Chapter 184: Chapter 182: Soul Searching Technique

"I still think the risk is too great. There are too many variables..."

Even if the intelligence was reliable and the three hundred thousand Spirit Stones were a huge temptation, Bai Zichen felt it was too risky to let Wei Dao, a former Sect Leader with a good chance of reaching Core Formation, put himself in such peril.

"Why not have the Sect advance it to him? He can pay it back slowly after Senior Brother Wei achieves Core Formation."

"The Core Formation Spiritual Object and a few Core Formation Secret Treasures cost a total of one hundred and eighty thousand Sect Contribution Points. Junior Brother Wei has paid a third of it for now, which already represents the Sect’s greatest possible support for him."

Liang Yu explained patiently, lest Bai Zichen misunderstand the Sect as being cold and unfeeling, not considering its disciples’ needs.

"If Junior Brother Wei hadn’t requested the Celestial Spirit Gathering Spirit Array, Ancestor Yang would have even paid for some Spirit Stones out of his own pocket to help him set it up... But the cost of a Celestial Spirit Gathering Spirit Array is more than our Sect can bear. The Sect can’t possibly empty its coffers for one person’s Core Formation."

"If we do it for Junior Brother Wei, what happens when it’s another junior brother’s turn in the future? What about when it’s your turn, Junior Brother Bai?"

"Once a precedent is set, future disciples will surely demand the same. If we don’t oblige, it would be unfair and would only breed resentment among the other disciples."

"So, if Junior Brother Wei wants the luxury of a Celestial Spirit Gathering Spirit Array, he has to figure out how to get the Spirit Stones himself."

Putting himself in Wei Dao’s shoes, Bai Zichen felt that he would never take such a huge risk as robbing a Spirit Stone Ore Vein just to set up an array when facing his own Core Formation.

But everyone’s circumstances were different. With the Clear Spirit Jade Marrow and a few Core Formation Secret Treasures already secured, adding another ten percent to his chances of success was a gamble anyone would be tempted to take.

"Did Senior Brother Wei come to ask you, Senior Brother Liang, to help him rob the Spirit Stone Ore Vein?"

"That’s right. This is a private matter, so we can’t requisition personnel as if it were a Sect mission. Junior Brother Wei’s plan involves himself, his two disciples, two trusted confidants, plus a few people I would dispatch from the Law Enforcement Hall. We’d aim for a swift victory, striking the Spirit Stone Ore Vein with thunderbolt speed, plundering the Spirit Stones, and immediately retreating to Black Mountain."

Liang Yu slowly laid out the plan. It had to be said, the audacious scheme seemed somewhat feasible.

"Junior Brother Wei has an inside man in the ore vein, who will use a Ban Breaking Talisman to destroy the Guardian Array. A mere five Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Ghost Spirit Sect won’t be able to stop us."

"The Spirit Stones will naturally go to Senior Brother Wei. So what is he offering to convince you, Senior Brother Liang?"

"All spoils from the ore vein, aside from the Spirit Stones, will be mine... Additionally, Junior Brother Wei has promised me a favor. If he succeeds in his Core Formation, he will take it upon himself to request a drop of Clear Spirit Jade Marrow from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect for you, and he will cover the cost in Spirit Stones."

Bai Zichen was deeply moved. Senior Brother Liang Yu still hadn’t found his own path to this day. Reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection was proving difficult, essentially severing his hopes of continuing on the Great Dao.

His actions were not only to pave the way for Bai Zichen but also to help Wei Dao, in hopes that the Sect could gain another True Man after Ancestor Yang passed away.

"Senior Brother Liang, there’s no need to take such risks for my sake. Everyone has their own destiny... It’ll be a long time before I reach Foundation Establishment Perfection. Who knows, another opportunity might arise, and I’ll obtain a Core Formation Spiritual Object through other means."

"Haha, Junior Brother, don’t you worry. I haven’t agreed to it yet. Even if I were to agree, I would have to ask Ancestor Yang first and see what he thinks. Otherwise, for me, the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, to engage in something like robbing a Spirit Stone Ore Vein for personal gain would be a dereliction of duty."

Liang Yu laughed heartily. Of course, a matter of such importance wouldn’t be decided on Wei Dao’s word alone.

