Thinking about it logically, spirit stones were condensed spiritual qi of heaven and earth. They needed a spiritual vein to condense into spirit stones. And depending on their quality and the percentage of impurity, spirit stones were separated into low, mid, high, and perfect tier spirit stones.
For a sect, their control of spirit stone mines and the quality of the mine was crucial. As condensed spiritual qi, the amount contained was greater than the spiritual qi in the air of most places even though they contained impurities. As such, spirit stones were used in many applications such as formations, forging materials, pill qi enhancers, or even just resources to absorb spiritual qi.
Compared to spiritual qi in the air, absorbing the condensed qi in spiritual stones was actually easier, but cultivators would have to take time to flush the impurities within their bodies after absorbing the condensed spiritual qi. Only a perfect-tier spirit stone had no impurities, but the sheer scarcity of them made it that cultivators treated them as high-tier spirit stones. It simply wasn’t worth it to gather perfect-tier spirit stones.
It would not be an exaggeration to gauge a sect’s foundation and power by looking at the number and quality of their spirit stone mines.
Tianyi felt like slapping himself. There was the perfect specimen on him the whole time for him to study and base his new energy-storing technique. However, he had subconsciously treated spirit stones as pure currency most of the time because of his unique cultivation method and the energy-producing power of his Heavenly River Stellar Avatar. For him, it would take longer to absorb the condensed qi and expel the impurities, so he hadn’t absorbed condensed qi from spirit stones since he was in the Qi Gathering Realm.
Not only that, weren’t there rumors of spirit springs that can aid cultivators in restoring their spiritual qi and cleansing them? However, although a solid state should have been more problematic for qi to take, spirit streams were rarer and did not have as much impurity.
Tianyi was broken out of his thoughts by a poke from his side. He turned to see Daoyi looking at him.
“…Brother Xi?”
Realizing what he had just done, Tianyi coughed into his fist and turned towards Daoist Moneybag and gave an apologetic smile. “My apologies, Brother Moneybags, something just occurred to me, and I couldn’t help but ponder over the matter.”
Handing over the Jade Diffraction Sword, Daoist Moneybag gave an amiable smile that showed that he wasn’t offended in any way. “No worries. I hope what occurred to you wasn’t problematic?”
“No, it’s rather beneficial, actually.” Tianyi smiled but didn’t elaborate.
After that small episode, the Fortune Banquet continued, but throughout it, Tianyi’s thoughts started to drift off as he entered a daze. It reached the point that anyone with any semblance of detection could sense Tianyi wasn’t paying attention. Whenever Tianyi wasn’t fully controlling his cultivation, a heavy pressure akin to that of a unity venerable would descend, causing others terrible difficulty not to notice.
“Senior Brother, how about we leave?”
Tianyi was once more broken out of his thoughts by Daoyi. He snuck a glance at her before he answered back.
“If I leave, what about you? You were also invited to the Fortune Banquet, and leaving would be too rude to Daoist Moneybag.”
“The Fortune Banquet doesn’t interest me that much. I lost interest after a while. Daoist Moneybag is a capable person. He won’t mind if we leave early. Besides, you thought of something important, didn’t you? If you don’t capitalize on the inspiration, you might lose it.”
Tianyi felt his mind waver at Daoyi’s words. After deliberating for a while, he decided to leave with Daoyi.
“If you must.” After attempting to persuade Tianyi once, Daoist Moneybag didn’t prevent Tianyi from leaving anymore and even gave a cheery send-off. “Haha, since it’s like this, you must grasp this chance. I heard that Sword Empress Xi reached Unity Realm at forty-three years of age. Perhaps you’ll break her record?”
“Who knows. Although I’m at the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm, I don’t know how long I will stay at this level.” Tianyi said. He was already thirty-three years old this year. Thinking back, if he were on Earth, he might be considered someone who was nearing middle age, but in the Huang Realm, he was still considered ridiculously young for his realm.
And no, he did not consider himself a wizard.
Perhaps if he had taken a more orthodox route, he would have long entered the Unity Realm or perhaps not. If Tianyi had not created his own cultivation method, he might not have acquired his Heavenly River Stellar Avatar, not merged numerous Heavenly Scriptures, and wouldn’t cultivate so fast. Who’s to say that one path is better than the other?
“Junior Sister Jiang, why are you leaving too? Junior Brother Xi seems to have gained some inspiration, but you should stay. Perhaps, there might be an item that catches your eye.” At this point, seeing as Daoyi was standing up, ready to leave with Tianyi, Xia Yushan spoke up.
Ji Shuye glanced at him before diverting his eyes as if contemplating something. She didn’t even glance at Tianyi or Daoyi.
