotus Clear Pond as it would have caused his cultivation to increase. Since it was collecting dust, Tianyi allowed Daoyi to cultivate within it.
Leaving his room, he heard the tall tale signs of Daoyi. The clacking sounds of her new footwear against the tiles were too prominent to ignore.
“Senior brother!” Daoyi greeted, a slight smile blossoming on her face.
Tianyi had a gaze slightly upward to see Daoyi’s eyes. He held his chin as he looked Daoyi up and down. When he first returned, the two of them were at the same height after his sudden growth spurt. But after giving the platform shoes, their eye level was not on the same level anymore.
He felt like he had shot himself in the foot. Finally after returning, at the very least he would be the same height and have the dignity as a senior brother, but because of his own hands, it was not to be. Daoyi was actually shorter than average female cultivators as well, which made his own height even more suspect.
Throwing the thought back into his mind, Tianyi asked. “Junior sister Daoyi, I am going to visit older cousin Ri, would you like to join me?”
“Brother Ri? I haven’t been able to see him lately because of stabilizing my cultivation. After the first time you helped him, in all these years he never needed your aid. Brother Ri is indeed slick in managing relations. I heard that he has more than a hundred disciples willing to come to arms should something occur.” Daoyi said, admiration in her voice.
Tianyi blinked as he thought about it. Having 100 people willing to defend was indeed good, in reverse he only had… maybe not even 5? He seldom left Jade Peak Mountain and the only relationships he had were those of higher cultivation bases. Once compared, Tianyi felt that he had to work on his interpersonal relationship more.
“What about you, junior sister? Brother Ri has more than 100 friends, I recall that you had a few good sisters you like to hang out with.” Tianyi asked.
“Indeed, but lately everyone has been busy with cultivation. So the chances of meeting them have decreased.” Daoyi said.
Tianyi and Daoyi reached the foot of the mountain, Tianyi unsheathed the sword on his waist and increased its size before looking at Daoyi. Daoyi however pulled out a silver hairpin in her hair and with a few hand seals increased its size and stepped onto the enlarged floating hairpin.
Seeing the questioning look on Tianyi’s face, Daoyi said, “The flower fairies gifted me with this hairpin after I reached the Foundation Establishment stage, so I don’t need to always rely on senior brother to travel from now on.”
Tianyi felt as if one of his features as a senior brother had just been crippled. He looked at his needlessly enlarged sword. He gritted his teeth and stepped out on it and flew off with Daoyi, not planning on decreasing its size.
When Tianyi and Daoyi found Xi Ri, he was fiddling with a large stone board 2 feet by 1 foot large. With a single glance, Tianyi could identify the many formations engraved on that board. Xi Ri also no longer had his usual carefree demeanor and instead appeared rather fatigued with bags under his eyes.
“Older cousin Ri, what are you doing?” Xi Ri was so absorbed into his work that he hadn’t noticed Tianyi or Daoyi entering.
“Nothing much, senior brother.” Xi Ri said as he lifted his head for a look before focusing once more on his project. He suddenly paused and his head shot up and looked at Tianyi in disbelief. “Tianyi! You’re back!”
Xi Ri stood up from his engraving and walked in front of Tianyi, excitement in his eyes. He reached his hand out as if unsure of whether to move forward or not. Tianyi upon seeing this could not help smile helplessly, he moved forward and gave Xi Ri a hug. “Just this once.”
Separating from the hug, the two of them shared a laugh. “Older cousin Ri, I have a good thing for you.”
Xi Ri paused before stopping Tianyi. “Senior brother, sit down first. It’s not suitable for us to talk here, let’s go to the main hall.”
The three of them all sat at a table as Tianyi explained his experiences once more. Daoyi already heard some before, but when Tianyi retold it, he gave details that he did not give before. Xi Ri sighed at Tianyi’s adventure, although the journey was perilous near the beginning and the end, Tianyi made it back. Of course, he did not tell everything, such as his dream and the matter of the Dragon Emperor clones.
“That Roving Dragon is a genius, being able to mature in such an environment.” Xi Ri said without inflection in his voice. “But to use his position as the ruler of the land to turn women in Living Pills. There is a bottom line that we humans cannot breach. Otherwise what would make us different from them, cannibalizing one another not even for survival.”
There was a tone of disdain in the mild voice of Xi Ri.
“Cannibalizing, huh?” Tianyi said as he sipped his tea. It indeed can be considered a type of cannibalization. The act of eating something was to gain nutrients from that thing. How was this any different from absorbing another person to nurture oneself?
Tianyi recalled Xi Longyi’s words towards Lei Jingye. He had refined countless mortals in order to increase his cultivation with no regard for his future. This type of person once pushed into a corner, there would not be many things he would not do once pushed to it. Especially after he had already done it once.
“But senior brother, is it really fine for you to give me the Spring Autumn Scripture? Among the inner disciples, my talent cannot be considered too outstanding. You must have paid a price.” Xi Ri said, concern evident in his voice.
Tianyi felt his eyes light up, not immediately rushing forward to accept it, it can be seen that Xi Ri was one who thought for others. “Don’t worry about it. I found it, so letting one person learn it won’t cost much to me. I didn’t choose you for your talent, I chose you because of your character. Otherwise, if I disliked your character, don’t mention helping you get a cultivation manual. I wouldn’t even bother talking to you.”
There’s also the fact that I don’t really need anything. If I need anything, I would just wait until my mother comes back. Having a powerful backing sure is helpful. Hm, speaking of powerful backing. I wonder when Bai Tiezi would finally reach the Three Continents?
