: Obtaining the Spirit Boat

Author: Gu Zhenren

Date: 2024-11-18

Another Dharma Body, having fought long, retreated and revealed his form.

This man had a broad forehead and ink-black hair tied simply with a cloth strip. His figure was tall and slender, his steps unhurried, dressed in a plain robe with a green medicine pouch and a simple bamboo flute hanging from his belt. In one hand, he held a knotted wooden staff, and in the other, a notebook titled *Xu Xing's Records*.

He was yet another historical celebrity, his image classic in various texts. Everyone recognized him at once.

Xu Xing!

A famous wanderer who had traveled across famous mountains and great rivers, explored lakes and seas, and ventured into perilous secret realms multiple times. The travelogues he left behind, known as *Xu Xing's Records*, were highly sought after by later generations.

There were sixteen volumes in total, but since Xu Xing's death, they had never been fully collected. Many volumes, documenting the exploration and access methods of secret realms, were tightly controlled by major factions and forbidden from dissemination.

Xu Xing, who held a fondness for outstanding juniors like Ning Zhuo, eagerly explained, "This brings us to the limits of the Luminous Reflection Wall and the origins of the imperial dynasties."

"The Luminous Reflection Wall took shape during Emperor Wu's era when the world had yet to assimilate the paths of demons and monsters. The wall was confined to the inherent principles of heaven and earth."

"Thus, while it could reflect the ways of the Five Elements, Qian and Kun, Yin and Yang, the Four Symbols, and the Eight Trigrams, it could not reflect the ways of demons and monsters."

Ning Zhuo began to grasp something.

Xu Xing continued, "This world has three great imperial dynasties, each fundamentally arising from the flourishing of external paths that shattered the old order."

"For example, the Bloodslaught Dynasty emerged when the principles of demons and monsters were captured by the world, introducing demons and monsters into existence."

"After the Forbidden Dynasty, gods and buddhas appeared in the world."

"Following the Night Rain Dynasty, ghosts and spirits came into being."

"The external paths capable of brewing imperial dynasties were exceptionally dominant, triggering upheavals in the world and reshuffling of powers."

"However, the Luminous Reflection Wall is fragile against these external paths and cannot reflect them. Only after the world adapts and assimilates them can the wall benefit and incorporate aspects of these external paths."

The Lord of Five Elements interjected, "Earlier, the purple blade mark you unleashed, Ning Zhuo, originated from the Night Rain Dynasty—a manifestation of the ghost and spirit external path."

"The Luminous Reflection Wall couldn't assimilate it and failed to reflect it. Though the damage was minimal, the essence couldn't be erased, so it had to be expelled."

Ning Zhuo was enlightened.

The Luminous Reflection Wall was crafted too far back in antiquity, inherently limited and unable to adapt to external paths.

Even after all these years since the Night Rain Dynasty, it still couldn't accommodate the ways of ghosts and spirits, resorting only to expulsion.

Thus, whenever a new imperial dynasty emerges, it signifies the world's absorption of an exceptionally dominant external path. During such times, the talents and masters who rise to prominence are those excelling in these external paths.

For such individuals, the Luminous Reflection Wall cannot reflect them, and they pose a threat to the wall.

Hence, with each imperial dynasty, the wall sinks into the earth's core, hiding from the world.

This also explains why the Lord of Five Elements was so astonished upon seeing the purple blade mark earlier.

By convention, the Luminous Reflection Wall absorbs the Dharma Bodies of later generations, and as an elder here, the Lord of Five Elements should have long been familiar with such phenomena. Yet, upon witnessing the purple blade mark, he was visibly shaken and surprised.

The Luminous Reflection Wall withdrew from the grand eras of the Forbidden and Night Rain Dynasties. Though it missed much excitement, this very act ensured its survival to this day!

The Serene Jade Immortal Consort took the initiative to discuss cooperation with everyone.

Previously, through the Sage of Grasses, she had informed Lin Bufan to encourage martial demonstrations within the Valley of Ten Thousand Medicines to attract outstanding descendants for the wall to reflect.

However, those Lin Bufan could attract were only at the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core levels—far insufficient for the Luminous Reflection Wall.

Now, with Ning Zhuo representing the Ning family and Zhu Xuanji representing the Southern Bean royalty, the Serene Jade Immortal Consort had more options.

She hoped that Ning Zhuo, Zhu Xuanji, and others could recruit talented junior cultivators for the wall—the higher their strength and aptitude, the better.

The Serene Jade Immortal Consort feared that centuries later, the emergence of an imperial dynasty would force the wall into seclusion for years. During that time, the demon nest within might evolve, and the existing Dharma Bodies might struggle to suppress the demonic resurgence, leading to the failure of containment and sealing.

Thus, at this juncture before the great contention era, she needed to absorb more combat strength.

To draw an analogy, the Luminous Reflection Wall is like a giant whale surfacing to gulp air before diving deep into the ocean for a long submersion.

At this moment, the air it needs to inhale should be as much and as high-quality as possible.

But the Serene Jade Immortal Consort didn't want to make a big show of it.

After all, the Luminous Reflection Wall is a quasi-immortal artifact of immense value. If it attracted the attention of major contemporary powers or profound cultivators who might seize it for themselves, that would be unfortunate.

Worse yet, if it fell into the hands of scheming cultivators or became entangled in factional strife, disrupting or damaging the wall's seals and suppressions, it would utterly defy its original purpose!

Faced with the Serene Jade Immortal Consort's proposal for cooperation, Lin Bufan's expression was complex, while the Zhu and Ning factions gladly agreed.

Who in their right mind would refuse such an offer?!

The demon nest represents an endless source of materials and wealth.

The countless Dharma Bodies of past sages represent numerous excellent legacies.

