C22 Great Enlightenment

Atop the pavilion, clouds billowed and rosy mists swirled, creating an atmosphere akin to a celestial realm. The area brimmed with spiritual energy, reminiscent of ascending to the fabled Penglai Pavilion of immortals.

Beside the pavilion, a massive stone resembling a spiritual mushroom quivered ever so slightly, stirring the moss that clung to its surface back to life.

A gentle drizzle began to fall from the sky, and under the nurturing spring rain, the stone began to grow, much like bamboo shoots after a downpour.

"Boom! Boom!"

The stone's growth accelerated, its thunderous expansion shaking loose the green moss, revealing intricate patterns etched into its surface—patterns that seemed to embody the very laws of heaven and earth.

Suddenly, the delicate lines glowed with a brilliant starlight that began to twist and turn. In an instant, they merged into a radiant aura that spiraled around the stone.

"This..." Chu Hen was astounded upon closer inspection.

"Could the upward path of this starlight be the same as the True Essence circulating through my body?" Chu Hen refrained from acting impulsively and instead sat down cross-legged to ponder the phenomenon.

Time seemed to stand still as Chu Hen committed the lines' trajectory and rhythm to heart. Just as he prepared to reflect on them once more, a thunderous noise echoed in his mind. The stone shrank in an instant, and the scattered moss was restored to its original state.

The next moment, the illusions vanished, and Chu Hen found himself standing before the grand hall once again.

"So, it was all an illusion meant for my understanding!" Chu Hen spoke softly to himself.

Then, the pure energy within his chest rose, filling his mind with clarity. The various key points of the True Essence Returning Technique became crystal clear.

"Profound enlightenment!"

In such a state, his True Essence flowed spontaneously through his body, perfectly following the meridian patterns. Each time it paused at the heart palace, it would resume its journey along the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. The route was flawless, not a single deviation from the path.

"Channel Widening!" Chu Hen exclaimed with delight. The True Essence Returning Technique had mentioned this:

At the pinnacle of the fifth stage of the mortal realm, the True Essence circulates, touching the heart palace, expanding the meridians, and presenting an opportunity. When the heart palace opens, it is precisely as described in the True Spirit Scripture.

At the moment, I had only grasped the essence of the cultivation technique, and my True Essence was still too weak. Once the process of circulation and refinement is complete, my True Essence will rush through the newly widened meridians like a tidal wave. When that happens, a single powerful surge could trigger the Chakra Activation.

"It's very good indeed. The five hundred silvers weren't wasted." Seeing the status of the Returning True Spirit Technique change from (comprehending) to (comprehended) on the basic information screen, Chu Hen nodded in approval.

"My sister hasn't deceived me; this cultivation technique truly follows the Daoist way! Even the Great Enlightenment in the King of the Gods' hall is derived from the Daoist Eight Extraordinary Meridians."

"Indeed, if it followed the path of a warrior, there would likely be many unnecessary detours. With stagnant True Qi, it could take an indefinite amount of time to truly comprehend and reach Great Enlightenment!"

The flow of meridians is a specialty of Daoism. Just distinguishing the correct acupoints can be quite energy-consuming. When channeling True Essence, one must be deliberate and thoughtful, planning each step carefully. For the less astute, it's a lifelong journey of learning.

Now, with the correct cultivation method in hand, my previous frustration has vanished, leaving me feeling quite triumphant.

The rewards have far exceeded the investment, leaving me thoroughly pleased.

I casually flipped through the holographic screen, perusing various immortal techniques and Daoist arts, feeling eager to practice them. However, now is not the time for cultivation.

Chu Jing is so fond of her brother. Having promised to lead me into the Dao, and given her resolute nature, she will likely have everything arranged soon. I should wait for now. If the sect were to discover that I've been secretly practicing other techniques, I could be seen as a thief of arts, which would have dire consequences.

Moreover, with Contribution Points being so scarce and valuable, it's best to use them wisely. I shouldn't create unnecessary trouble for myself in the King of the Gods' world with resources from the main world.

For instance, the Returning True Spirit Technique and the Immortal Binding Lock that I received from Chu Jing have already saved me several thousand Contribution Points.

In the beginning, I was quite vulnerable. I absolutely cannot use these Contribution Points unless I'm summoned to the main hall of the King of the Gods or when it's essential for my cultivation."

While he couldn't use them, that didn't mean he couldn't look. Chu Hen had a keen interest in cultivation, so he purposefully perused the exchange offerings.

"The Heroic Spirit Sword draws on the essence of the sun, moon, and earth. It channels the noble spirit of the mountains and rivers' heroes, vanquishing all malevolent forces and demons, and can even counter the dark magic of witches and spectral beings..."

"The Wailing Blood Drink, imbued with the tears of gods and ghosts, speaks of prophecies yet to come..."

Chu Hen was engrossed as he leafed through various divine weapons and spells, inwardly marveling at their potential. Possessing such items would greatly bolster his strength. Merely considering their overt power, he could easily rise to prominence.

However, upon seeing the myriad of restrictions that followed, Chu Hen couldn't help but gape.

To wield such power, one must be compatible with these divine weapons and spells. Chu Hen didn't quite agree that strength alone was enough, but to be compatible, one certainly needed strength—there was no question about that. And the greatest strength of all came down to financial resources.

Chu Hen's reading was targeted; he focused on items that matched his current abilities. But then there were the subsequent requirements...

Even the lower-tier spells and divine weapons required a plethora of bizarre resources. Iron, silver, wood, and rare stones were manageable; with enough hard work and willingness to spend gold and silver on gathering, smelting, and extracting, they could be obtained. But the unheard-of auxiliary materials were another story, often leaving one bewildered.

Take the Wailing Blood Drink, for instance. This spell necessitated the blood essence of valiant soldiers from the battlefield, with stringent specifications regarding the time and location of their deaths.

Then there was the "Spirit Banner," which, aside from the challenge of sourcing materials, astonishingly required rituals to be performed over the graves of 81 souls who had met untimely deaths—a thought that was enough to induce a headache.

And let's not even start on the elite elixirs, life-extending medicines, and bone-strengthening techniques. These all demanded materials that were as elusive as they were rare.

In essence, when it comes to crafting the finest and most exquisite items, any issue that can be resolved with money isn't really an issue at all. That said, success requires more than just financial investment; power, luck, and opportunity are also crucial components.

This suggests that Chu Jing's continued development within the sect isn't solely reliant on the magical techniques taught there; having the support of a powerful backer is also a strategic consideration. After all, the Chu Family might possess wealth, but they are ordinary people without access to the rare and extraordinary.

Chu Hen, rubbing his slightly stiff neck, couldn't help but feel relieved. "Thankfully, in the Main Hall of the King of the Gods, one can find all manner of rare and unusual materials. They do require a substantial number of Contribution Points, but once we've amassed wealth in the Main World, the tasks that seem impossible here will be a breeze."

"When that time comes, engaging in trade will be effortless, and the potential profits are beyond estimation."

However, the thought of the Main Hall of the King of the Gods' propensity for exploiting situations made Chu Hen's head spin. If bringing external items into the hall required Contribution Points, then surely taking items out would incur a fee, as it would be out of character for them not to charge.

Chu Hen let out a sigh, trying to quell his frustration. Earning Contribution Points might mean running dungeons, but the Main Hall's rapacious tendencies were truly exasperating.