“Senior brother, are you so sure that I would be able to cultivate it? It requires extreme talent in regards to time or space, does it not?” Xi Ri said.
Tianyi just waved him off. “If you can’t I’ll just find another manual for you. With my merits, I can definitely procure another manual for you. Don’t be polite, just take it. Otherwise, I’ll just leave it here and leave.”
“Brother Ri, just take it. Senior brother has more wealth than he knows what to with.” Daoyi added. Tianyi as if he just got called a good for nothing second generation. He was good for things! Thinking about it, Tianyi couldn’t recall anything he did well besides cultivating and finding the Spring Autumn Scripture.
Wait… don’t tell me I really am a good-for-nothing aside from cultivation? I haven’t even led any junior brothers or sisters into a tempering mission. If I don’t do something innovative, it would sully my status as a transmigrator!
Xi Ri, seeing that Tianyi was iron-willed in his decision, accepted it. Like with Bai Tiezi, Tianyi used spiritual sense to impart the technique to Xi Ri. Compared to the time with Bai Tiezi, Tianyi was much gentler, only giving the Foundation Establishment and Core Formation chapters of the manual.
Xi Ri as expected sunk into a daze. But Tianyi and Daoyi didn’t leave and instead continued to eat the snacks and converse.
“Junior sister, now that you’ve reached the Foundation Establishment realm, have you decided on a weapon?” Tianyi asked. If she did not have one. He could give her many recommendations.
Daoyi as if sensing Tianyi’s intent immediately pulled out a guqin from her spatial pouch. It was of waxed blackwood. The strings appeared to be made of silver, and there was a silver vine-like design etched into it.
Daoyi hugged it as if it was the most precious thing in the world. “No need for you to worry senior brother. I’ve already selected the Nine Nether Notes, although it isn’t as powerful in the lower stages, once I reach a higher mastery I can unleash moves that even attack the soul. I love it, merging music with my weapon, it is perfect.”
Seeing his junior sister’s apparent decision, Tianyi couldn’t help but feel a bit despondent. His junior sister looked so harmless with her elfin status and that alluring face of hers. Imagine the shock her enemies would feel once she pulled out a giant ax and came slashing forward like a berserker.
“Have you decided on a martial cultivation? Dual cultivating both spiritual and martial ways has many advantages.” Tianyi asked, maybe he could give it to her as a backup weapon.
Daoyi shook her head. “Master said that I should focus on cultivating to the Core Formation realm before I cultivate a different system.”
“Oh, I see mother has it planned out.” Tianyi felt disappointed. Oh, how great it would be to have a soft and gentle looking fairy suddenly whip out a saber a foot thick and 10 feet long. The shock factor would have made it worth it, especially if she had a berserker-like style.
Maybe I should accept a disciple once I reach the Nascent Soul realm. Pick a cute-looking disciple and make her a berserker who only uses giant weaponry. Just thinking about it made Tianyi anticipate her opponent’s reaction. It’d be even better if she had a Heavenly Water Spiritual Vein. That will definitely be trouble for her in the future! Of course, I, as her master, will definitely back her up if she gets bullied.
Tianyi and Daoyi moved to a different topic while waiting for Xi Ri. However, Xi Ri woke up unexpectedly quickly and his eyes were shining.
“Senior brother, I feel as if I am extremely suited towards time and space.” Xi Ri said.
Tianyi tested Xi Ri’s comprehension of the Spring Autumn Scripture and he discovered that Xi Ri’s talent in time and space was actually only a little inferior to his own! Tianyi held his chin in his finger. Does the Xi Imperial Family have a unique talent in spacetime? Do we actually have a bloodline? Impossible, if we did, then mother would have known. I guess I can just chalk it up to good luck.
“By the way, older cousin Ri, what is that you were working on?” Tianyi asked.
“Oh that?” Xi Ri smiled a little sheepishly. “It’s a little project I’m working on. Using jade slips to deliver messages felt too cumbersome to me so I’d thought I’d create a new tool to facilitate it.
“…” Tianyi, who wasn’t close to anyone and didn’t message other people.
“Right now I’m trying to install a formation that will allow two plates to message each other back and forth by linking the two plates.” Xi Ri’s idea was good. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the abilities. “But I’m not skilled in formations, so I can only slowly experiment. The version I have now is too big and I haven’t figured out a way to link them.”
“I’m skilled in formations,” Tianyi said. As the Heartless Sword Art was based on the concept of formations and using the path to defeat your opponents, Tianyi was actually quite skilled in formations. He didn’t know how skilled, but at the very least above the average disciple who focused on studying formations at least.
But that wasn’t what made Tianyi want to help. Wouldn’t this become a texting device? Cultivators texting each other, pft! Thinking of such a thought, Tianyi’s image of cultivators couldn’t help but fracture a little.
“Why stop at messaging? Why not include voice transmission into the features?” Tianyi asked.
“What about recording a scene and then replaying it?” Daoyi who also appeared quite interested added.
Xi Ri, seeing the expectant look on the two’s face, couldn’t help but laugh helplessly. “I’m having trouble just getting the message feature to work, how can I focus on anything else?”
“I can help, I’m actually quite interested,” Tianyi said. If I can help Xi Ri, wouldn’t that mean I could finally do something transmigrator like? Besides, with the advent of the cellphone, there definitely needs to be the internet. I won’t be so bored anymore!