C19 Heaven Rank Heart Method

As Lin Xi roamed the Cultivation Methods Pavilion at Celestial Azure Academy, atop another grand mountain peak sat a young man clad in blue. He was seated cross-legged, his hands resting on his knees, enveloped by a potent Spiritual Force Aura. This individual was Su Ding, one of the academy's top prodigies.

Behind Su Ding, an elder emerged from the clouds – none other than Elder Soong of the Law Enforcement Hall, the same who had addressed the incident involving Lin Xi. Su Ding opened his eyes and greeted him with a smile, "Elder Soong, what's the situation?"

Elder Soong replied with composure, "He's reached the Spirit Martial Stage, yet he's stronger than the typical cultivator at that level. He's also adept at strategizing. Remember how Lin Xi cleverly provoked Yun Yi to strike first, ultimately leading to..."

A glint appeared in Su Ding's eyes, and his Spiritual Force intensified. The setback at Still Sunny Mountain had irked him, and learning of his brother Su Ziyu's death at Lin Xi's hands had nearly driven him to seek vengeance in Celestial Azure City.

But upon discovering that Lin Xi had also arrived at the academy, Su Ding's rage gave way to cold calculation, plotting to utterly destroy Lin Xi. Yun Yi had merely been a pawn to gauge Lin Xi's capabilities.

"People like Yun Yi are dime a dozen. Lin Xi's strength is within my expectations," Su Ding mused. "If he were truly weak, the game would lose its appeal."

After a moment's thought, Su Ding said, "Isn't Kuan Yuan infatuated with Ye Yuen? Spread a rumor that Lin Xi and Ye Yuen have shared a room."

A sly grin crossed Elder Soong's face. "Is this employing a borrowed knife to strike?"

Su Ding shook his head. "No, I suspect Lin Xi's abilities are far from straightforward. Sending Kuan Yuan is a way to uncover his hidden cards."

"Just make sure our people aren't the ones spreading the word. Arrange for outsiders to handle it."

Elder Soong's eyes narrowed. "Rumors can be deadly. Let's see how Lin Xi unravels this predicament."

With those final words, Elder Soong turned and departed.

Su Ding stood alone, gazing at the sky with his fists clenched. "Brother, rest easy. I swear I will avenge you!"

...

After spending half the day in the Cultivation Method Pavilion to no avail, Lin Xi returned to Still Sunny Mountain empty-handed. It was there he encountered Sima Shangqing. A spark of inspiration struck him; with her being such a formidable mentor, she surely possessed a high-level Heart Method.

"Master, do you have any powerful Heart Methods you could teach me?"

Sima Shangqing's lips quirked up slightly upon hearing Lin Xi's request, amused that the day had come when he would seek her aid.

Yet, she responded with a calm demeanor, "No."

Lin Xi was taken aback.

"But Master, someone of your caliber must have one, right?" Lin Xi challenged, skeptical of Sima Shangqing's denial.

"If you're after a high-level Heart Method, I certainly don't have one. However, I do know where you can find it."

Lin Xi's eyes sparkled with anticipation as Sima Shangqing elaborated, "Inside the academy, there's a place called the Merchant Shop. It has everything you could want, but purchases can only be made with credits, which you'll need to earn by completing missions for the academy."

She paused briefly before adding, "I've done the math, and it would take you at least seven to eight years to accumulate enough credits for a Heaven Rank Heart Method."

Lin Xi immediately shook his head, "Isn't there another way?"

Sima Shangqing's smile widened, "Certainly, there is—the Myriad Flower Chamber of Commerce. You're already familiar with it, I presume. They have everything there. It's not just about a Heaven Rank Heart Method; as long as you have the funds, the Myriad Flower Chamber of Commerce can fulfill all your needs."

Lin Xi fell into contemplation, calculating whether he had sufficient funds to purchase a Heaven Rank cultivation technique.

Before he could reach a conclusion, Sima Shangqing briskly pulled Lin Xi out of the hall.

