txolops Chapter 104 The Fallen Genius
Chapter 104 The Fallen Genius
Chapter 104 The Fallen Genius
[You frowned, observed for days, yet you didn't even understand the meaning expressed by the silver seal script, let alone truly comprehend it.]
You glanced at the armored guardian standing beside you and asked calmly, "How long did it take the twelve geniuses ahead of me to master the secret technique inscribed on the stone wall?"
The armored guardian looked at you and replied, "One took eleven months, and the remaining eleven took between two and eight years respectively."
【"Um....."
]
You nodded slightly, but sighed inwardly.
[His reputation as a genius, which he hadn't even had time to fully appreciate, is probably about to crumble.]
Because you discover that you can't understand the tadpole-shaped silver seal script on the stone wall at all.
Under these circumstances, let alone mastering it within a year, even if it took decades or a hundred years, you wouldn't have the slightest chance of success.
"But it's alright. If you didn't understand it this time and didn't master it, you can try again next time."
You thought to yourself.
[At the same time, I looked at the broken stone wall again.]
This time, you don't need to understand or master the techniques.
Your goal is to write it down.
The silver seal script is not static; you need to remember the interweaving and changing trajectory of each tadpole-like silver seal script.
It took you two whole months to barely memorize all the tadpole-shaped silver seal script on the stone wall.
The tadpole-shaped silver seal script on that short stone wall is hundreds or thousands of times more complex to you than any secret technique you memorized during your third simulation.
You close your eyes, and images of tadpole-shaped silver seal script flash through your mind.
[My heart immediately settled]
So what if you can't grasp the essence and master it in a short time?
[If you can master it in this simulation, then in the next simulation, you will be the first unparalleled genius in recent history to master it at a glance!]
[At that time, there will be more resources and treasures for you to choose from.]
[And in this simulation... even if you don't form your core, you still have over two hundred years of lifespan left; if you do form your core, then you have nearly five hundred years of lifespan left.]
[Based on the experience gained from the previous three simulations]
[You are 99% certain that you will form your Golden Core; the only question is whether you can form a flawless Golden Core.]
Five hundred years is a long time; even with time and effort, one can eventually understand and master it!
"Guardian, I need to go out for a bit."
[You looked at the armored guardian beside you and spoke.]
Since it's impossible to comprehend and master it in a short time, there's no need to waste time here.
【"OK."】
With a wave of his hand, the armored guardian deity brought you back to the white jade platform.
You glanced at the armored guardian, then immediately reversed the flow of that secret technique.
In an instant, you left the white jade platform and returned to the secluded mountain.
"The Trial Grounds of the Netherworld..."
"】
After a moment's thought, you flew back into the clouds and headed towards the Zhou family.
At this time, the Zhou family had only recently moved to the vicinity of You Mountain. Since you're here by chance, you'll definitely want to visit the Zhou family.
When you returned to the Zhou family, your parents, eldest brother, and second eldest brother were very happy. You noticed that your father, Zhou Shizhong, was in much better condition.
Freed from the constraints of the Qian Kingdom's court, Father Zhou Shizhong became much more relaxed, which is one of the reasons why he was able to live to be over a hundred years old in the third simulation before dying of old age.
After meeting your parents, eldest brother, and second eldest brother, you came before Dachun.
"Young Master."
Da Chun is still incredibly kind and simple-minded, grinning foolishly at you.
"Da Chun, give me some of your blood."
[You said it directly]
In the third simulation, you learned that Da Chun possesses the bloodline of an ancient sage.
[However, at that time, Da Chun had already awakened the bloodline of the ancient saint, and his blood could heal most injuries.]
[Do you want to see if the blood of those who have not yet awakened their ancient saintly bloodline has anything extraordinary about it?]
"Yes, young master."
[Da Chun didn't ask why, he just cut a big gash on his arm.]
Hot blood kept dripping down.
You quickly took out a jade bowl to catch it.
"It's no different from normal blood."
After careful observation and continuous probing with your magical power and divine sense, you finally drew a conclusion.
[An ancient saint's bloodline that has not yet awakened, utterly ordinary.]
"That's enough..."
You shook your head inwardly. You had originally planned to study the bloodline of the ancient saints, but now it seems you can only do so after Da Chun reaches the third rank.
"Dachun, I'll take you to a great place."
[You looked at Da Chun and spoke.]
[You plan to send Da Chun into the Netherworld Trial Grounds ahead of schedule?]
In the third simulation, Da Chun got lost in the secluded mountains ten years later and unintentionally stimulated the ancient saint bloodline within him, which led to him being pulled into the secluded realm trial grounds.
