Chapter 546: Elder Hu

Gugu gugu!

Pure spiritual energy surged along his acupoints into his body, like a hundred streams converging into the sea, rushing wildly into his dantian. The Heaven's Path technique of the Mortal Transformation second layer circulated within him. Zhang Xuan sat calmly, his aura rising step by step.

Initial stage of Yuan Qi realm!

Mid stage of Yuan Qi realm!

...

If anyone else saw his cultivation state, they would surely go mad with envy.

What took them years or even decades to increase in cultivation was as easy as eating and drinking for him, without any hindrance or pressure.

...

In a luxurious mansion in Ten Thousand Kingdoms City, a young man paced back and forth before the courtyard gate, his face full of anxiety.

If Zhang Xuan were here, he would surely recognize him as Song Chao, the big spender who often bought things from him.

When will Elder come out of seclusion?

After pacing a few rounds, Song Chao couldn't help asking the guard stationed outside the door.

I don't know either. After meeting with Master Song last time, Elder went into seclusion and hasn't come out since!

Alright...

After returning from the herb garden, he had come here with the refined gold seventh-grade coffin, only to be told that Elder was in seclusion. He had no choice but to wait, but days passed and Elder still hadn't emerged.

He also knew that Elder must have obtained the soulless golden man and become engrossed in studying it.

Forget it, I'll go back and come another time!

Knowing that continuing to wait would not make the other party come out, and unable to force his way in, he shook his head and turned to leave. But before he had taken a few steps, he heard a creak behind him as the door opened.

Haha!

He quickly turned around and saw Elder walking out of the room with a smile.

Greetings, Elder Hu!

You've come at the right time. This soulless golden man is indeed excellent. Studying it for several days has benefited me greatly! If I can break through to the Harmony Spirit realm because of it, you will certainly have a share of the credit.

Elder Hu stroked his beard and smiled slightly.

The Mortal Transformation fifth layer, Harmony Spirit realm, and the fourth layer are a huge hurdle, involving the mysteries of the soul.

He had been stuck at the peak of the fourth layer for many years, always wanting to break through but unable to. Some time ago, when this Song Chao sent the soul martial golden man, he immediately treated it as a treasure to study.

The soulless golden man, the personal guard of ancient soul shamans, held the secrets of the soul. Although his days of study hadn't revealed how it was formed, it deepened his understanding of the soul, greatly aiding his future breakthrough to the Harmony Spirit realm.

You flatter me, Elder. As long as this thing is useful, I haven't bought it in vain...

Hmm! Hearing his humble words, Elder Hu nodded approvingly. You've been urgently looking for me several times in a row. Is there something?

Although he was in seclusion, he knew that this fellow came almost every day.

Song Chao quickly nodded: The person who sold me the soulless golden man last time, I encountered him again a few days ago. This time he happened to have a refined gold seventh-grade coffin specially made for storing the golden man. I thought it might be useful for Elder's research... so I bought it!

Refined gold seventh-grade coffin? The coffin made by soul shamans specifically for the soulless golden man? Where is it? Let me see it quickly!

His eyes lit up, and Elder Hu's breathing quickened.

Unable to break through, he had turned his attention to the path of soul shamanism. Through years of study, he had learned quite a bit and understood the importance of this coffin.

If he had obtained this earlier, his progress over the past few days would have been even greater. Even if he couldn't reach Harmony Spirit, he would surely have made his soul more rounded and饱满.

Yes! With a flick of his wrist, a huge coffin appeared before him.

It was the same one Zhang Xuan had sold him for a single middle-grade spirit stone back in the herb garden.

It's a well-preserved refined gold seventh-grade coffin... Seeing the various inscriptions carved on the coffin, Elder Hu's eyes grew brighter.

This kind of coffin was specially crafted by soul shamans for the soulless golden man, allowing it to remain undamaged for ten thousand years. Its value is immeasurable.

According to the seller, this coffin is exactly the one that held Elder's golden man!

Song Chao continued.

Oh...

Elder Hu nodded repeatedly, walking around it, then couldn't help looking up: The person who sold you these two items... where is he now? Did you ask where he got them?

This... I didn't ask!

Every time they met, he was rendered helpless by the master's heavenly mandate, losing all normal discernment and only obediently paying. How could he ask?

Didn't ask? Elder Hu frowned.

Although I didn't ask these things, I do know that he still has three more such soulless golden men and at least three refined gold seventh-grade coffins, and even... a higher-grade... red gold coffin!

Recalling the young man's words that day, Song Chao quickly answered.

You mean that 'Red gold locks tight, none can break; sleeping peacefully, ten thousand years without worry'... the red gold coffin that even Mortal Transformation peak experts cannot open, specially used to store the soul shaman's physical body?

Elder Hu's breathing quickened, his eyes shining.

The refined gold seventh-grade coffin was only for storing the soul martial golden man, but the red gold coffin was the most important item for soul shamans. Though also a coffin, its value far exceeded that of the soulless golden man!

