"Nanping Song is already two hundred and seventy years old, as a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, his lifespan is nearing its end."
In order to inquire about Gao Xian's matter, Zhu Qianniang carefully investigated Nanping Song's situation and had some basic understanding of this senior elder who passed down techniques.
She said, "Nanping Song is unlikely to advance to the Golden Core stage. In the final stage of his life, he is definitely paving the way for his descendants.
"From what I know, Nanping Song has been accumulating wealth extravagantly in recent years, his behavior is not very pleasing. With Zhou Ye as the intermediary, we can try to purchase the 'Great Five Elements Technique' with spirit stones."
Gao Xian was a bit puzzled, "Isn't the inheritance of secret techniques fundamental to the sect? Would he dare?"
He wasn't worried about Nanping Song, but rather afraid of implicating himself. He didn't want to spend a lot of spirit stones, only to attract fatal trouble.
"I don't know, we should give it a try."
Zhu Qianniang, of course, understood the risks involved. She said, "As far as I know, the success rate of a true disciple in Foundation Establishment is about twenty to thirty percent. For ordinary independent cultivators, it's one in a hundred.
"This is the difference between having an inherited secret technique and not having one."
She said solemnly, "Axian, you have extraordinary talent in spells. However, the Great Five Elements Technique is a secret technique that has been passed down by the Cloud Sect for a thousand years, exceptionally profound and mysterious, not comparable to those low-level spells.
"If you practice a spell incorrectly, at most, its power will be weak. But if you practice a secret technique incorrectly, it will damage the foundation of your body. In this regard, it's better not to have any illusions..."
Zhu Qianniang knew that Gao Xian had very high talent, fearing that he might harbor illusions, thinking that he could also master the Five Elements Technique to an extremely high level.
The sect's secret techniques were extremely profound, gathering the wisdom of countless powerful experts. If it were so easy for outsiders to comprehend and grasp them, they wouldn't be qualified to establish their own sects.
Gao Xian nodded vigorously, fully agreeing with this.
His spells were so powerful, all relying on the Moon and Wind Treasure to enhance them. It wasn't because he was particularly clever!
After more than a year of cultivation, if he couldn't enhance the secret techniques and spells, his progress wouldn't be fast.
A person's state always fluctuates, even if a cultivator diligently cultivates every day, they may not always progress.
It's possible that cultivation may not yield results, just staying in place, or even regressing.
The Moon and Wind Treasure solved this problem, allowing him to make progress with each cultivation session.
With the Mind and Spirit Hall, he could repeatedly practice spells, accumulating steadily, surpassing countless other cultivators.
Even so, his progress wasn't considered very fast.
It can be seen that his cultivation talent was definitely not considered very high. In this regard, Gao Xian had a clear understanding of himself.
"I'll go find Old Zhou now."
Seeing that it wasn't too late, Gao Xian immediately left for Zhou's house.
It was already late, and the front door of the Lingfu Hall was closed. Gao Xian went directly to the back door of Zhou's house.
If it were someone else coming so late, Zhou Ye definitely wouldn't let them in. But Gao Xian was different, he was an important business partner and had to be given face.
Zhou Ye personally opened the door and welcomed Gao Xian into the main hall, then had the old lady prepare tea and snacks, showing warm hospitality.
The old man was a wise person, and Gao Xian must have had something important to come over so late, but he wouldn't ask proactively, just chatting with Gao Xian.
"I see you looking radiant, full of energy and vitality, have you reached the fourth level of Qi Refinement?"
"Yes, yes, I broke through by chance." Gao Xian modestly replied, knowing that reaching the fourth level of Qi Refinement wouldn't impress Zhou Ye.
After all, Zhou Yuling, who was a year younger than him, had already reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement. He couldn't boast in front of Old Zhou.
Zhou Ye complimented with a smile, "Reaching the fourth level of Qi Refinement at such a young age, you have a chance to reach Foundation Establishment in the future."
As soon as the old man said this, Gao Xian felt happy inside. Old Father-in-law was good at this, he was just thinking about how to bring up the matter, and he took the initiative to set the stage.
"Uncle Zhou, speaking of Foundation Establishment, I have a favor to ask you." Gao Xian said seriously.
Zhou Ye was slightly surprised. He had known Gao Xian for a year, but it was the first time he had formally asked him for something.
He knew this kid was cunning, not a simple character. He cautiously said, "In our relationship, if I can help, I will definitely do my best to help."
Gao Xian knew that the old man was slippery, and if he beat around the bush with him, he wouldn't know how many circles he would have to go through.
