Chapter 117: Page 16: Plans and curses
"Brother Bai! I'm glad you're safe. How about those who were trying to capture us?"
"No worries sister Yue. They retreated as we did. We had some encounter with the beasts of this place. It's a good thing that we were able to get away immediately from the battlefield. How about your end? Did something happen when we were not with you?"
"We are all safe. We did not encounter any beast that could pose a threat. We just waited here as brother Shen Zhu advised. He told us that this area near the open fields is the safest place. He also told us that the Carcino City is a breeze walk from here."
"That's a relief. Can you tend to the injured who's just coming behind? I'll just take a break and replenish my essence."
"Leave it to me and the others. Take your rest while we will check on the rest."
Long Bai went to an empty area and popped out a pill into his mouth. As he tried to circulate his essence inside, the medicine started to melt and the pure earthly essence in it started to disperse and enter his core. These previous endeavors, he was able to gain a lot of benefits. His cultivation has reached the 4th level of essence condensation layer and there are also signs of breakthrough. Without wasting time, he put his focus in his core system. With his will, the core started to rapidly spin to maximize the absorption rate of the essence from the pill and from the surroundings. After 5 minutes of doing so, a wave of pressure came out from him. Everyone present at that time was amazed to see someone have a breakthrough in a dangerous place.
What Long Bai was dangerous since he could be interrupted by beasts. However, knowing all that, he still proceeded into doing it.
After the breakthrough to the 5th level of essence condensation, he felt that his essence sea grew again to a proportionate level. He felt that if he will fight Captain White Sand again, he would be able to finish him without worrying that his essence will run out first since he have enough essence to do it. After settling his mind to ease, he checked the information he got just recently about the essence conversion to physical enhancement essence. This was the one that he got from fighting the Corporal Mountain.
After checking the info, he was able to realize that such ability is not for everyone. It can only be present to someone with a special constitution. With his case, the copper- colored core that revolves around his central core is the key. Previously, he tried to utilize it but all his attempts were futile. Now that the information is given, he understood the underlying principle. The copper core must be used as a substitute medium instead of the usual where the essence is directed to the central core. By redirecting the path of the circulating essence to the copper core, the essence that passes through it would undergone a dramatic change. All the essence that has changed became copper in color and as it once again circulate into the whole body, the physical body has doubled its strength capacity. Right now, he estimates that he could only hold such state in an hour since the circulating essence in his body is not yet that rich compared to the condensed essence in his central core.
In addition, the info he just got said that once he uses the copper core, cultivators will treat him as an ordinary person unless they are someone with a special constitution that can detect the special essence that courses through his body.
Last but not the least that he gained is the information about spirit manifestation. According to the archive, he would inly start having it once he will reach the next layer of cultivation. The let down is that during that cultivation layer, the spirit manifestation will not yet be discernable to an extent since it is still starting to manifest however, he could already have some of its benefits. Just like the captain ranked official that he fought just recently, the spirit manifestation was not yet complete since they haven't reached the spirit tempering stage however he was able to use a part of its effects.
Aside from that, the spirit that would manifest is dependent to the person's character. Basically, the spirit that manifests gets molded by the person's desires and inclination. However the most important thing is the grade of the spirit that form especially that the spirit grade would greatly affect the nascent soul stage of cultivation. As a nascent soul is formed, in the future this nascent soul would be combined with the current body and might bestow a kind of bloodline. Unfortunately, there has been no information about bloodlines yet from the library. Before he decided to return, he made some adjustments with the options he had. Now that he reached such level of cultivation, he can now hide his cultivation up to an extend that anyone from the early layers of spirit tempering stage won't see through it.
After organizing his thoughts, he returned to his senses and walked towards the group who seemed to be having a meeting. At the time he joined everyone, the conversation just ended with a timing.
"What did I miss?" Long Bai curiously asked.
Yue and Ling Tian looked at each other and then replied at the same time saying that they would fill him in as they return to Carcino City.
With the entire gang ready to depart, the vice chief gave the go signal to move. With him in front, the rest followed matching his walking pace while Long Bai and the three stayed behind.
"Brother Bai, allow me to fill you in. After having a discussion with Shen Zhu and Shoushan, we came up with a decision to stay for a while in the blackwood pavilion. Shoushan agreed to Shen Zhu's proposition of hiring the alchemist from their group in exchange for some other resources that they can offer, cultivation manuals, crystals, and the like. On the other hand, I asked that we will make the decision once we reach the place. What do you think?" Ling Tian informed.
Long Bai made some thinking for a while and then gave a reply.
