198: Chapter 197 Procurement

Three days in the Dragon Blood Pool is worth three months of hard Cultivation.

When Jiang Hanzhou walked out of the Forbidden Ground, the setting sun was sinking into the western mountains, dyeing the entire Red Fire Peak a golden red.

He walked down the mountain path, his steps much lighter than when he arrived.

The dark-gold blood and Qi inside him circulated slowly; with every circulation, a trace of warm aura dissipated from his limbs and bones, making his whole body feel comfortable.

But he didn't return to his Immortal Cave.

He turned and walked in another direction.

Duty Hall.

—

People were still coming and going in the Duty Hall, with an endless stream of Disciples entering and exiting.

Jiang Hanzhou stepped into the hall and walked straight to the counter.

"Handing in a mission." He took out his Identity Token and placed it on the counter.

The Disciple on duty took the token, probed it with his Divine Sense, and after checking for a moment, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Jiang Hanzhou... Black Stone Island mission, base contribution points: twenty. Due to an intelligence error, double compensation was awarded, totaling sixty points." He looked up at Jiang Hanzhou. "Senior Brother, please wait a moment, I will transfer them for you now."

He took out a palm-sized jade board and tapped it lightly.

Jiang Hanzhou's Identity Token flashed slightly, and the number on it changed from "0" to "60".

Sixty contribution points.

Jiang Hanzhou took the token, tucked it into his robes, and turned to leave the Duty Hall.

Next stop, Treasure Pavilion.

—

The Treasure Pavilion was located on the third level of Red Fire Peak. It was a three-story bluestone pavilion with upturned eaves and bracket sets, looking ancient and elegant.

As Jiang Hanzhou entered the pavilion, a strange scent mixed with the auras of various Heaven And Earth Treasures wafted toward him.

The interior was extremely spacious, with rows of wooden shelves over ten feet high arranged neatly. The shelves were filled with various jade boxes, wooden cases, and porcelain bottles, each engraved with Seal runes to prevent Spiritual Qi from leaking out.

A grey-robed old man sat on a futon in the corner, holding a yellowed ancient book. He didn't even lift an eyelid when he saw him enter.

"Look for what you want yourself. Once you've chosen, bring it to me for exchange."

Jiang Hanzhou nodded and walked to the wooden shelves, his gaze scanning the labels on them.

"Fire Spirit Grass, three contribution points per stalk."

"Mystic Iron Essence, five contribution points per catty."

"Earth Vein Baleful Crystal, eight contribution points per piece."

"dragon blood pill, fifteen contribution points per bottle."

He looked all the way through and finally stopped in front of an independent wooden shelf.

On the shelf sat a palm-sized jade box. The box was pale green, its surface engraved with dense Formation patterns, and a faint green light could be seen flowing inside.

On the label next to the jade box, four words were written—

"nine heavens gang wind stone".

Below it was marked: Twelve contribution points.

Jiang Hanzhou took out his Identity Token and swiped it lightly on the jade board next to the shelf.

The jade board flashed slightly, and the Seal runes automatically unlocked.

He opened the jade box, and a palm-sized blue-grey stone lay quietly inside.

The stone's surface was rough and covered with tiny holes, each with a faint green light flowing through it. When the light flickered, a very slight whistling sound could be heard—the sound of gang wind flowing within the stone.

nine heavens gang wind stone.

Produced above the Nine Heavens, it contained the purest gang wind power and was an essential item for refining "Gang Fire."

Jiang Hanzhou closed the jade box, put it into his sumeru pouch, and turned toward the grey-robed old man.

"Senior, I wish to exchange for this."

He placed both his Identity Token and the jade box on the counter.

The grey-robed old man took the token, glanced at the number on it, then looked at the jade box and nodded slightly.

"Twelve points. Deducted."

He tapped the token lightly, and the number changed from "60" to "48".

Jiang Hanzhou took the token, tucked it away, and turned to leave the Treasure Pavilion.