Used properly, the Luminous Reflection Wall could become the ultimate training and drilling ground.

The Ten Thousand Medicines Sect, the Ning family, the Zhu family, and even the Southern Bean Kingdom's national strength would all see improvements through this collaboration!

The negotiations for this cooperation lasted three days and nights.

After reaching an agreement, Ning Zhuo, with heavy dark circles under his eyes, collapsed into sleep.

When he woke the next day, he still felt mentally exhausted and listless, having given his all in the negotiations.

But there was no other way!

The stakes involved were so enormous that he had to fight for every advantage. Every extra gain now would multiply the development speed of the entire Ning branch family severalfold, even dozens of times! Their future strength would expand exponentially.

Ning Zhuo and Ning Jiufan worked as one, leveraging the Zhu family's influence, sidelining the Ten Thousand Medicines Sect, arguing fiercely with the Serene Jade Immortal Consort, and enlisting Linghu Jiu's help while exploiting connections with the Lord of Five Elements and the Lonely Sword Lord, stubbornly haggling all the way. Their tactics left Linghu Jiu dumbfounded and Lin Shanshan grinding her teeth in frustration.

In the end, Ning Zhuo managed to bite off a hefty chunk.

As long as the cooperation continues, for nearly five hundred years, Ning Zhuo and the entire Ning clan would benefit immensely, with the branch family's development speed surging once again, leaping forward by a large margin!

Valley of Ten Thousand Medicines.

In the highest-grade medicinal field formation, Ning Zhuo bowed. "Miss Lin."

Lin Shanshan shot him an annoyed glare, then bowed to Ning Jiufan, who had come with him. "Elder Ning, Young Master Ning, please follow me this way."

During the previous negotiations, Ning Zhuo had practically torn off all pretenses, repeatedly arguing heatedly with Lin Bufan, further offending the sect leader's daughter.

Their relationship, which had slightly thawed before, froze over again.

So much so that when Ning Zhuo tried to strike up a conversation with Lin Shanshan, he received no response.

Lin Shanshan led Ning Zhuo into the inner formation.

There, he saw Lin Bufan again, along with the Hidden Spirit Willow.

The willow now showed hints of green, its originally withered branches at least half restored, looking much better compared to its near-death state.

Ning Jiufan stroked his beard and praised, "Young man, I told you entrusting this spiritual plant to Sect Leader Lin was the right choice."

Ning Zhuo was overjoyed, circling the tree three times and patting its trunk. "Old Willow, I went through immense hardship to save you. It's wonderful."

The willow branches gently swayed as if trying to brush against Ning Zhuo but only trembled slightly, stopping midway, like a convalescent failing to lift a hand, lacking strength.

Lin Bufan: "..."

He felt speechless and immediately pointed out that reviving this Hidden Spirit Willow had required deploying various rare resources. He had given his all, even mobilizing the sect's elders to collaborate, exhausting their efforts to achieve this result.

The implication was clear: how could Ning Zhuo claim all the credit?

Ning Zhuo waved his hand. "Ah, Sect Leader Lin, we've already signed the alliance; we're on the same side now. Isn't your achievement also my achievement? Why split hairs?"

Lin Bufan laughed in exasperation.

Lin Shanshan glared at Ning Zhuo, who grinned back at her, infuriating her further, yet she could do nothing about it.

Lin Bufan quickly composed himself.

After the previous negotiations, he had learned deeply of Ning Zhuo's shamelessness and thick skin. The latter excelled at using his junior status; often, when Lin Bufan wanted to deal with him, he was constrained by his elder position, unable to stoop too low without losing face.

"The spirit spring is here. The rest is up to you two." Lin Bufan pointed.

Ning Zhuo nodded repeatedly. "Sect Leader Lin, rest assured. Since the alliance is signed, lending the Ten-Thousand-Year Water Essences is settled. I won't go back on it."

With that, he retrieved two Ten-Thousand-Year Water Essences from the mechanical dragon at his waist and placed them into the spirit spring's eye.

These essences were, of course, gifts from the Serene Jade Immortal Consort after leaving the Luminous Reflection Wall—one for Ning Zhuo and one for Sun Lingtong.

But Elder Sun saw little use for the Water Essence and readily lent it to Ning Zhuo when asked.

With two essences in hand, Ning Zhuo used them as bargaining chips during negotiations to win over Lin Bufan.

That's because placing a Ten-Thousand-Year Water Essence in any body of water greatly amplifies it.

Seeing the essences placed, Lin Bufan confirmed and activated the formation, heavily concealing the spirit spring.

"Why wasn't Brother Linghu's essence placed here?" Ning Zhuo asked casually, puzzled.

Lin Bufan snorted coldly without answering.

Lin Shanshan rolled her eyes at Ning Zhuo and also didn't respond.

Ning Zhuo didn't press further. He walked up to Lin Bufan and held out his hand. "Sect Leader Lin?"

A moment later, Lin Bufan produced the Fetal Breath Spirit Boat. "This boat is a heritage treasure of our Ten Thousand Medicines Sect. I hope Young Master Ning Zhuo will safeguard it carefully."

Ning Zhuo replied, "Don't worry, Sect Leader Lin. My heritage treasure is here with you too."

He pointed at the Hidden Spirit Willow.

Then, stroking the small boat in his hand, he sighed. "Ah, as the branch family head, I've really worn myself out for my clansmen."

"I hope the Fetal Breath Spirit Boat can be of help to them."

With that, he tucked the Spirit Boat into his chest.

Even as he spoke, Ning Zhuo was already planning to burn this Spirit Boat as soon as possible to retrieve his mother's spiritual nature.

"The key is this boat is only borrowed. If I cremate it nearby, Lin Bufan will definitely sense it."

"Better to go farther away to do this!"

(End of )