Daoyi shook her head and rejected Xia Yushan. “Truthfully, I was completely focused on preparing for the Demon Slaying Expedition. If it weren’t for Senior Brother Xi, then I would not have come. Besides, my spirit stones are running low, so I don’t have much to auction with.”
“If you don’t mind, I can lend you some. You don’t have to worry about paying it back. I feel that as your senior brother that witnessed your disciple acceptance ceremony, I haven’t done much for you.” Xia Yushan said, continuing to convince Daoyi.
“Thank you for your concern as the eldest senior brother, but I don’t want to trouble you much. I’m still of the Jade Peak’s lineage while you are Sect Master Xia’s direct disciple.” Daoyi’s words caused Xia Yushan to find himself at a loss, wondering what other reason he could use. In a short time, he couldn’t find any.
Daoyi then left with Tianyi returning to Jade Peak.
“Senior Brother Xia treats you pretty well. Maybe you should be gentler in rejecting him.” Tianyi said as they when they returned to Jade Peak Palace.
“It’s because he treats me so well that I have to direct. I don’t want to give him any hope.” Daoyi said returned.
Tianyi looked at Daoyi. What did those words of her mean? Well, as long as she was purposely doing it, he wouldn’t interfere with her actions. “By the way, were you really low on spirit stones?”
“What? No way. That was just my excuse.” Daoyi said with a giggle. “Master gave me so much that I could probably buy a low-level sect when I first became her disciple. Really, if I were an ordinary sheltered fifteen-year-old, I would have long been blinded by the wealth and let it get to my head. Master is too liberal sometimes.”
Tianyi had to agree on that point. Sometimes his mother’s way of handling wealth dazzled his eyes, even though he was supposed to be used to it since young. Tianyi entered the second level of the Temporal Void Domain after shrugging his shoulders, it would be best to finish the technique before the Demon Slaying Expedition began.
However, after a day, Tianyi quickly gave up. He had made some progress, just not the amount he wanted. In the end, what Tianyi was analyzing was the finished product, a perfect-tier spirit stone.
What Tianyi needed to observe was the creation process. No matter how many spirit stones Tianyi had or analyzed, that would not help him at all. Luckily for Tianyi, the Buzhou Immortal Sect was the hegemonic sect of the heaven continent, and that equated to having the greatest access to spirit stone mines. In fact, there were several within the boundary of the sect.
The spirit stone mines within the sect boundaries were all high-tier spirit stone mines and were mined to ensure that the spiritual vein would not dry up due to over-mining.
With this goal in mind, Tianyi made his way towards one of the Buzhou Immortal Sect’s mines. It didn’t matter which one, all of them were the same. He wanted to see the environment that birthed the spirit stones in order to find a way for him to replicate for his use.
Sect Master Xia stood atop a mountain outside of the Buzhou Immortal Sect. Behind him were the immortal elder delegates of the Leakless Sect, Boundless Mountain, Bright Ascension Sect, Nihility Sect, Monolith Sword Sect, Dust Veil Sect, and Jade Cauldron Sect.
Aside from the seven sects represented by seven immortal present, there was going to be one more additional party participating in the Demon Slaying Expedition. However, their intent wasn’t so much as to slay demons but convert them.
“I didn’t expect that the Buddhist Pure Lands, which had secluded itself since the end of the primordial era, would be in contact with the Buzhou Immortal Sect. Truly surprising.” The Jade Cauldron Sect’s immortal elder commented as he stared into the distance, waiting for the Buddhists to appear.
Sect Master Xia gave a polite smile. “How could it be possible for a great power like the Buddhists to truly separate themselves from the wider realms?”
“I’ve only heard of the Buddhist Pure Lands in tales, revealing themselves only to those with karmic ties to Buddhism.” The Leakless Sect’s immortal elder sect commented. “But it seems my information was wrong.”
Sect Master Xia didn’t say anything in reply to the Leakless Sect immortal elder’s words and simply smiled, causing the Leakless Sect’s immortal elder to snort.
“In all my years alive, I’ve only heard rumors concerning the appearance of the Buddhists. Perhaps Sect Master Xia can uncover the veil of mystery concerning the Buddhists?” The Bright Ascension Sect’s immortal elder asked with a smiling expression.
“This old man would also like to know. I didn’t even know the Buddhists would participate in the Demon Slaying Expedition until we arrived and were informed of the matter. I had thought it weird that we were told that a total of eight sects would accompany the Buzhou Immortal Sect into the Demon Cage Realm, yet after all these days, only seven sects have arrived with no news of the eighth. It would do us good to have a greater understanding of our allies.” Boundless Mountain’s immortal elder added.
