Immortal Soaring Blade Book 2, Chapter 224 – Grade–8 Spirit Core

Elder Dawn Wind suddenly sighed and broke the quiet atmosphere.

“Ah, whether it succeeds or not, my Thousand Year Chilling Ice Pool will have lost half its spirit force. It will not be as strong as before.” He looked a bit pained by the loss.

Elder Waning Moon rolled her eyes and irritably said, “Senior Brother, why do you still care about these things at your cultivation? After all, this is just a dead object—it doesn't matter. What if the child really succeeds?”

Elder Dawn Wind shifted his gaze toward the pool, pretending he was checking on Zhao Jiuge's situation. He knew how hot his junior sister's temper was—she was like a little chilly pepper back then, and now she was even stronger. He acted like he didn't hear her and didn't want to continue this topic, or else she would go on nonstop. It was worth losing this pool for some peace.

Compared to Elder Dawn Wind's calmness and Elder Waning Moon's fierce temper, Elder Pine Tree was much more playful. “So, Senior Sister, this is the brat that caught your attention. He doesn't seem like much.”

“You don't know fart. As long as I like this child, it's enough.”

Elder Waning Moon suddenly scolded him loudly like a mother tiger protecting her cub. Even Elder Pine Tree immediately became silent and didn't dare to make a sound.

At this moment, the situation inside the Thousand Year Chilling Ice Pool was quietly changing.

The Core Condensing Spirit Liquid was being slowly absorbed by the grade-7 spirit core. A thin layer of patterns had appeared on the surface of the spirit core, and the spirit force from the pool had formed a thin layer of ice around it.

The blue and white light weaved itself with the red and blue light. The one to suffer was Zhao Jiuge. At first, he was impacted by the pool and was chilled to the bone. Then, while he was absorbing the Core Condensing Spirit Liquid, he felt a burning sensation shroud his body. He was suffering under both hot and cold, and he clenched his teeth while he endured.

However, he knew that it was the most critical moment and that he could only endure it. There was no free lunch in this world, and he had to pursue it with his own efforts.

“AHHHHHHH…”

Zhao Jiuge finally couldn't endure the cold and hot pain anymore and felt himself go numb, so he let out a loud scream. He began making his spirit core absorb all the spirit force like crazy! The spirit core became wrapped in the Core Condensing Spirit Liquid, causing him greater pain. However, Zhao Jiuge didn't care and began absorbing like crazy.

Not long after, all the Core Condensing Spirit Liquid was poured out from the jade gourd until nothing was left. When all the remaining liquid was absorbed by the spirit core, it underwent an earth-shattering change. The egg-sized spirit core greatly increased in size and the color became brighter. The originally blue and white spirit core was now surrounded by a layer of red light.

At this moment, Zhao Jiuge clearly felt that his spirit core was abnormal, and he vaguely felt like it was losing spirit force. The first to go was the layer of mist around it, then it was the spirit force from the Core Condensing Spirit Liquid. Zhao Jiuge couldn't help but panic, and he was suffering a great deal of pain. After all, this spirit core was something very closely related to his body.

The people beside him became very nervous because this was the most critical moment of re-condensing the spirit core. It was up to Zhao Jiuge and fate to see if he could succeed or not. If he failed, his spirit core would immediately return to grade-7 and all the materials used would be wasted. If Zhao Jiuge succeeded, then he would immediately display the characteristics of a grade-8 spirit core.

The two different kinds of light were interwoven with each other inside the pool, fighting their final battle. The people watching all watched with cold sweat.

“Condense for me!”

Zhao Jiuge's expression was fierce and he let out a roar. Due to the pain he was enduring, his face was distorted and his voice was hoarse.

The veins on his forehead bulged and he tried his best to control his spirit core to force the spirit core from dissipating. When he did this, he felt like his body was burning. Fortunately, the coldness from the pool was helping him this time.

This stalemate lasted for half an hour, and the pain on Zhao Jiuge's face made Elder Waning Moon's heart ache. However, this was his own spirit core, so no outsider could help. Otherwise, things might go wrong and his spirit core would be seriously damaged.

After enduring for a long time, Zhao Jiuge felt like he wouldn't be able to last much longer, but he suddenly felt a shock. The pain disappeared and spirit force flowed through his body, nourishing him. The sense of his spirit force dissipating disappeared and instead his spirit force began recovering at a rapid rate.

The blue light that lit up the whole cave was swept away by a golden light. Then a sandalwood fragrance appeared, followed by a golden lotus flower. When it first appeared, it was a bud, then it slowly bloomed and fell. When it finally fell to the ground and disappeared, it closed its golden leaves.

What accompanied the golden lotus flower was waves of auspicious and crisp Sanskrit Chants. Just hearing it would make one's mind and heart feel at peace.

