In the current cultivation world, magical artifacts are only refined and usable by cultivators above the Core Formation stage.
Cultivators below the Core Formation stage, regardless of their background, can only use spiritual tools.
The reason is insufficient cultivation realm.
However, there are no absolute rules.
The cultivation methods and inheritance systems of the Primordial, Desolate, and Ancient eras, as well as the current era, are different, as are their customs and treasure refining procedures.
The cultivation methods practiced by cultivators of the Primordial, Desolate, and Ancient eras are called ancient methods. In the current era, the cultivation methods are called new methods.
Cultivators of the Primordial, Desolate, and Ancient eras all practiced a secret technique that allowed them to refine treasures into their bodies, integrating powerful magical artifacts with their bodies into one inseparable entity!
Although many magical artifacts from the Primordial, Desolate, and Ancient eras were destroyed during the several major wars in the cultivation world, a small portion still remains.
However, due to time and various other reasons, this small portion of magical artifacts are all more or less damaged.
These remaining magical artifacts are collectively known by cultivators of the current era as ancient method remnants.
After years of modification by cultivators of the current era, a brand new secret technique was created, allowing these ancient method remnants to be refined and used by Foundation Establishment stage cultivators.
The damaged ancient sword and the Myriad Sword Breaking Immortal Diagram in Wu Tao's hands are top-tier ancient method remnants.
…
During the inheritance of the ancient sword cultivator lineage, Wu Tao gained considerable benefits, not only in terms of treasures and sword intent, but even more so in cultivation methods, secret arts, and divine abilities.
Wu Tao's mind gained three techniques, one book, and one scroll, five top-tier cultivator inheritances from ancient times.
Among these, the three techniques are "Heavenly Will Sword Control Technique," "Star River Secret Scroll," and "Forbidden Destruction Sword Art."
"Heavenly Will Sword Control Technique" draws from the vast, omnipresent heavenly will, implying that all beneath its sword strikes are like ants!
It controls the sword with the soul; as the heart moves, the sword moves, possessing both offense and defense, making it extremely difficult to resist.
The key to cultivating "Heavenly Will Sword Control Technique" is the strength of the soul. The stronger the soul, the faster the attack speed and the stronger the control of the innate immortal sword, allowing one to face powerful enemies without disadvantage.
Once Wu Tao enters the Core Formation stage, by finding specific heavenly and earthly materials to refine, he can transform "Heavenly Will Sword Control Technique" into a divine ability.
The sword techniques recorded in "Star River Secret Scroll" each possess the power to draw upon the stars. Moreover, the changes in the sword moves are endless when performed, as if akin to the celestial river in the heavens.
When thousands of sword strikes converge on a single point, they can unleash extremely terrifying power. Even ordinary stars possess the power to destroy heaven and earth. The power condensed by each sword strike is naturally invincible.
Once Wu Tao enters the Core Formation stage, he can also find specific heavenly and earthly materials to refine, transforming "Star River Secret Scroll" into a divine ability.
The sword moves within "Forbidden Destruction Art" are all offensive. Once unleashed, they will inevitably decide victory or death. In terms of sheer offensive power, it is undoubtedly the foremost secret art Wu Tao has ever seen!
However, while its advantages are obvious, its drawbacks are equally apparent. Because this sword art carries an extremely strong destructive intent, using it either destroys others or oneself, hence the word "forbidden" in its name.
One scroll is named "Myriad Spirits Chronicle."
"Myriad Spirits Chronicle" records various heavenly and earthly materials needed for the advancement of sword dao secret arts to divine abilities, which are extremely precious.
One book is a cultivation technique called "Heaven and Earth Returning Sword Art."
"Heaven and Earth Returning Sword Art" has thirty-two layers, enough for Wu Tao to cultivate to the Purple Mansion stage.
The emergence of "Heaven and Earth Returning Sword Art" resolved Wu Tao's greatest difficulty to date.
…
"The Sword Dao is divided into three realms."
"Sword follows the body, unity of man and sword, unity of heaven and man!"
Three years later!
Early morning.
The rising sun gently cast its light, leaving streaks of radiant brilliance on the ground.
Under the glow, Wu Tao was practicing his sword.
His stance was standard, repeatedly thrusting, slashing, cutting, and attacking!
After practicing for four to five hours, the scorching sun had climbed to its zenith, casting even hotter rays that blazed down upon the earth.
In the sunlight, the elongated shadows on the ground continuously shifted left and right, forward and backward, as a long sword danced in a dazzling display.
Wu Tao repeatedly practiced basic sword techniques, striving to reach a higher realm as soon as possible.
After an unknown period, Wu Tao retracted his sword to his side and slowly walked towards the well.
Using a wooden bucket, he drew some well water and washed the sweat from his body.
After a while, Wu Tao returned to his cave dwelling, sat cross-legged on a futon, and began to cultivate. Half the day for sword practice, half for cultivation, this had been Wu Tao's life for the past few years. Apart from the necessary earning of spirit stones and purchasing cultivation resources, he had meticulously arranged almost everything.
Such a life was tedious.
And tiring.
Fortunately, Wu Tao had long grown accustomed to it.