The two chatted about other matters until all the Elders of the Law Enforcement Hall had gathered. Only then did Liang Yu announce Bai Zichen’s new position as Supervisor Elder to everyone.

Of course, the official appointment still had to be reviewed at the council of Elders and a formal letter of appointment issued by the Sect Leader.

The position of Supervisor Elder had been vacant for years, so a new Daoist Robe and Identity Jade Talisman would have to be specially made.

"Senior Brother Liang, what are the daily duties of a Supervisor Elder? And is the stipend the same as a regular Elder’s?"

After Liang Yu had introduced him to his colleagues in the Law Enforcement Hall and given him a tour, where he saw several heirlooms left behind by past Core Formation True Men, Bai Zichen couldn’t help but ask.

"I know what you’re getting at. I won’t assign you any tedious, mundane tasks... You’ll just need to handle one major case every few years."

Liang Yu acted as his guide and answered his questions, a rare departure from the stern, imposing demeanor he usually showed to other disciples.

"Additionally, a Supervisor Elder receives five hundred more Contribution Points per year than a regular Elder. After serving for a full 60-Year Cycle, you can go to the Secret Hall to choose one heirloom left by our predecessors. Besides the Sect Leader and the Hall Masters, very few people in the Sect are permitted to choose a treasure from the Secret Hall."

’That’s not bad, but sixty years is a really long time...’

Bai Zichen didn’t look down on five hundred Sect Contribution Points; every little bit adds up. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Especially after seeing Wei Dao’s preparations for Core Formation, he, who had thought himself quite wealthy, was shocked once again.

’So this is how many Spirit Stones it can cost to attempt Core Formation.’

"By the way, how many Foundation Establishment Pills are left in the Sect from the last batch?"

Bai Zichen thought of Lu Song, who had already reached Qi Refining Great Perfection and was currently polishing his Magical Power and tempering his body in final preparation.

Although Lu Song hadn’t asked him yet, the day he would need a Foundation Establishment Pill was not far off.

"There are four left. After some discussion, we decided to store them for now... If we release too many at once, a lot of disciples whose foundations aren’t solid enough will get impatient and fail their Foundation Establishment. We’ll wait a few years for the remaining disciples to mature before releasing the Foundation Establishment Pills again."

Liang Yu was worldly-wise and immediately saw the true meaning behind Bai Zichen’s question.

"What’s this? Are you interested in getting involved, Junior Brother? Has someone asked you for a favor?"

"Exactly. But it’s not a favor, it’s a promise..."

Bai Zichen didn’t elaborate, only saying that he had owed someone a favor years ago and had promised to get them a Foundation Establishment Pill in return.

"Your promises are quite expensive, Junior Brother," Liang Yu said with a faint smile. "What position does this person hold now?"

"He’s just a Manager, but he’s hardworking and studious, and has never lost his ambition, which is quite rare."

Bai Zichen looked a little embarrassed. Even when other Elders recommended their confidants, they were at the Steward Level. For him to recommend a mere Manager was indeed pushing it.

"That is indeed a bit difficult. The Sect isn’t so well-off that we have Foundation Establishment Pills prepared for those at the Manager level... Report his name to me when the time comes. I’ll think of something. It would be best if we can help that disciple earn a bit of a reputation first. Otherwise, it’ll be too easy for others to attack him based on his status during the Elders’ council, and he’ll be pushed out of the running right from the start."

Senior Brother Liang’s words were mature and prudent. Bai Zichen nodded slightly, planning to speak with Lu Song about it after he returned.

...

A scroll lay open before Bai Zichen. On the title page were the words *Taiwu Soul Searching and Soul Cutting Technique*, written in a flamboyant and unconventional script.

Ever since his battle with Meng Shigui, he had been reviewing the experience and discovered a crucial point: he had yet to learn a Soul Searching Technique.

Thankfully, Meng Shigui had a habit of keeping a diary, which had revealed many secrets of the Outer Sea to him. Otherwise, he still wouldn’t know where the cultivator who had been hunting him and calling him a "remnant of the Fish Dragon Sect" had come from.

Nor would he have understood what terrifying enemies he had inexplicably provoked by inheriting his ancestor’s karma.

