Xiao Wuchen did not refuse the invitation from the Imperial Preceptor, Miaokong. He knew that within the core of imperial power, no one could easily refuse the preceptor of the Alchemy Academy. Moreover, he urgently needed an opportunity to gain access to more advanced cultivation knowledge in order to verify the authenticity of the incomplete text in his possession and understand the true meaning of "spiritual veins."
The Alchemy Academy was located in a secluded area in the northwest corner of the imperial city and differed from the solemn and desolate atmosphere of the Inner Palace. Here, the air was filled with a unique blend of herbal and mineral scents, along with a faint, invigorating fluctuation of spiritual energy.
Led by two guards dressed in black, Xiao Wuchen stepped through the academy's gates.
The academy's layout was ancient and simple, with massive stone cauldrons and furnaces burning with unknown flames scattered about. Even more striking were the intricate rune arrays carved into the ground in various places. These arrays were in operation, seemingly gathering and stabilizing some kind of power.
"Vice Commander Xiao, the Imperial Preceptor has been waiting for you for quite some time."
Xiao Wuchen was led into a quiet medicine hut. Master Miaokong, the Imperial Preceptor, was dressed in a plain Taoist robe and possessed an air of otherworldly elegance. Yet, his eyes gleamed with an unfathomable brilliance.
"Congratulations on ascending the Heavenly Ranking, Wuchen," the Preceptor greeted him with a gentle smile, rising to meet him halfway. "I have heard of your 'Sword Intent of Vitality.' Comprehending the principles of 'birth and death' with mortal martial arts is a talent rarely seen in a millennium."
"I am too kind, Imperial Preceptor. This junior is merely fortunate," Xiao Wuchen replied respectfully.
The Imperial Preceptor personally presented him with a pill. "This is the 'Heart-Cleansing and Spirit-Nourishing Pill,' which can heal your hidden injuries from your battle with Gu Yuan. The 'spiritual energy' contained within this pill is highly beneficial to a martial artist of your level."
Xiao Wuchen thanked him and swallowed the pill. It melted instantly in his mouth, and pure energy flowed into his meridians. It was purer than any mortal elixir he had ever taken, lacking the impurities of true qi and possessing only clear, peaceful energy.
This was "spiritual energy"!
The Grand Master Miaokong began to observe him discreetly. During their conversation, he guided Xiao Wuchen to describe how his "vitality sword intent" dissolved and transformed Gu Yuan's true qi. He focused precisely on the "extraordinary" characteristic of Xiao Wuchen's sword intent.
"Wuchen, do you know where the ultimate goal of mortal martial arts lies?" Grand Master Miaokong posed a crucial question.
"This junior is foolish. I only know that it is the peak of the Meridian Building Realm."
"Not so." Grand Master Miaokong stroked his beard. "The highest level of mortal martial arts is the Meridian Building Realm." But to transcend the mortal realm, one must 'form the core.' Transforming true qi into 'true essence' and condensing it into a 'golden core' in the dantian is the only way to embark on the path of cultivation."
The words of Grand Preceptor Miaokong were like a sudden awakening for Xiao Wuchen, providing him with a more concrete understanding of cultivation.
Then, the Grand Preceptor led Xiao Wuchen on a tour of several key areas of the Alchemy Academy.
Alchemy Furnace Array: Xiao Wuchen saw a massive Spirit Gathering Array. The Grand Preceptor explained, "This array gathers the spiritual energy of heaven and earth for use in alchemy. Spiritual energy is the most fundamental power in the world." With his enhanced divine sense, Xiao Wuchen clearly perceived that the spiritual energy in the array's operation was far purer than the energy within his body.
Cultivation Pills: The Grand Preceptor displayed several pills used by cultivators to consolidate their cultivation levels. Though powerful, they all shared a common characteristic: their medicinal properties were mild, making them suitable for absorbing spiritual energy rather than impure true energy.