“It worked…” Jian Wuxian was dumbfounded. He was in a daze and looked at this in disbelief. Originally, he wasn't expecting Zhao Jiuge to succeed. It was already a grade-7 spirit core after all.

Fu Hongling curiously watched. A phenomenon during spirit core formation was very rare.

Elder Waning Moon also felt disbelief and muttered, “Senior Brother, this is the phenomenon that Zhao Jiuge triggered last time.”

“Damn, this is the first time I've seen a phenomenon like this. Really interesting. Golden Lotus, Sanskrit Chant, and even the smell of sandalwood in the air. Everything is so mysterious and majestic.” Even Elder Pine Tree, with his early stage Mahayana Realm cultivation, was a bit shocked by this.

“Shut up. How can you be as impetuous as a child with your identity? Can you be more mature?”

Elder Dawn Wind frowned and quickly shouted, which caused Elder Pine Tree to shut up. Seeing this, Elder Dawn Wind continued to watch this phenomenon. When he first heard it from Elder Waning Moon, he thought she was overestimating this phenomenon, but seeing it himself, it was really that extraordinary. It seemed like this child's future was limitless.

However, this was not the end. What happened next almost made their jaws drop.

When the Golden Lotus withered, the shadow of a smiling Buddha appeared. His eyes were slightly open and he had a smile that wasn't a smile. He was very peaceful and tranquil. 

Even with Elder Dawn Wind's mid stage Mahayana Realm cultivation, he felt his scalp tingle. He was shocked and decided he had to ask this child the origin of the cultivation method he used!

Elder Waning Moon lost her calm and exclaimed, “This… This… This didn't appear the last time he formed his spirit core.”

“This child has already successfully gained a grade-8 spirit core, so there is some change.” Elder Dawn Wind still had a gloomy expression. He was still wondering what cultivation method Zhao Jiuge used.

The phenomenon slowly dissipated and the spirit core calmed down. It started to dim, until only the surface of the spirit core had a layer of light around it.

The spirit core had doubled in size and the aura it gave off was even overbearing. This was a grade-8 spirit core, not even the demonic genius in the other holy lands would have such a high rank spirit core!

“Hahaha, he actually succeeded. My Mysterious Heaven Sect will finally have a few dazzling existences.” Jian Wuxian's laugh contained a hint of madness.

Then, looking like he was in a daze, he continued, “To think my Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect has stayed silent for hundreds of years. Now it's time for my Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect to shine.”

The three pillars also heaved sighs of relief. It looked like the sect would be able to shine during the next Battle Competition. With Sha Sha, Zhao Jiuge, and a good backbone of disciples, the Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect would be able to regain their honor.

They had felt a bit depressed this whole time. In the past, the Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect had always been top among the holy lands that no one could compete with. Even now, their peak fighting force was top among the holy lands, but with the passage of time, a gap had appeared among the generations, causing them to end up in an embarrassing state. Now they finally had a chance to get justice.

Zhao Jiuge was also surprised, as if everything was a dream. Everything had come so fast, but it was so real. After confirming it wasn't a dream, he carefully inhaled his spirit core back into his dantian. He felt that the spiritual energy absorption speed had doubled. Zhao Jiuge's eyes shined—this was simply too fast!

At this moment, Zhao Jiuge finally felt his heart beat faster. Strength seemed to be beckoning him, and confidence spewed out. This entire temperament seems to change.

The people beside him watched this scene with a smile. They hadn't expected Zhao Jiuge to succeed. When the moment they had been dreaming of finally arrived, an unspeakable feeling filled their hearts.

Even the always-calm Elder Dawn Wind couldn't help but smile. He didn't even feel any heartache at the fact that the pool had lost half its spirit force. After all, it was not alive, and if it could be exchanged for strength, then it was worth it.

After Zhao Jiuge determined that there was no problem with his body, he got out of the pool. He saw the other five people looking at him with strange gazes. Zhao Jiuge only giggled, his joy self-evident.

“Was your spirit core raised to grade-8?”

Although Jian Wuxian had already seen through it, he still asked with some uncertainty. The rest all listened carefully as well. When Zhao Jiuge nodded, everyone was able to finally relax.

However, Elder Dawn Wind stepped forward with a serious expression. He pondered a bit before he said with some suspicion, “Jiuge, can you tell me what cultivation method you use? Where did you obtain it?”

After he asked, not only was Elder Pine Tree and Waning Moon curious, even Jian Wuxian looked at Zhao Jiuge with a serious expression, waiting for Zhao Jiuge'a answer.

Only Fu Hongling showed no concern for any of this. No matter what, her little junior brother would always be her little junior brother.

Chapter end