But now that you're here, we certainly won't let Da Chun go in so late.
The sooner you go in, the sooner you can complete the first stage of the trial. When you come out, you will have an extra True Person under your command, comparable to an ordinary mid-stage Core Formation cultivator.
If Da Chun can pass the second stage of the trial, his combat power will soar even higher, perhaps even rivaling a Perfected Core Formation cultivator.
In the third simulation, Da Chun appeared when you were nearing the end of your lifespan.
By then, you had sold off all your assets, and even if you had a subordinate comparable to a mid-stage True Immortal, you wouldn't be able to utilize him to his full potential.
But this simulation is different.
A moment later, you returned to Youshan with Dachun.
[You directly teach Da Chun that secret technique, and then take Da Chun directly into the Netherworld Trial Grounds.]
On the white jade platform, after the aptitude test, the armored guardian determined that Da Chun's ancient saint bloodline concentration had reached the minimum threshold for awakening, barely making him into the ranks of top-tier aptitude.
[Then Da Chun was allowed to choose a reward.]
[You glanced over and realized that the treasures and rewards Da Chun could see were far inferior to yours; they were only some Tier 3, Tier 2 resources.]
[At the suggestion of the armored guardian, Da Chun selected a resource that could slowly increase the concentration of the ancient saint's bloodline within his body.]
[Watching Da Chun enter the first stage of physical cultivation trial]
You have exited the Netherworld Trial Grounds again.
"The matter at Youshan is temporarily concluded."
You took one last look at Youshan, then headed straight for the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range.
Your primary goal in this simulation is to break through to the Core Formation stage.
[To break through to the Core Formation stage, besides the Golden Core and the first strand of Primordial Yin Qi from Li Yan, you will naturally need to prepare other Core Formation spiritual items.]
You went to the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range to retrieve the Fire Essence Jujube, a Core Formation spiritual treasure there.
In the third simulation, you learned from Master Xuehai that there is a Fire Essence Jujube Tree somewhere in the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountains.
They also successfully retrieved the Fire Essence Dates from the Fire Essence Date Tree.
One month later, you successfully arrived at the Beast Mountain Range.
"The Mountain Range of Ten Thousand Beasts?"
You gaze solemnly at the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range, from which the faint roars of monstrous beasts echo.
[In the last simulation, you learned that at a certain time, a monster riot occurred deep within the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range, and a third-tier great demon came to the outer perimeter.]
Although it was eventually suppressed back into the depths of the mountain by the combined efforts of several True Immortals, the incident had a significant impact at the time, with many Qi Refining Foundation Establishment cultivators losing their lives at the hands of that third-tier great demon.
You infiltrated the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range and arrived at the valley where the Fire Essence Jujube Tree grew.
The valley had long been surrounded by illusion arrays set up by True Immortal Blood Sea, which were difficult for anyone other than a True Immortal to detect.
[But you are different. Not only do you have second-tier array mastery, but you also understand the operating principles of illusion arrays and the methods to break them. The latter was all taught to you by True Immortal Blood Sea.]
In the third simulation, after repeated trials, I gained an even deeper understanding of it.
【Upon reaching the depths of the valley, you see the Fire Spirit Jujube Tree】
Two bright red fruits sway among the branches and leaves.
The larger of the jujubes was clearly ripe, while the smaller one was still unripe, its skin showing signs of greenness.
"That's true. In the last simulation, I arrived at a point in time several decades later... so the smaller one was barely mature. As for now? Only one Fire Essence Jujube has matured."
You're not surprised at all; it just means you'll have to wait a few more decades.
Furthermore, the effects of the same type of Core Formation spiritual item cannot be stacked. If you are attempting to break through to Core Formation, one Fire Essence Jujube is sufficient.
Step forward and take the ripe fire spirit jujube.
In the third simulation, you finally sold the location of this Fire Essence Jujube to Beast Taming Mountain.
[In exchange, they received an important beast-taming inheritance from Beast Taming Mountain, as well as some resources.]
The Fire Essence Jujube Tree is located in the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range, and the Beast Taming Mountain is situated next to it. Even without transplanting, it can be well protected.
Before leaving, you reinforced the illusion array near the valley.
[Two weeks later, Wushanfang Market]
You wander freely between the shops.
Compared to the previous simulations, you were incredibly composed this time and dared to enter Wushan Market in your real form.
[After all, with your current strength and abilities, even if the Foundation Establishment Sect Master activates the Market Array to suppress you, you can easily break through it.]
[In the final simulation, you were able to block even the attack of a fake Core Formation cultivator with array talismans, let alone now.]
