Chapter 1992: Taking Bai Ruanqing as a Disciple

"Buy a Divine Communication Jade Talisman?"

Unexpectedly, the uncle master was so anxious. Bai Ruanqing paused for a moment, then responded, "Alright!"

After all, the task just needed to be completed within three days.

Besides, this trip was mainly to gain experience; whether the task was completed or not wasn't too important.

Taking out the pre-arranged map, she searched for a while, determined their location, and then mounted the flying sacred beast. After flying for nearly half an hour, the two arrived at a grand hall.

It was the physical form of the Divine Communication Hall.

"In Wuhai City, purchases are made with special Divine Communication Coins, which are different from those in Xuanjiang City and have higher value! They can be exchanged one-to-one with Sword Pavilion Coins! So here, you can directly use Sword Pavilion Coins to buy things..."

Bai Ruanqing smiled.

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

He had been worried about whether he needed to find a way to earn money, but now it seemed unnecessary.

He had plenty of Sword Pavilion Coins, so buying a jade talisman should be very simple.

They went to the front desk and found a service staff member.

"Divine Communication Jade Talismans have different prices for different realms: twenty Divine Communication Coins for the Fourth Level Ancient Sage, two hundred for the Void Immortal realm, and two thousand for the True Immortal realm! The price increases tenfold each time!"

The service staff explained.

The prices were similar to those in the Lingyun Sword Pavilion.

"Buy two Void Immortal realm Divine Communication Jade Talismans..." Zhang Xuan handed over the Sword Pavilion Coins.

With the Divine Communication Jade Talisman from the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, he could withdraw Sword Pavilion Coins at any time.

After a while, the service staff handed over two jade talismans: "There are quiet rooms over there, absolutely no disturbance. One Divine Communication Coin per hour."

Zhang Xuan rented one and entered with Bai Ruanqing.

Familiar with the Divine Communication Jade Talisman, the two quickly entered it.

The structure of the Divine Communication Hall inside the jade talisman was exactly the same as the outside, creating a sense of disorientation. Zhang Xuan went to the front desk again, found the staff, and took out the token bestowed by Master Kong.

"Help me see what I can buy."

The service staff took the token, looked at him with shock, and said, "Senior, this way, please. The level of this token is too high; I don't have the authority. Our elder will have to come personally to serve you."

They led the two into a spacious room. After a while, an old man hurried over.

"I am an elder of the Divine Communication Hall in Wuhai City. Greetings, senior. I have seen this token; it was personally bestowed by the Hall Master. With it, you can purchase any treasures or medicines needed for advancement without any charge!"

Bowing deeply, the old man respectfully handed back the token.

Seeing this token was like seeing the Hall Master himself; even he was greatly shocked.

Therefore, although the person before him appeared young, he dared not be negligent.

"Mm." Seeing that the token was genuine, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and smiled slightly: "First, give me a hundred top-grade Immortal Origin Pills."

After breaking through to the peak of the Void Immortal realm, the effect of mid-grade Immortal Origin Pills had weakened. To continue advancing, he needed top-grade Immortal Origin Pills.

In the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, one top-grade Immortal Origin Pill cost twenty thousand Sword Pavilion Coins. Although he had earned a lot by challenging the inner sect and core disciples, he could only buy a few.

"A hundred?"

The old man's eyebrows jumped: "Top-grade Immortal Origin Pills are effective even for Immortal Lord experts. Our Wuhai City Divine Communication Hall... currently cannot produce that many."

"Then how many can you produce?"

Zhang Xuan frowned.

"About... twenty or so." The old man paused, then added: "If senior is not in a hurry, we should be able to gather the rest within three days..."

"Give me the twenty first, and gather the rest as soon as possible." Zhang Xuan instructed.

Although it was said that one should not accept favors without merit, he urgently needed to improve his strength. At worst, after reaching the Immortal Lord realm or higher, he could repay what he used when he saw Master Kong.

"Yes."

Not long after, the old man returned with the pills ready.

"Does senior need anything else?"

"I want to see the cultivation techniques for the True Immortal realm. Can... this token be used to purchase them?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"This token can only be used to purchase pills and such for advancement; it cannot be used to buy books." The old man paused, then continued: "Moreover, the pills purchased cannot be sold; they can only be used for personal cultivation. Otherwise, once discovered, the token will be frozen and can no longer be used."

Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

He had guessed this might be the case, but hearing the confirmation still left him disappointed.

Unable to buy books and having no other cultivation resources to purchase, Zhang Xuan had no choice but to exit the Divine Communication Hall and retrieve the pills through the teleportation array on the jade talisman.

The top-grade Immortal Origin Pills were indeed rich in spiritual energy. As soon as they were taken out, they gave a surging sensation. Ordinary mid-grade pills were incomparably inferior.

"Here."

He casually tossed one to Bai Ruanqing.

"Thank you, Uncle Master..."

The girl's face flushed.

She had only seen this level of pill at her grandfather's place, and because it was too precious, she had never used it.

Her heart had long been eager to try.

She opened her mouth and swallowed it.

Gurgle, gurgle!