He directly said, "I heard that Uncle Zhou's master is the senior elder who passes down techniques, and you know, my master is good at alchemy. The Five Elements Techniques he passed on to me were all obtained from the sect.
"Uncle Zhou, I want to learn the sect's 'Great Five Elements Technique.' Please help me contact the senior elder who passes down techniques. I am willing to spend a large sum of money to purchase it."
Zhou Ye's expression became serious. The 'Great Five Elements Technique' was an extremely important secret technique inheritance of the sect. Even if his master was the senior elder who passed down techniques, he couldn't privately impart it.
This was no joking matter. If something went wrong, not only would his master and Gao Xian be unlucky, he might also be implicated.
"I'm afraid this won't work, the Great Five Elements Technique is extremely important!"
Zhou Ye shook his head with a helpless expression, "I'm not refusing to help you, it's just that this matter is of great importance..."
When Gao Xian heard that the old man was about to put an end to the matter, he hurriedly said, "Uncle Zhou, please just ask around for me, see what's possible."
He added, "Uncle Zhou, if this matter succeeds, I will definitely show my gratitude."
Zhou Ye couldn't refuse anymore. After all, he had earned a lot of spirit stones from Gao Xian, and the past year had been exceptionally prosperous.
Just inquiring about the situation wasn't difficult. As for whether it would work or not, his master would make the decision, and he wouldn't have a say in it.
"Alright, I'll ask for you."
Coming out of Zhou's house, Gao Xian sighed lightly.
Zhou Ye was quite practical and valued benefits. Fortunately, he was a bit timid and not too sinister, so their cooperation was quite pleasant.
However, precisely because he was timid and followed the rules, Old Zhou might not handle this matter well.
In this regard, Zhou Ye was actually not as good as Zhou Yuling. Zhou Yuling was clever and astute, much more reliable in handling matters than the old man.
Gao Xian told Zhu Qianniang about this matter, and she had no good solution either, so they could only wait for news from Zhou Ye.
"If Nanping Song agrees, how many spirit stones should we offer?"
Zhu Qianniang pondered for a moment and said, "For such an important secret technique inheritance, we should offer at least five thousand spirit stones."
Gao Xian casually said, "Should we sell the Crimson Flame Sword?"
The Crimson Flame Sword was the flying sword given to him by the Black Snake. Over the past few months, he had been refining it with his divine sense every day, finally erasing the divine sense imprint left by the Black Snake and gaining control of the flying sword.
The Crimson Flame Sword was entirely red and transparent, no longer than seven inches, not wider than half an inch, and weighing no more than seven taels, as thin as paper.
The blade was extremely sharp, without a hilt, with both ends being pointed, making it difficult for a person to grip it, so it was best controlled with divine sense.
With the blessing of the Great Occasional Divine Art, Gao Xian's divine sense power was enough to control the Crimson Flame Sword. However, the Crimson Flame Sword consumed an exceptional amount of spiritual energy.
Before, when he controlled the Crimson Flame Sword to circle within a radius of ten feet, about seventy to eighty percent of his spiritual energy would be consumed.
Now that he had advanced to the fourth level of Qi Refinement, his spiritual energy had greatly increased. Even so, controlling the Crimson Flame Sword still consumed too much spiritual energy.
In terms of efficiency, the Crimson Flame Sword was far inferior to the Ice Arrow Technique and the Flame Burst Technique.
Of course, the flying sword's power far exceeded that of the Ice Arrow Technique and the Flame Burst Technique.
The Crimson Flame Sword was extremely fast and exceptionally sharp. It easily broke through protective spells like the Wood Shield and Earth Shield with a single strike.
For Qi Refinement cultivators, its power was a bit excessive.
However, the threat of the Crimson Flame Sword to Foundation Establishment cultivators was quite limited.
Gao Xian felt that the Crimson Flame Sword was a bit flashy and impractical. Instead of that, it would be better to exchange it for money to buy the Great Five Elements Technique.
Zhu Qianniang said, "Such a valuable flying sword can only be dealt with in Liyun City. Let's not rush, wait for news first."
She added, "I heard that recently, the Red Snake Gang has been hunting down independent cultivators in the mountains, and one or two hundred independent cultivators have gone missing.
"Now, the independent cultivators are in a panic, and no one dares to rashly enter the mountains. I heard that many independent cultivators are going to find Li Shuanglin to force him to step forward and eradicate the Red Snake Gang."
Zhu Qianniang reminded Gao Xian, "I don't know what the Red Snake Gang is up to again, but make sure not to reveal the Azure Frost Sword and the Crimson Flame Sword..."
(End of this chapter)