In your eyes, Wushan Marketplace is no different from the starting village now.
【"Yu Rou..."】
You have arrived near Yurou.
During this period, You Rou had not yet become the vice leader of the Dan Alliance.
[Just a mid-grade alchemist]
[Your purpose in coming here is to reinstate You Rou as your subordinate and have her manage your forces.]
In the last simulation, you experienced the benefits of having a faction serve you, almost never having your energy distracted by trivial matters. This time, you want to experience it again.
"Fellow Daoist..."
[When You Rou saw you appear in front of her, she politely inquired.]
"Come with me..."
You turned and left.
You Rou was stunned for a moment, her expression puzzled, but the next moment, she found her body uncontrollably following behind you.
A chilling spiritual pressure enveloped his mind.
【"This is....."】
[You Rou looked terrified, but couldn't utter a sound.]
[Not long after]
You arrived at a private room in a restaurant.
You retracted your control over You Rou and looked at this familiar face from numerous simulations with a smile.
"Greetings, senior..."
[You Rou immediately knelt down. Even if she hadn't reacted yet, she realized that your strength far surpassed hers, making it easy for you to kill her.]
"Late stage of Foundation Establishment? Or...?"
You Rou trembled with fear. She had seen Foundation Establishment cultivators from afar before, but none of them could compare to you.
"I'm planning to establish a chamber of commerce. How about you manage it for me?"
[You looked at You Rou and said casually]
[In the third simulation, you've already gotten used to using You Rou and know her limits.]
[I'm too lazy to recruit other cultivators to help you manage the merchant guild]
[The main thing is that during the time Yu Rou helped you manage the Chamber of Commerce, she remembered her place, knew her limits, and never questioned your orders. You can trust someone like that to work with.]
Even if we're a little weaker, it's not a problem.
Besides, for a second-tier high-grade alchemist like you, even a tiny bit leaking from under your fingernails would be enough to greatly benefit her.
"Let me handle this..."
Yu Rou was immediately dizzy; she had never imagined that such a huge windfall could fall from the sky.
[Helping a cultivator who is at least in the late Foundation Establishment stage to manage a lower-level power? Is this the kind of good thing she could possibly encounter?]
"You Rou is determined to serve her senior to the death."
[After only a moment's hesitation, You Rou immediately became serious and said...]
【"Um."】
You nodded slightly, and then, following the procedure from the last simulation, instructed You Rou to prepare for the establishment of the Chamber of Commerce.
【"President..."】
Finally, You Rou hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "Why did you choose me?"
[This is also You Rou's question: with so many cultivators in Wushan Market, why was she chosen in particular?]
"I find you more pleasing to the eye."
You smiled, gave You Rou a way to contact you, and then got up and left.
【"This is..
.」】
[Open the storage bag you left behind. Inside are various pills, spiritual materials, and spirit stones. This is the start-up capital you gave to You Rou to establish the merchant guild.]
"The president trusts him so much..."
You Rou was deeply moved. Such a large storage bag of resources had been entrusted to her so easily. You Rou didn't know how to describe such trust.
I can only make up my mind in my heart that I will do my best to do things for you.
Before leaving Wushan Market, you glanced at the Ouyang family's residence.
At this point in time, Little Black had not yet been born, so you did not linger.
[Little Black, this is another eagle you're sure to get in this simulation. In the third simulation, Little Black showed the potential to advance to a third-tier great demon.]
A spirit pet at the level of a third-tier great demon, especially a flying spirit pet that excels at self-preservation, is something even a Core Formation cultivator would desperately desire.
The following year, you turned eighteen.
[Located hundreds of miles from the Purple Bamboo Forest, this place is sparsely populated, with very few even passing Qi Refining stage cultivators.]
You sit cross-legged on a giant rock, your physical body emanating a roar like the surging of mountains and seas, and an invisible energy field slowly spreading in all directions.
[Ordinary Qi Refining stage cultivators would tremble under the pressure of your physical body and blood energy if they came within a hundred meters of you.]
[You gaze solemnly at the sky, while the "Mountain and Sea Body Refining Technique" circulates continuously within your body, instantly advancing to the sixth level.]
The sixth level, "Mountain and Sea Body Refining Technique," is comparable to the late Foundation Establishment stage, meaning that one can rival a late Foundation Establishment cultivator solely through physical strength.
However, your expression didn't relax at all.
[The moment the "Mountain and Sea Body Refining Technique" reached its sixth level, the originally azure sky was instantly filled with rolling black clouds.]
The Body Refinement Tribulation Descends