This fellow actually had such a treasure?

Yes!

Great! Where is he? Does he want to sell this red gold coffin? Did you buy it?

Elder Hu asked urgently.

This... He said he wanted to sell the red gold coffin, but... I didn't have enough money to buy it. Not to mention anything else, this refined gold seventh-grade coffin alone cost a whole middle-grade spirit stone...

Song Chao said.

The refined gold seventh-grade coffin was crafted by a four-star artifact smith, preserving the soulless golden man for ten thousand years without decay. One middle-grade spirit stone is not expensive; it's quite cheap! Good, good!

Elder Hu nodded.

A four-star artifact smith personally crafted it, using various rare materials, and it involves the secrets of soul shamans. From any perspective, one middle-grade spirit stone is not expensive.

It could even be said to be a fair price, honest and trustworthy.

Then... Elder means to buy it? Hearing that he hadn't overpaid, Song Chao breathed a sigh of relief and looked at him questioningly.

This item is hard to come by; buying it is certainly necessary. But... you know, although I am an elder, my allowance is limited. The refined gold seventh-grade coffin cost one middle-grade spirit stone, and the red gold coffin will surely be more expensive. Even I... might not be able to afford it!

Despite his excitement, Elder Hu was self-aware.

Even as a sect elder, his annual allowance was limited, and he didn't have many good items like middle-grade spirit stones.

By the way, have you tried buying with course jade talismans?

Course jade talismans? The seller himself is a master teacher, with a level... at least as high as mine. He wouldn't want jade talismans...

Song Chao smiled bitterly.

When he bought that painting 'Drunken Dream Awakening,' the other party only accepted spirit stones. After learning that the room belonged to Master Zhang, he understood the reason.

Being a master teacher himself, he surely had even more powerful teachers. Course jade talismans were precious to other cultivators, but to people like them, they were not so important.

It's like someone who owns a gold mine wanting to trade with gold; they certainly wouldn't want to exchange their hard-won treasures for more gold.

Master teacher? Elder Hu was startled.

If he weren't a master teacher, other methods like taking disciples or giving guidance could be used. But since their statuses were the same, that wouldn't work, and many covert actions couldn't be taken.

The Master Teacher Pavilion has the duty to protect master teachers. If anyone dared to take risks for the items, their entire sect might be investigated and dealt with by the headquarters.

How about this: where is he? Take me to see him. I want to ask how much the red gold coffin costs, so I can prepare in advance.

After hesitating for a moment, Elder Hu said.

Unable to seize it by force or think of other ways, the only option was to buy it. Fortunately, the other party was not opposed to selling.

He lives in the guest residence of the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance!

In the past few days, besides waiting outside Elder's door, he had also inquired about Zhang Xuan's residence.

After leaving the herb garden, Zhang Xuan had not concealed his tracks, so even Master Su and others found him easily. It wasn't difficult for him to find out.

Alright, prepare the horses. Let's go take a look!

Elder Hu nodded.

...

Whoosh!

Zhang Xuan stopped.

Still not enough spiritual energy...

He had thought that one middle-grade spirit stone would easily allow him to advance to the peak of the Yuan Qi realm, but it turned out not to be the case.

As his cultivation increased, he needed more spiritual energy. This one stone only brought him to the late stage of Yuan Qi realm, still far from the peak.

At least two more middle-grade spirit stones are needed to reach the peak!

After careful calculation, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

The spirit stone obtained from Hall Master Han was used up in cultivating soul shamanism, and this stone was insufficient. Finding more middle-grade spirit stones was not easy.

He had thought he was rich, but now that he started cultivating, he had to worry about spirit stones again.

Moreover, not only his cultivation, but the nurturing of the soul-awakening herb also required a great deal. According to calculations, fully maturing it might consume even more than breaking through to the peak of Yuan Qi realm.

Looks like I need to find a way to earn money...

Rubbing his brow, he stood up.

Easier said than done, but how?

Middle-grade spirit stones were rare even in the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance's lord mansion, let alone elsewhere.

Forget it, I'll go to the Yin-Yang Pool first. According to Hall Master Kang, the spiritual energy there is abundant and suitable for cultivation. Maybe I can increase my strength without spirit stones...

A gleam flashed in his eyes.

Since it was a cultivation treasure land, perhaps he could improve his cultivation without spirit stones.

But before that, I need to obtain the Heaven's Path technique for the Mortal Transformation third layer!

With a technique, he could cultivate better. Otherwise, even in a place rich in spiritual energy, without the corresponding cultivation method, it would be futile.

Such cultivation techniques must be abundant in the Master Teacher Pavilion. Now that I'm a four-star master teacher, I have the right to view them!

If there was a place with the most techniques and martial arts, it would surely be the Master Teacher Pavilion's library. Gathering books there would be more efficient than anywhere else.

Now that he was a four-star master teacher, he had the right to enter and read. Since he had time now, he might as well go.

With this thought, he stood up and walked out.