C9 Never Give up

Gazing at the scattered Spirit Stones before him, Woo Yang licked his parched lips, a glimmer of hope sparking in his eyes.

"Curse that Golden Book, I'll never let it consume my soul, no matter what it demands."

The thought of the Golden Book inside him forcibly extracting his soul if he didn't advance to the Qi Stage Layer Four within the set timeframe left Woo Yang utterly exasperated.

He had believed that possessing a formidable magical artifact would be a boon, yet it had become a Life Reaping Talisman, driving him to cultivate desperately just to cling to life in this world.

"Enough with the complaints, Master. You've got eight days left. Instead of wasting time cursing me, better to focus on how to ascend to the Qi Stage Layer Four. If you fail, don't expect me to negotiate," the Golden Book's infuriatingly impassive voice echoed in Woo Yang's mind.

"Be quiet, I refuse to let you have your way," Woo Yang snapped back irritably, plopping down on the ground, no longer willing to engage with the deathly Golden Book.

He was determined not to deplete his lifespan to enhance his cultivation level. His sole option was to harness the Spirit Stones before him to achieve a breakthrough to the Qi Stage Layer Four within eight days.

Spirit Stones served dual purposes: as currency and for cultivation. Yet, the Spirit Power within each stone varied greatly. For instance, the low-grade Spirit Stone in Woo Yang's grasp contained only a modest amount of Spirit Power.

With no desire to ponder anything else, Woo Yang crushed the Spirit Stone in his hand, releasing a stream of Spirit Power into the air.

In a mere two hours, Woo Yang had absorbed the Spirit Power from a thousand Spirit Stones.

"This isn't working. There's hardly any increase in the Spirit Power within me. At this rate, I won't be able to elevate my realm quickly enough."

Sensing the sluggish rise of Spirit Power within, Woo Yang's face darkened, his earlier serenity replaced by a brooding frown.

With only a scant number of Spirit Stones remaining, and the likelihood that even more wouldn't significantly boost his Spirit Power, Woo Yang faced a grim reality.

"I've already told you to let it go. Trying to reach the Fourth Layer of the Qi Stage in your condition is harder than ascending to the heavens."

The Golden Book seemed to read Woo Yang's mind, casually urging him to stop his futile efforts.

Yet, Woo Yang refused to be swayed. He had been labeled worthless by his family and even bullied by younger clan members in the past. But now, his cultivation had improved, and he had turned the tables on his tormentors. Much of his success was thanks to the Golden Book, but it had bolstered Woo Yang's confidence immensely.

"There's no way I'm giving up. I refuse to believe that's my fate."

Woo Yang silently vowed, storing away his remaining Spirit Stones and making a beeline for the marketplace.

He was in dire need of substantial cultivation resources. Having resolved to forgo the Golden Book's self-detrimental cultivation method, he was determined to advance through his own hard work. His current strategy was to craft Dao Patterns, thereby earning a wealth of Spirit Stones to purchase Cultivation Pills.

Upon entering the Martial Vine Blue Pavilion, the attendant immediately recognized Woo Yang and dashed upstairs, recalling Hong Qingcheng's instructions to notify her the moment Woo Yang arrived.

Woo Yang was about to inquire when he noticed the attendant heading for the second floor, which left him puzzled. Soon after, Hong Qingcheng appeared, her gaze from the upper floor landing on Woo Yang with sparkling clarity.

"Young Master, what treasures do you bring to sell this time?" Hong Qingcheng approached Woo Yang, her smile radiating enthusiasm, her voice enchanting.

Woo Yang composed himself and replied earnestly, "I have twenty Dao Pattern weapons. What's your offer?"

His sole purpose was to accumulate Spirit Stones; other concerns, including Hong Qingcheng's allure, were secondary. For Woo Yang, no beauty could rival the importance of elevating his cultivation level.

Hong Qingcheng's eyes shone with excitement upon hearing about the Dao Pattern weapons. She chuckled, "I never expected you to be so formidable, Young Master. Since we're acquainted, how does five thousand Spirit Stones sound?"

The price had more than doubled from before, sending a wave of panic through Woo Yang. Concerned it might be a ruse, he discreetly watched Hong Qingcheng's face for any signs of deceit but found none.

"Could you give me half of the Spirit Stones now? I'll deliver the rest once my master has finished the refining process," Woo Yang requested without reservation.

"Young Master, you worry too much. I'm willing to give you the entire amount upfront," Hong Qingcheng replied with a sincere smile, seemingly ready to hand over the full sum.

Woo Yang, though tempted, restrained himself. Showing too much eagerness might tip her off to his urgency.

Shortly after, Hong Qingcheng reappeared, money bag in hand. "Here are two thousand Spirit Stones for your inspection, Young Master. Additionally, please accept this bottle of Qi Condensation Pill as a token of friendship."

Woo Yang now held both the money bag and the Qi Condensation Pill, managing to keep his elation under wraps.

Leaving the Martial Vine Blue Pavilion behind, Woo Yang traversed the streets with his Spirit Stones. When he emerged, a parcel was slung over his shoulder.

"This should propel me to the Fourth Layer of the Qi Stage!" he thought, a confident glow in his eyes as he strolled home.

"To think I'd get a Qi Condensation Pill for free—it's as if fortune itself is on my side," Woo Yang mused with a smirk, holding the gifted bottle.

The pill was meant to better consolidate the Genuine Qi within him, significantly boosting his cultivation level. Along with the pill, Woo Yang had purchased various other medicinal ingredients to support his training, all to ensure he'd reach the Fourth Layer of the Qi Stage before the deadline set by the Golden Book.

With preparations complete, Woo Yang didn't rush into cultivation. He first intended to fulfill his promise to Hong Qingcheng.

Before him materialized a plain green longsword, unremarkable in appearance, yet destined to be etched with the Dao Pattern by his hand.

Woo Yang laid the long sword flat on the ground and channeled his Spirit Power with practiced ease, etching the Dao Pattern onto the sword's blade. In the brief time it took to sip a cup of tea, the once unremarkable blade began to emit a faint chill, its edge gaining a new level of clarity and translucence.

"Hmm, why does the Dao Pattern look different than before?"

As Woo Yang scrutinized the transformed sword, he noticed the Dao Pattern he had just engraved was sharper and the color, more intense.

"Obviously, you've reached the Rank One Dao Pattern Master level. With your improved skills, the Dao Patterns you craft will naturally be more potent. Surprised? You truly fall short of your predecessor," the Golden Book interjected, breaking its long silence with a tone dripping with scorn.

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