A massive release of spiritual energy caused her pupils to contract, her delicate body trembling incessantly, sweat pouring down.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing her abnormal state, Zhang Xuan frowned.

"Uncle Master, the spiritual energy in this pill is too rich; I... can't bear it..." Bai Ruanqing said hurriedly, her face pale.

When she took mid-grade Immortal Origin Pills, each one required a long time to digest. The spiritual energy in the top-grade pill was too powerful; she simply couldn't withstand it.

It was like forcibly stuffing the contents of a cart into a frog's mouth; if not careful, she could explode and die!

At this moment, she finally understood why her grandfather didn't give her this level of pill. It wasn't that he was unwilling, but that... with her strength at the early stage of the True Immortal realm, giving it to her would be a waste, and might even cause disaster!

"Ah..." Before she could finish, she cried out in pain.

The power was too fierce, rampaging through her body and spraying out from her acupoints. Bai Ruanqing's body turned red, swelling like a balloon, on the verge of bursting.

Zhang Xuan's eyebrows jumped.

He hadn't anticipated this situation.

He had only thought that since she had helped him so much, giving her a pill as repayment... he never expected this to happen.

If she were to die from the pill swelling... how would he explain it to Elder Bai Ye when he returned?

"Perform a martial technique for me to see..."

Seeing that she was about to collapse, Zhang Xuan said urgently.

Although she didn't know his purpose, the situation was critical and there was no other choice. Bai Ruanqing gritted her teeth and executed a sword technique.

Zhang Xuan quickly looked at the newly formed book, then frowned.

As she had said, the spiritual energy of the top-grade Immortal Origin Pill was too rich. The girl was like someone who had accidentally swallowed an effervescent tablet; the spiritual power inside her was too strong. If she didn't find a way to channel it, she would likely explode on the spot and perish.

"The only way is to cultivate, converting this violent spiritual energy into immortal power and channeling it into the dantian..."

Like a bursting dam, the solution was to divert rather than block. Channeling the flood into the sea would eliminate the danger.

However... this method placed great restrictions on the cultivation technique.

Ordinary techniques were like straws; facing a vast river, even dozens of them would be useless.

What needed to be done now was to find a powerful technique that could quickly gather and channel the uncontrollable spiritual energy!

"It seems... I have to take her as a student."

A look of helplessness appeared in his eyes, and Zhang Xuan sighed.

Teaching her a sword technique or two, if leaked, wouldn't matter much. She didn't need to become his disciple. But the Heavenly Dao technique was different; it involved his greatest secret and must not be compromised. He had to take her as a disciple before teaching her.

Otherwise, if something went wrong, he would surely become the subject of everyone's research, and his life and death would no longer be under his control.

"Although the True Immortal realm Heavenly Dao technique has seven flaws, for me it's difficult to cultivate, but for her, it should be countless times more powerful than what she practiced before..."

The True Immortal realm Heavenly Dao technique he had compiled in the Lingyun Sword Pavilion had seven flaws, meeting the standard for a simplified version of the Heavenly Dao technique.

After all, a truly perfect technique could not be cultivated by anyone except him.

Thinking this, he hesitated no longer. Looking up at the girl who was about to collapse, he transmitted his voice: "I can resolve your current danger, but you must become my disciple, and I will teach you a unique technique."

"Disciple pays respects to Master..."

Without any hesitation, Bai Ruanqing immediately knelt down.

She had long wanted to become his disciple, but since he hadn't shown any intention, she had never dared to act. Now that he had spoken, how could she hesitate?

To be honest, she was overjoyed.

"Mm, this is my technique..."

Accepting her bow, Zhang Xuan pointed his finger, and the Heavenly Dao technique he had gathered earlier was instantly transmitted into her mind. At the same time, he flicked his finger, and countless silver needles landed on her acupoints, channeling Heavenly Dao true energy into her meridians.

Gurgle, gurgle!

The violent spiritual energy, guided by the Heavenly Dao true energy, immediately became smooth, and the swelling sensation that had threatened to explode vanished.

"This technique..."

At this moment, Bai Ruanqing had also finished reading the technique just transmitted to her, and her pupils involuntarily contracted.

This technique seemed to share the same origin as the Lingyun Sword Pavilion technique she had learned, similar yet countless times more profound.

Her previous technique allowed true energy to flow like a stream, but now it was as broad as a river or sea—incomparable.

Knowing the value of the technique, she dared not hesitate. She quickly closed her eyes and began to circulate her power according to the method described.

Her cultivation instantly increased rapidly.

Early stage of the True Immortal realm!

Middle stage of the True Immortal realm!

...

In less than three hours, without any bottlenecks, she directly reached the peak of the True Immortal realm!

By the time her cultivation reached this level, the power of the top-grade Immortal Origin Pill was almost exhausted.

"My strength..."

Feeling the surging power within her, ready to burst forth, Bai Ruanqing looked at the young man before her again. Unable to suppress her excitement, she knelt down once more: "Disciple pays respects to Master. Thank you, Master, for saving my life..."

Buzz!

As she knelt, the Library of Heaven's Path trembled slightly, and a golden book appeared in her mind.

The Heavenly Dao Volume!