Chapter 40
Jiang Hao lingered quietly in the courtyard, pondering over the events that had transpired. Despite the stillness of the surroundings, his mind was anything but calm.
Jin Zhouheng gazed at Jiang Hao, his eyes filled with memories rather than words. As he stood there, he was enveloped in a moment of recollection. Thoughts of his Junior Sister Yun Ruo, who had once been a source of encouragement and companionship, filled his mind.
"Senior Brother Jin, win against the monster and I'll make you a meal."
"How could no one like Senior Brother Jin? I like him very much."
"Senior Brother, do you think this sect uniform looks good on me?"
These fond memories brought an involuntary smile to Jin Zhouheng's lips. But a sudden blade flashed across the space, cutting through everything like the moonlight piercing the night sky.
The world returned to a serene silence, and even Jin Zhouheng's thoughts came to a standstill. His gaze fell on Jiang Hao, who was slowly sheathing his blade.
"You..." Jin Zhouheng muttered, unable to find more words, as his life force rapidly waned.
With a metallic clink, Jiang Hao retracted his crescent moon blade and spoke with a calm demeanor, "Let it be like this."
Upon hearing this, Jin Zhouheng's vision began to blur, and he toppled backward, landing heavily on the ground with a thud. As he lay there, he caught a glimpse of the sun’s rays before his consciousness drifted away, resting on the last image—a smile from his Junior Sister.
Just like that.
Jiang Hao let out a breath as he watched the figure fall. Whether Senior Sister Yun Ruo truly cared for this man was uncertain, but it seemed he only cherished the kindness she showed.
Reality and illusion, both had passed.
Jiang Hao wasn't heartless, but he too wished to live. Therefore, he couldn't afford to lower his sword.
After ensuring Jin Zhouheng's demise with a few more of the Ten Thousand Sword Talismans, Jiang Hao lingered at the spot for some time. The reality of his recent advancement to the Golden Core stage felt surreal—barely a year had passed since he rose from the initial stage of Foundation Establishment to the initial stage of Golden Core.
Calming his inner self, Jiang Hao set out to find his master. This time, with the Foundation Establishment mid-stage strength, the sword technique was the First Form of the Heavenly Blade, Moon Slash.
As expected, if not for the sneak attack, it would have been challenging.
Shortly after, Ku Wuchang inspected the Golden Core's remains, quiet for a long moment. He examined the fatal wound before turning to Jiang Hao with a solemn voice, "Did you do this?"
"Yes," Jiang Hao nodded.
"Foundation Establishment mid-stage?" Ku Wuchang queried further.
Jiang Hao nodded again, indicating mid-stage strength, "Gained through a fortuitous encounter in the demon cave."
"And the blade technique?" Ku Wuchang pursued.
"An unnamed blade technique acquired in the demon cave," Jiang Hao replied.
Should his master request, he would transcribe the first form of the Heavenly Blade. The woman had not forbidden its transmission, and fortunately, it was only the first form. But chance encounters like these should not recur; suspicion would certainly arise if too frequent.
Fortunately, his master refrained from further inquiry and asked for a recount of the events, which Jiang Hao roughly narrated, hiding little aside from matters of cultivation level.
"You chose ambush due to lack of certainty?" Ku Wuchang probed.
Facing his master’s gaze, Jiang Hao nodded affirmatively, "Yes."
Subsequently, Ku Wuchang removed the body, cautioning Jiang Hao to remain vigilant as the Law Enforcement Hall might come looking.
Watching his master depart, Jiang Hao exhaled softly. There was a slight regret; if his master would accept him as a true disciple, it might provide greater security. At the very least, it would deter the one from the Heavenly Joy Pavilion from doing much against him.
But for now, he relied solely on himself.
Back at the courtyard, he observed the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower with a furrowed brow. No bubbles appeared.
He assumed the morning sun was necessary for them to form, but even as the sun fully emerged, the bubbles remained absent.
Puzzled by this, alongside another curiosity—did his master know about the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower growing in his courtyard?—he abandoned the thought, realizing answers would be elusive unless directly inquired.
The next day, Jiang Hao scrutinized the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower once more, only to find no bubbles again.
On the third day, bubbles finally appeared.
[Cultivation +1]
[Vital Qi +1]
"It’s turned into every three days now?"
Three days later, the pattern repeated, confirming that the interval had indeed changed to three days. This was not limited to the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower; the Snow Lotus Flower had a prolonged interval for producing blue bubbles as well; previously, it was every three days, but they were now primarily green or white bubbles until a blue one emerged on the ninth day.
This oddity astounded Jiang Hao.
One month after advancing to Golden Core, Jiang Hao glanced at his accumulated cultivation and blood qi, both exceeding ten, and proceeded to extract them for cultivation.
He wanted to test whether the current ten points were different from before.
Upon extraction, an immense surge of spiritual energy flooded his body, far denser and more powerful than any past ten points.
Without hesitation, Jiang Hao sat to stabilize his cultivation. The Primordial Chaos Heart Scripture cycled within him, absorbing the spiritual energy and blood qi.
A long while later, Jiang Hao opened his eyes. His cultivation was thoroughly fortified, and he understood that the reduced frequency of bubbles was tied to his current stage.
Previously, gathering a hundred would directly elevate cultivation, and likely still could.
Four completed cycles could feasibly attempt a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage. However, the pace had slowed down.
Yet, it was faster than in the beginning.
Initially, he took several years to gather enough once; now, it could take just about a year, which was indeed swift.
Still...
The sword hanging overhead pressed a sense of urgency. Advancing swiftly was imperative to assuage the ominous sense of threat.
Returning to the courtyard, Jiang Hao gazed at the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower, pondering the advantage of owning three such flowers.
Buying alternative spirit herbs was an option, but spirit stones were scarce.
Thus far, selling spirit talismans had accrued roughly five hundred spirit stones, amounting to a total of one thousand when including previous savings.
One thousand seemed ample, but in the Golden Core realm, it proved insufficient.
Previously, he surveyed Golden Core grade artifacts, finding that even an average blade demanded at least eight thousand spirit stones.
A truly decent one might cost between ten to twenty thousand.
How many lifetimes of savings would it take?
How did other Golden Core cultivators procure their spirit stones?
During a visit to the Spirit Herb Garden, Jiang Hao casually inquired about this from Cheng Chou, who managed the garden. Cheng Chou offered a simple response.
"Plunder."
Clarity dawned on Jiang Hao.
"By the way, there's something I'd like Senior Brother to assist with," Cheng Chou directed Jiang Hao's attention to the Spirit Field, "There's a Spirit Beast running wild in the fields, and we've struggled to catch it."