Chapter 67: The Thousand-Faced Transformation Technique, Main Quest—Foundation Establishment!

A cultivator’s magical artifact possesses spiritual energy; without it, it is nothing more than scrap metal. The spiritual energy of ordinary artifacts comes from the spiritual materials used in their forging. The artifact craftsman integrates the spiritual essence of various materials into one during the process. When this spiritual energy is gathered, its most direct manifestation is the emergence of spiritual restrictions. However, this energy is of the “dead” kind—it does not pulse with life, nor does it grow, but rather diminishes after suffering severe damage.

Shen Lian could sense the spiritual energy emanating from the five-colored ring, as if—almost as if—it was about to sprout intelligence, to develop a mind of its own. For now, he could only perceive a faint trace of spiritual movement. He had tried several times to communicate with it via his spiritual sense, but was unable to connect to the same frequency. Clearly, the spiritual energy was only beginning to awaken and would require more time to nurture.

“Is it really about to give birth to an artifact spirit?” he wondered.

Even the treasures wielded by Golden Core ancestors struggled to produce an artifact spirit. It was only the spiritual treasures of Nascent Soul masters that might do so. Legend had it that once a high-grade spiritual treasure developed an artifact spirit, it would autonomously derive the Treasure Control Art—a technique that enabled the artifact spirit to command its treasure fully, allowing the wielder to unleash its true power. Without this art, even possession of the spiritual treasure would not grant its proper strength.

Now, Shen Lian was increasingly convinced that his Five-Element Mountain had truly absorbed the five-colored stone within. He recalled rumors he had heard: the stone nurturers under a Nascent Soul ancestor had vanished, supposedly fleeing south. He, however, had escaped north. But then, why would a stone nurturer flee south? Shouldn’t such a person be as cautious as himself? In the Ninefold Immortal City, he had caused a stir by cultivating a Five-Element technique at the Golden Core level, almost making himself infamous. It didn’t quite add up.

Shen Lian carefully examined the fluctuations of spiritual energy in his body. Just recently, his Earth spiritual root had increased by two points, causing a dual disturbance of Five-Element spiritual energy and the Primordial Five Qi within him.

“Is this the result of the Earth root’s increase, with Fire and Earth generating each other? Or is it simply that the artifact spirit happened to begin forming now?”

He hadn’t expected such a situation, so the sudden emergence of spiritual energy caught him off guard. “No matter what, I must use the Five-Element Mountain sparingly from now on. Whenever I do, I must destroy all traces.”

He stowed away the Five-Element Mountain; its spiritual energy was still inaccessible, so he would have to wait for another moment of insight to confirm things further.

Tidying himself, he withdrew the second-grade formation he had set up in his room, then descended the stairs.

Downstairs, he glanced at the shop, which was even cleaner than his own storage pouch, and shook his head lightly. “It seems I really do need to hire someone to watch the shop.”

Today, he planned to go out and sell some elixirs, as well as purchase a few spiritual items. Running a pill shop yet sneaking out to sell goods—he found it rather amusing. The main reason was impatience; he wanted to buy a disguise spell and couldn’t keep sticking talismans to his face every day. Otherwise, he’d end up like Old Master Ren, buried upright.

Black Whale City was full of major trading halls, offering plenty of choices.

Over the next month, Shen Lian sold batches of talismans and elixirs at several large shops throughout the city.

Low-grade spirit stones +25,000.

…

“This Thousand Faces Transformation is truly remarkable—well worth the twenty-three thousand stones it cost.”

On the second floor of the Serene Heart Pill Shop, shrouded in a second-grade formation, Shen Lian watched the reflection in the water mirror: a fair-faced youth with rosy lips and white teeth. He nodded in satisfaction.

He then wiped his face, and as his features shifted, his physique subtly altered as well, becoming utterly ordinary and unremarkable. His complexion was neither dark nor light, and there were no distinguishing marks—nothing memorable at all.

This secret art, which he had purchased from the Mountain-Sea Pavilion, not only allowed him to shape his face as he pleased but also to alter his physique and skin tone. Even a False Core cultivator would struggle to see through the disguise; as for Golden Core masters, it would depend on luck.

It was far superior to talismans.

The technique established a new internal circulation route; maintaining it required a bit of spiritual energy, but that posed no issue for Shen Lian.

At last, he could fix both his face and physique.

Finally, Shen Lian fashioned himself an utterly average countenance.

“I am Ting Xiu, manager of the Serene Heart Pill Shop. Fellow cultivator, what kind of elixir do you seek?”

…

With a fixed face, he could at last pursue cultivation in an orderly manner.

Main quest:

Raise spiritual energy to the peak of Qi Condensation, ninth layer.

Further improve the values of the Gold, Wood, Water, and Earth spiritual roots, to condense the Five-Element Dao Foundation as supplementary power for Foundation Establishment.

Prepare for Foundation Establishment; seek a suitable location.