Next stop, Scripture Pavilion.

—

The Scripture Pavilion was located on the fourth level of Red Fire Peak. It was a five-story crimson pagoda with a huge bronze bell hanging from the top, gleaming with a dark-gold luster in the setting sun.

As Jiang Hanzhou entered the pagoda, the scent of sandalwood mixed with ancient books wafted toward him.

The interior was extremely spacious, with rows of thirty-foot-high bookshelves arranged neatly. The shelves were filled with various types of records—paper ancient books, animal skin scrolls, Jade Slips, and stone rubbings.

Beside each record, the contribution points required for exchange were marked.

The first floor: Yellow Rank Cultivation Techniques, one to five contribution points.

The second floor: Profound Rank Cultivation Techniques, five to fifteen contribution points.

The third floor: Earth Rank Cultivation Techniques, fifteen to thirty contribution points.

The fourth floor: Heaven Rank Cultivation Techniques, thirty to one hundred contribution points.

The fifth floor: Forbidden Ground, special authorization required.

Jiang Hanzhou walked straight up to the fourth floor.

The bookshelves on the fourth floor were much sparser than those on the lower floors. Each record was placed individually in a specially made jade case, which was engraved with Seal runes to prevent Spiritual Qi from escaping and the content from being leaked.

He walked slowly along the bookshelves, his gaze scanning the labels on the jade cases.

"'Burning Heaven Sword Art,' Heaven Rank Medium Grade, a sword path Cultivation Technique, requires Fire Element True Intent, fifty-five contribution points."

"'Nine Revolutions Flame Dragon Art,' Heaven Rank High Grade, a Body Tempering technique, requires a foundation in Dragon Blood Body Tempering, eighty-eight contribution points."

"'Great Sun True Scripture,' Heaven Rank Peak Grade, a Mind-Cultivation Technique summary, requires Pure Yang True Intent Perfection, one hundred contribution points."

He looked all the way through and finally stopped in front of an independent jade case.

The jade case was crimson, its surface engraved with flame patterns. In the center of the patterns was a line of ancient small characters—

"'Samadhi True Fire Art,' Heaven Rank Low Grade, a True Intent Fusion method, requires the possession of all three fires: Essence, Qi, and Spirit; forty contribution points."

There was another line of small characters as a note below:

"This technique was created by the seventh generation Peak Master of Red Fire Peak. It uses 'Essence Fire' to temper the body, 'Qi Fire' to resist enemies, and 'Spirit Fire' to condense intent. When the three fires unite, Samadhi True Fire is formed. However, the cultivation conditions are harsh; it cannot be cultivated unless one possesses all three. Choose carefully."

Jiang Hanzhou stared at that line of small characters and fell silent for a moment.

Essence Fire—the fire of blood and Qi.

Qi Fire—the fire of True Qi.

Spirit Fire—the fire of the Divine Soul.

Only when one has all three can they Cultivate it.

Did he have Essence Fire? Yes. The Lihuo True Flame cultivated through the Li Huo Golden Body Art was pure blood and Qi Fire.

Did he have Spirit Fire? Yes. The Heart Blade was a blade of will condensed from the Divine Soul; although not in the form of flame, its essence was the ultimate condensation of Spirit Fire.

Did he have Qi Fire?

No.

His True Qi was Baleful Qi—blazing and overbearing—but it had never condensed into "fire."

But Master Xue Mu had said that the concept of "uniting the three fires" in this Cultivation Technique would be inspiring for him to refine his ultimate moves.

He didn't need to succeed in Cultivating it; he only needed to comprehend the path of Fusion within it.

He took out his Identity Token and swiped it lightly on the jade board next to the jade case.

The jade board flashed slightly, and the Seal runes automatically unlocked.

He opened the jade case and took out a palm-sized crimson Jade Slip.

The Jade Slip felt warm in his hand, and he could vaguely sense the majestic Fire Element True Intent contained within it.

He put it into his sumeru pouch and turned to head downstairs.