However, Soul Searching Techniques had many restrictions. First, the target had to be completely incapable of resistance. Second, one’s Divine Sense had to be stronger than the subject’s.

If these two conditions weren’t met, even the most profound Soul Searching Technique could not be performed.

The Qingfeng Sect was not like a Demon Path Sect. The Transmission Hall had very few Soul-Related Techniques, unlike Ghost Dao Cultivators who toyed with souls year-round and were experts in the field.

Bai Zichen chose the one that required the most Contribution Points, figuring it must be far more profound and sophisticated than the other Soul Searching Techniques.

’This Taiwu Soul Searching and Soul Cutting Technique is quite interesting. As long as there’s a disparity in Divine Sense, I can Soul Search at least a third of the target’s information... Cultivated to a deep level, it can even sever the Primordial Spirit, cutting off all connections.’

He was mainly cultivating this technique for emergencies.

To avoid a future situation where he captured an opponent but had no way to extract their secrets.

Bai Zichen read through the Taiwu Soul Searching and Soul Cutting Technique once and already had a basic grasp of its cultivation method.

After all, it was a magic that could be cultivated starting from the Early-Stage Foundation Establishment. With his Divine Sense approaching the level of Foundation Establishment Perfection, it wouldn’t be too difficult to learn.

He achieved a preliminary mastery in just a few days.

At this level, however, he could at most use it on Qi Refining Cultivators. Even then, a Qi Refining Cultivator with a naturally strong Sea of Consciousness that was resistant to sinister influences could withstand the Taiwu Soul Searching and Soul Cutting Technique.

To put it another way, their body might not withstand the chain reaction from the Soul Search, causing their physical form to collapse.

But even in death, the Soul Searching Technique would be unable to directly extract any information from such a cultivator.

’At least next time I catch some reckless Tribulation Cultivator, I can greet them with the Taiwu Soul Searching and Soul Cutting Technique. Maybe I’ll even get information about some Cave Mansion ruins or an Ancient Secret Realm from them... That’s how it always goes in the myths and legends.’

Bai Zichen put down the Soul Searching Technique and took out the Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact he had obtained from the auction house in Zengguang Immortal City.

The Seven-Quartet Profound Bead. A Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact, a defensive Supreme Treasure, with a Water-Resistant Divine Power.

Following the Sacrificial Refining Secret Technique that came with it from the auction, he projected a stream of Crimson Magical Power, enveloping the Seven-Quartet Profound Bead and continuously refining it.

After an unknown number of days and nights, the sound of surging waves from within the Seven-Quartet Profound Bead grew louder and more realistic, as if there were a true body of water inside the Profound Bead.

When a RUMBLING sound of water came from the Seven-Quartet Profound Bead, with torrents pouring out, it began to become Heart and Spirit Linked with him.

He knew the Sacrificial Refining was finally a success!

The Seven-Quartet Profound Bead shrank by a size, small enough to barely fit in his palm. Resting in his hand, it felt incredibly heavy.

’Not bad. No wonder it’s a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact that generates its own phenomena... Its power is abundant, enough to last me until I reach Foundation Establishment Perfection.’

Bai Zichen tried to activate the Seven-Quartet Profound Bead. A seven-colored iridescent light descended, cloaking him in armor.

Impervious to all evil, resistant to water pressure...

He could clearly feel that the defensive effect of the seven-colored light was countless times stronger than any Defense Spiritual Artifact he had ever possessed.

Moreover, the iridescent light flowed and constantly changed its properties, making it impossible for anyone to prepare a Spiritual Artifact specifically to counter it.

’It even records the Sacrificial Refining Secret Technique to sublimate it into a Magical Treasure. Goodness knows when I’ll ever be able to use that.’

Bai Zichen simply memorized the seven types of Gang Sha and the refining method. He would wait until he had the power to control a Magical Treasure before choosing to gather the Gang Sha and sublimate the treasure.

Pure Yang Gang Sha, Cold Wind Gang Sha, Black Water Gang Sha, Dragon and Snake Gang Sha, Profound Frost Gang Sha...

The Sacrificial Refining Secret Technique detailed all the types of Gang Sha required to upgrade a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact into a Magical Treasure, as well as the refining methods.