Sect Master Xia didn’t miss the fact that the elders of the Bright Ascension Sect and Boundless Mountain seemed to have formed a team, nor did he acknowledge the grim face of the Leakless Sect’s immortal elder.
“The Buddhist Pure Land is far more active than you imagine. Ultimately the Buddhist Pure Lands, their realm, is an artificial realm created from separating all karma. So in order for their disciples to advance, they have to temper themselves outside the Buddhist Pure Land.” Sect Master Xia began.
“The Buddhists have numerous means left by Tathagata, the Buddha. They are able to send their disciples to any of the numerous realms in the Three Thousand Immortal Realm System. The exception, of course, is the Huang Realm and the Numinous Realm. To enter the Huang Realm, the would need the Buzhou Immortal Sect’s approval, and the Numinous Sword Sect’s approval to enter the Numinous Realm.”
“Do they not need the Eight Pillars Sect or the Saintly Scholar School’s approval?” The Leakless Sect’s immortal elder interrupted and asked.
Sect Master Xia wasn’t mad at the interruption and even smiled kindly at the speaking immortal. “How can they compare to the Buzhou Immortal Sect?”
The Leakless Sect’s immortal elder was struck speechless by Sect Master Xia’s declaration, but before the silence could turn awkward, it was dispelled by the immortal elder from the Dust Veil Sect.
“As expected of the master of the Heaven Continent and the oldest sect of the Huang Realm.” The immortal said as he stroked his long graying beard.
Sect Master Xia accepted the compliment as naturally as he breathed air before he continued. “Not speaking of the Divinity Realm, the Buddhist equivalent of the Immortal Realm is the Mahayana Realm or the Fetterred Realm. They aren’t exactly the same, but the difference in power is negligible. They don’t pursue the myriad daos, but severing themselves from all attachments.”
“As for their mortal realm, it is separated into five realms: the Dalit Realm, Shudra Realm, Vaishya Realm, Kshatriya Realm, and Brahma Realm. In terms of cultivation method, you can consider it primarily a mix of martial cultivation with some soul methods. In terms of soul, they can’t compare to our nascent souls and soul nourishing grandmasters, but their willpower is unyielding. So their soul defense is superior to ours at the same realm.”
“Speaking of the Buddhist cultivation realms, I heard that they originally came from another system, is that true?” The Leakless Sect’s immortal elder asked
“You sure are well informed.” Sect Master Xia gave a meaningful look at the Leakless Sect’s immortal elder, causing him to nearly freeze. He was a mere true immortal, how could he withstand the power of a seamless immortal monarch?
After staring for a while, Sect Master Xia casually shifted his gaze away. “Yes, Tathagata originated from the Loka System. But it was during the primordial era where the different systems interacted far more frequently. That all changed since the end of the Late Antiquity Age of the primordial era. I heard that their most supreme cultivation method, the Rigveda is equal to the Ten Heavenly Scriptures.”
The immortal elders behind Sect Master Xia became silent as they processed his words. Compared to the Buzhou Immortal Sect, which knew of the greater multiverse, they were frogs in a well. They thought they were in the same world as the Buzhou Immortal Sect. Only now did they know of the schism between the two. Perhaps, the Eight Pillars Sect and the Saintly Scholar School were no different than them in this regard.
Their silence musing was interrupted when they felt the space in front of them fluctuating. Was the mountain that Sect Master Xia brought the immortal elders a normal mountain? The answer was no.
The nameless mountain was given the name Realm Entrance Mountain due to the Buzhou Immortal Sect setting a grand formation that would allow it to act as an entrance to the Huang Realm.
Only immortal monarchs and above and some true immortals were able to enter through the outskirts of the Huang Realm. If they did so, the Buzhou Immortal Sect would immediately sense it and label them as invaders and send immortals to deal with them unless they originated from the Huang Realm. So it was very difficult for foreigners to sneak in.
As for the time Tianyi was forced outside the Huang Realm because he was Mengfei’s talisman, it registered as Mengfei entering, so the Buzhou Immortal Sect wasn’t alerted. And in addition to the unique property of the Immortal Court ruins, Tianyi’s reentry was ignored.
For immortals and mortals to officially gain entry, they had to use one of the realm entrances created by the Buzhou Immortal Sect. And realm entrances only existed on the Heaven Continent.
A golden ripple appeared in front of immortals, and from the ripple appeared several monks in dull yellow robes. Their bald heads gleamed under the bright sunlight.
The leading monk, who exuded an invisible pressure greater than the immortal elders and equal to Sect Master Xia, came forward and bowed with his hands pressed together.
“Amitabha, greetings benefactor.”
He was the Moonlight Bodhisattva, a Buddhist equal to Immortal Monarch Xia of the Buzhou Immortal Sect.