"Brother Ling Tian, it's all good. Since we don't really know them that much and we don't owe them anything, this is for the best. Once we reach the place, let's make some observations first. Although they don't seem like bad people, we need to consider what option will give us the best benefit. We came here to reap as much as we can after all. In addition, my face and yours are already known as the public enemy of the previous city. There's no guarantee that their forces would be able to take it. Let's move first with caution."
"Ah, by the way. Shen Zhu also told us something about exploring a newfound ruin in one of the countries of Magvel. He said that the sect that was established at Carcino is currently inviting explorers. In exchange for the weapons and pills they give, they require to get a certain percentage of the spoils. He said that the exploration will be spearheaded by the four great sects of Magvel. What do you think?"
The idea of exploring ruins is not new to Long Bai but this news of unexplored ruin is something that he must attend. Since his last exploration during the alchemist test, he was able to gain something good. Perhaps this time again, he might be able to harvest something beneficial.
"Brother Ling Tian, we must enter that ruins. We might be able to gain something good from there. Based from my experience, ruins of the old days contains something that our generation can't compete with. There's also the possibility that what is in there could be the work of a higher being. We might be able find some inheritance treasures like manuals or items such as weapons or something similar. Did he say that explorers must need to join the sect?"
"About that, he said that free explorers are also welcome but they would only follow after the main forces that the four sects will make. Basically speaking, if one will not join the sect's forces, they can only act on the sidelines. They will not be offered with protection too. In addition to that, he said that if free explorers will stay in the way, the sect forces can do what they want to that person. Will it be good to join a sect?"
"No, brother Ling Tian. We will not join any sects here. Although they will not provide support, they might require us to make some oath which would restrict us from doing what we want. We don't want that restriction and another thing, the four of us is enough to make a good team. Hmm... I have thought of something."
"What is it Brother Bai?" The three asked.
"We will temporary stay at the blackwood pavilion, help them in exchange of cultivation resources. We will increase our cultivation as much as possible before entering the ruins. The blackwood pavilion was once a powerhouse in Carcino so they must have some good stuff there that we can use. Now that they are taking a heavy blow from a competitor, they will do everything to save their business. That's what we will aim. Since Shoushan's group will be taking the alchemy section of the blackwood pavilion, I'll offer them something else."
"And what could that be?" Ah Mu was scratching his head as he still haven't realized what that would be. On the other hand, Yue and Ling Tian already figured it out since they know what Long Bai's skills are. Yue and Ling Tian stayed quiet as they were enjoying looking at Ah Mu still waiting for an answer.
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At Cinnabar City, a captain- ranked returned to the Major's office to report back. Since he was still fine, he left the guards to carry Captain White Sand. Because the case needs urgency, Captain Waterfall decided to take a bold move.
"Major Armstrong, I have failed the mission. In addition, Captain White Sand is in a critical condition."
Bang!
A loud sound resonated inside the room. Major Armstrong slapped his large- built palm to the surface of his sturdy table.
"What happened? Tell me."
"Major, we chased the escapees but then when we encountered them, they were with some cultivators from Magvel. Because of them, we were interrupted. Captain White Sand fought against one of the escapees and I was held by one of the Magvel cultivators. Unfortunately, Captain White Sand was poisoned. I don't know what underhanded tricks the escapee did but he managed to weaken Captain White Sand. The only reason that we came back is because we encountered a wild stampede. We stayed so long in one area and the blood of the fallen attracted a lot of wild beasts. There's nothing I can do. Forgive me Major, I have failed you."
"You'll receive your punishment later! What of Captain White Sand?"
"Sir, I ordered his men to carry him to our clinic. He is currently being diagnosed of the kind of poison he was suffering from."
"Alright, let's check on his condition. Lead me there!"
"Yes sir!"
Captain Waterfall lead the major to the clinic. Since the place was not that far, they reached it after walking for some few minutes. There, the major watched the medics check the Captain's condition.
"How is he?" Major Armstrong's deep voice asked the medics after seeing that they were done doing their work.
"Sir, he is poisoned but not as how you think. The thing that was in him is a poison essence and not a physical poison that can be tested to figure out its antidote. I'm afraid that all we can do is to prolong his life by supplying his essence until the conversion rate of the poison will become so much that the body won't be able to take. However, there's another way. It will definitely cure him but you won't like the answer." The medic stated with firm voice.
"Say it. What could be more important than my soldier's life?"
"Sir, you will need someone who can use flame essence to burn down the poison essence inside his body. The earlier, the better. If this case worsens, there is no guarantee that it will work since his vitality will also start to fail. The process will be more excruciating as the poison becomes more potent inside."
The major understood what the medic was saying. Since the only people who can use flame essence are the country leader's left and right hand man, this means that he will need to report such failure to the them first. After realizing such thing, he left while cursing on the way.
"Sh*t!"
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