This year, Wu Tao turned thirty.
…
Wu Tao, who had not gone out, wanted to take on a mission to practice and test his current strength.
Taiyi Immortal Sect - Inner Sect Mission Hall.
"Are there no Yellow-tier missions left?" Looking at the various missions displayed on the jade wall made of ten-thousand-year-old warm jade, Wu Tao frowned. He had originally intended to take a Yellow-tier mission to practice and earn some spirit stones to buy some pills.
After all, Wu Tao was currently poorer than a pauper, possessing not a single spirit stone on him. Even his set of top-tier spiritual tools had been destroyed by the myriad sword qi.
Fortunately, cultivators who reached the Foundation Establishment stage could already abstain from eating and drinking, surviving for months without food, drink, spiritual food, or spiritual wine.
Otherwise, Wu Tao would have starved to death.
…
It seemed that these Yellow-tier missions were highly sought after, all having been taken by fellow disciples in the Foundation Establishment stage.
The four tiers of missions, Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow, were only available to inner sect disciples of Foundation Establishment stage and above. The Profound and Yellow tiers were suitable for cultivators of Foundation Establishment stage and above…
While the Heaven and Earth tiers were suitable for elders of Core Formation stage and above, both inner and outer sect.
Wu Tao stood in place, pondered for a moment, then walked towards the depths of the hall, stopping before the numerous Profound-tier missions.
"Does this brat want to die? Profound-tier missions require even the top three hundred inner sect disciples to be cautious. He's only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, yet he dares to take on a Profound-tier mission."
"Hush, keep your voice down. This person before us is not simple. He has repeatedly killed dozens of Foundation Establishment stage cultivators of the same realm during the wars in Qingzhou and the Eastern Sea. He is now a killing god highly valued by our sect's higher-ups."
Several inner sect disciples nearby noticed Wu Tao, their eyes flashing as they whispered amongst themselves.
Wu Tao remained indifferent to others' opinions.
With his strength, taking on a Profound-tier mission was not too excessive. If calculated by combat power, he could be considered among the Foundation Establishment stage cultivators with the strongest combat power, a small group at the very peak of the pyramid.
Especially after he inherited the ancient sword cultivator lineage and rebuilt his foundation, his combat strength had significantly increased.
There was a considerable number of Profound-tier missions.
Moments later, Wu Tao found a mission that was satisfactory.
The thirty-third mission on the jade wall.
Mission Content: Escort Alchemist Zhou Yuyan into the Tuo Yi mountain range to gather herbs.
Mission Difficulty: Deep into the Tuo Yi mountain range, which contains various terrifying demonic beasts. The demonic beast species are numerous and extremely dangerous, not recommended for ordinary Foundation Establishment stage inner sect disciples.
Mission Reward: A Luo E Pill that enhances spiritual power, crafted by an alchemist, and one hundred spirit stones.
Red Remark: Five temporary guards are required. Selection will be made from the inner sect disciples who accept this mission. Only those selected as qualified can undertake this mission.
Special Requirements: For the safety of Alchemist Zhou Yuyan, these five temporary guards must sign a blood oath contract with the employer. The blood oath contract contains several specific clauses.
The blood oath contract is a precious treasure with mandatory binding power in the cultivation world.
Under the threat of soul damage, the actions of the five guards will be restricted to a certain extent, requiring them to diligently protect Alchemist Zhou Yuyan and not harm her.
However, these clauses are relatively fair, merely slightly favoring Alchemist Zhou Yuyan in various aspects.
Wu Tao glanced around and indeed, many people were eyeing this mission. Quite a few had already accepted it.
In addition, some people should have accepted this mission before. This meant that when the time came, with more people arriving, there would be multiple layers of selection to determine participation.
It was not that accepting the mission guaranteed its undertaking.
Without further hesitation, Wu Tao accepted the mission, turned, and left the
Inner Sect Mission Hall.
The next moment, Wu Tao took out his Flying Dragon Carriage and sped away at extreme speed.
…
Alchemists hold an extremely noble status in the cultivation world. Their ranks are divided based on their alchemy skills into Alchemy Novice, Alchemist, Alchemy Master, Alchemy Grandmaster, and Grandmaster Alchemist.
Alchemy Novices can refine some ordinary medicinal powders and are merely apprentices, lacking the ability to operate an alchemy furnace.
Formal Alchemists can refine common pills for Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages.
Alchemy Masters can not only research higher-level pills for Core Formation stage but can also legitimately recruit numerous disciples and establish sects.
Alchemy Grandmasters have reached a level where they can transform decay into magic.
They can even successfully refine the legendary and extremely rare longevity pills.
Grandmaster Alchemists are the highest existence among alchemists. Any Grandmaster Alchemist, regardless of which sect they visit in the Nine Provinces and Four Seas, will be treated as an honored guest and have all their needs met.
…
Although alchemists hold a high status in the cultivation world, their combat strength is very low. Therefore, they require escort and protection during herb gathering.
The female alchemist surnamed Zhou, after some thought, decided to hire disciples from her own sect to escort the herb gathering team. After all, her sect had many geniuses, and fighting beyond their level was commonplace.
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