"No need to worry about the cost. As your master, I should offer you my support and assistance. Let's head to the Myriad Flower Chamber of Commerce and have a look."

In no time at all, Sima Shangqing led Lin Xi to an imposing high-rise building.

Crafted from the priciest Spirit Jade in the Celestial Azure State, the structure exuded grandeur. As they approached the entrance, a genial elder greeted them with a warm smile.

"Mentor Sima, it's been quite some time. What brings you to our Myriad Flower Chamber of Commerce today?"

Sima Shangqing cut to the chase, "I'm here to purchase a Heaven Rank Heart Method."

The elder was momentarily taken aback but quickly noticed Lin Xi trailing behind Sima Shangqing and grasped the situation, saying with a smile, "Let's discuss this further inside."

Once inside the Myriad Flower Chamber of Commerce, Lin Xi was astounded by the lavish decor.

In a private room.

The elder addressed Sima Shangqing with a serious tone, "Mentor Sima, the best price I can offer for a Heaven Rank Heart Method is 50,000 Spirit Crystals!"

Hearing this, Lin Xi's face fell. He had, at most, less than 20,000 on him.

The Heaven Rank Heart Method was going for 50,000, and that was already considering Sima Shangqing's influence.

Lin Xi suddenly felt incredibly poor; his own world seemed so limited.

Without another word, Sima Shangqing handed over a Storage Ring to the elder.

The elder caught it eagerly and said with excitement, "One moment, please!"

Lin Xi, restless, turned to Sima Shangqing, "Mentor, I will surely pay you back!"

Sima Shangqing pursed her lips, "Fine, I'll hold you to that."

Lin Xi was taken aback, realizing something was amiss. This wasn't how things were supposed to go.

He pressed on, "Mentor, if I may, what is your usual salary?"

Sima Shangqing gave Lin Xi a playful tap on the head, "You rascal, it's not your place to worry about me. Use the item with gratitude; there's no rush to repay the money."

At that moment, the elder returned, presenting a black scroll to Sima Shangqing, who accepted it and said, "We're off."

As Lin Xi stood to follow, his gaze was drawn to a portrait on a nearby wall.

It depicted a woman with whom Lin Xi felt an inexplicable familiarity. She was clad in a flowing green gown, her long hair billowing, cradling a young Demonic Beast, her face adorned with a benevolent smile and her eyes brimming with tenderness.

Lin Xi stepped closer to the portrait, gazing at the woman depicted with a hint of bewilderment, his hand gently caressing her painted face.

Suddenly, Sima Shangqing broke in, "Bad boy, got a crush on the boss, huh? Stop ogling and come back with me!"

Lin Xi's train of thought was abruptly derailed, and before he could protest, Sima Shangqing was dragging him out.

Along the way, Lin Xi pondered inwardly, "Ms. Loong Yuv, do you know anything about my parents?"

"I do, but not much," Loong Yuv responded.

"What were they like, and why did they abandon me?" Lin Xi inquired.

"All I can say is that they were compelled by circumstances beyond their control. They're in a place far, far away now. You'll only be able to meet them if you continue to grow stronger," Loong Yuv explained.

Lin Xi fell silent.

Before long, they had made their way back to Still Sunny Mountain. As Sima Shangqing was about to depart, she advised Lin Xi, "Remember to balance work and rest in your cultivation."

Lin Xi opened his mouth to speak, but Sima Shangqing cut him off, "Forget about the money; I was only teasing. You don't owe me anything. However, I do expect you to achieve great results in the upcoming exam for our academy!"

Lin Xi nodded in agreement, his eyes falling on the black scroll in his hand. The cultivation soul within him ignited with renewed fervor.

Reflecting on Loong Yuv's words, his resolve to become stronger intensified. Yet, as Lin Xi was poised to step into the palace, a figure suddenly materialized in the sky nearby.

"You must be Lin Xi!"