Xiao Wuchen's heart sank. He understood the enormous bottleneck in his martial arts. His Qi Consolidation Realm true energy was powerful against "spiritual energy," but ultimately, it was just crude mortal power.
The National Preceptor Miaokong's invitation was ostensibly for healing, but he actually wanted to study this "outlier." Nevertheless, this contact undoubtedly opened the door for him to the world of cultivation, giving him a clearer sense of purpose and direction on the path to Core Formation.After touring the Alchemy Academy's Spirit-Gathering Array and Alchemy Furnace, National Preceptor Miaokong led Xiao Wuchen to an elegantly furnished tea room. In the center of the room sat a jade stone shimmering with a soft light. The spiritual energy emanating from the stone was far more concentrated than that of the outside world.
"Wu Chen, your 'Sword Intent of Vitality' greatly intrigues me," said the Grand Preceptor Miao Kong, personally brewing tea for him as he spoke. "Your sword intent can convert an opponent's true energy into your own. This transcends the realm of mortal martial arts. Have you ever consumed any extraordinary elixirs or come into contact with ancient techniques?"
The Grand Preceptor's gaze was sharp, directly targeting the core of Xiao Wu Chen's secret.
Xiao Wu Chen knew he couldn't conceal everything, but he also couldn't reveal the system. He chose to mix parts of the truth with lies, concealing it under the guise of a "sudden enlightenment."
"The Imperial Preceptor's insight is astute. In my confrontation with the Xuan Yin Sect Master, I gained sudden enlightenment from the extreme of evil poison and realized that 'the ultimate in yin and softness is life.' Although my true energy is yin and soft, its vitality is unique."
"The power of life..." The Imperial Preceptor, Miao Kong, seemed thoughtful. Then, a hint of regret flashed in his eyes. "What a pity. If we could extract and study this power, it would benefit our Alchemy Academy's research into immortality immensely."
Although regretful, the Imperial Preceptor did not delve further, which relieved Xiao Wuchen. He knew the Imperial Preceptor valued "usability" more than the "secret" itself.
The Imperial Preceptor Miaokong abruptly changed the subject and began discussing the Xuan Yin Sect.
"You have now forged a deadly enmity with the Xuan Yin Sect. However, according to intelligence from our Alchemy Academy, they have recently lost interest in you and shifted their focus to exploring the ley lines around the capital."
The Imperial Preceptor's words confirmed the information that Xiao Wuchen had obtained from the secret letter.
"Imperial Preceptor, what is the connection between ley line exploration and cultivation?" Xiao Wuchen asked casually.
The Grand Preceptor's expression hardened slightly, and he lowered his voice. "This matter shouldn't be revealed to mortal martial artists. But since you are crucial to the safety of the inner court and a top-ranked expert, it's all right."
"Cultivators need spiritual energy to cultivate. Where spiritual energy gathers, there is a spiritual vein. The quantity and strength of these veins determine a world's cultivation level. Our Great Qian Dynasty has scarce spiritual energy and weak spiritual veins, which is why mortal martial arts dominate."
"The people behind the Xuan Yin Sect seem to want to reverse or seize this spiritual vein through some secret method. Once they succeed, they will obtain massive amounts of cultivation resources. At that time, no one in the entire Great Qian Dynasty will be able to stop them!"
The information revealed by Grand Preceptor Miaokong stirred up a storm in Xiao Wuchen's heart. The secret letter in his hand had been confirmed by the highest authority! The Xuan Yin Sect's scheme was far more grand and dangerous than he had imagined.
He was now fighting not only for himself but also for the spiritual vein of the entire Great Qian world.
"This is the beginning of my epic saga and struggle against the evil forces of cultivation for the world's resources!" A surge of heroic ambition welled up within Xiao Wuchen.
After determining that the Xuan Yin Sect's ultimate goal was the "spiritual veins," his path to seeking the Dao became inextricably linked to the Great Qian Dynasty's fate.