Side quests:

Increase beast-taming proficiency; collect spiritual items; conduct the first artificial activation of Dahei and Sanqian’s bloodline.

Clarify the spiritual energy within the Five-Element Mountain.

Gather information about the Five-Element roots and stone nurturers.

Explore the area around Black Whale Island to find one or more backup refuges, just in case, and have Dahei build a nest in advance.

To be continued…

...

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

The Serene Heart Pill Shop was thriving.

He now had returning customers.

At dawn, Shen Lian finished his cultivation and descended from the second floor.

Downstairs, the shop was already open. A thin girl, barely in her teens, was dusting with a feather brush. Seeing Shen Lian, she bowed respectfully.

This was Luo Fei, the tomboy he had met earlier.

There was also a boy named Luo Yang; the two were siblings, born to itinerant cultivators in Black Whale City who had died several years ago.

Both had spiritual roots, but only of the lowest quality, leaving them to scrape by in Black Whale City.

Half a month ago, Shen Lian had hired them. He needed someone to watch the shop—he had to cultivate, refine pills, and sometimes go out, so he couldn’t rely on himself alone.

Truth be told, the two had earned their way in over the previous four or five months. Sometimes when Shen Lian hadn’t opened the door, the siblings would sweep the area outside.

He could have hired anyone, so he brought them inside.

Of course, he used a Heart-Inquiry Talisman—a top-grade first-tier talisman. For two Qi Condensation cultivators in the first layer, it compelled them to disclose everything about their backgrounds.

It also revealed their desire to learn useful skills from a pill master.

As for whether they might develop ulterior motives later, Shen Lian wasn’t concerned; he could draw Heart-Inquiry Talismans at will.

As manager, it was reasonable to check in on his employees’ thoughts from time to time.

If they ever developed improper intentions, it would be simple enough: slip them into a storage pouch and toss them into the sea outside the city.

Before long, Luo Yang returned from outside.

“Senior, these are freshly steamed spirit meat buns from the street corner.”

He placed the food before Shen Lian.

...

“Senior, while buying buns just now, I heard there’s a new test platform set up by the Cloud Ascension Sect. Any cultivator who hasn’t established their foundation can try it; those who pass have a chance to join the sect.”

Luo Yang bowed his head and recounted the news he’d overheard.

His senior liked gossip and had him report any tidbits from the street each day.

After hearing the news, Shen Lian waved him off, and Luo Yang went to help Luo Fei clean the shop.

The siblings were diligent, clearly hoping to learn something from Shen Lian.

Naturally, they didn’t dare make demands, only wishing to work hard enough to earn his favor and receive the occasional gift.

There were plenty of shops in Black Whale City—whether alchemy, artifact forging, or talisman-making. If one wanted to learn a trade, three to five years of honest labor was considered good.

Teaching them a bit was nothing to Shen Lian; even tossing them some basic knowledge about first-tier herbs would keep them occupied for half a year.

It would depend on their future conduct; above all, they must not cause trouble.

At least while he remained in Black Whale City, they had to behave.

“Please, senior, come inside.”

After finishing the cleaning, Luo Yang went to the street to attract customers.

He needed no instructions; the boy was observant and quick-witted, always industrious.

Hearing voices outside, Shen Lian rose from his seat.

Though he was only passing time, business was business—it had to be earned.

Under Luo Yang’s guidance, a young man in fine robes entered.

“Senior, this is our manager and pill master.”

“Greetings, fellow cultivator,” Shen Lian said, standing behind the counter with a cupped fist. For some reason, his gesture reminded him of Weng Xia.

“So, you are the pill master,” replied the young cultivator, who was at the ninth layer of Qi Condensation, and courteously returned the greeting.

“May I ask, pill master, do you know of the Five-Element Meridians Harmonizing Pill?”

“The Five-Element Meridians Harmonizing Pill?” Shen Lian knew it well.

It was an exceedingly rare elixir, mainly because so few required it.

Its primary use was to harmonize the spiritual meridians of cultivators with Five-Element roots.

When practicing Five-Element techniques, or due to seclusion, battles, and other accidents, the internal meridians could become disordered or reversed. The Harmonizing Pill would restore them.

Such meridian disorder could range from minor to serious; even without the pill, time could heal it—but if someone sought the pill, matters were likely severe.

The visitor’s search implied the injured cultivator was still in the Qi Condensation stage.

As Shen Lian was considering whether to decline, footsteps sounded from outside.

“Senior brother, how is it? We checked the other pill shops on the street but found nothing.”

A man and a woman entered.

“The Five-Element Meridians Harmonizing Pill is far too rare. Looks like Black Whale City doesn’t have any. In my opinion, we should return to the sect with Sister Luo.”

Glancing at the newcomers, Shen Lian offered an apologetic smile and cupped his hands.

“Forgive me. I am self-taught—never heard of a Five-Element Meridians Harmonizing Pill.”