94: Ten million taels of silver?

"Within two years, your cultivation must reach Martial Dao Second Rank."

"Oh, reaching Martial Dao Second Rank within two years? That's not difficult."

Hearing this, Lin Yi pondered.

For a Martial Artist to break through to the Second Rank, there are generally three major hurdles.

First is reaching the absolute limit of Martial Dao Third Rank Peak; second is comprehending the Force Exertion Realm of Limit Breaking Second Tier; and third is being under sixty years of age.

Lin Yi had already cleared two of these three hurdles, leaving only the 'cultivation' threshold yet to be reached.

As long as he could raise his cultivation to the absolute limit of Third Rank Peak within the next two years, reaching Martial Dao Second Rank would naturally be achieved in the blink of an eye.

With the terror of the mystic purple rank 'Martial Dao Sacred Body' and the support of the mother pool of the scarlet dragon...

Two years? Martial Dao Third Rank Peak limit?

That would be as easy as turning over one's hand!

"What, you think this stage isn't hard?"

Seeing Lin Yi's expression, Gu Changsheng smiled.

"Don't worry, this is just an appetizer."

"I know your Physical Body Aptitude is extraordinary, perhaps even more terrifying than your Comprehension Ability, so I intentionally set an easy stage for you. The truly difficult parts are still to come!"

"Alright! Next, I'll tell you the second condition!"

"That is—within two years, reach the Limit Breaking Third Tier Perfection in your Force Exertion Realm."

"Reach Limit Breaking Third Tier Perfection within two years?"

Lin Yi's heart jolted.

Limit Breaking Third Tier Perfection—how terrifying a Realm was that?

Even many First-Rank Martial Artists in the Nine Provinces Continent likely hadn't reached this level in their Force Exertion Realm.

He had only just reached Limit Breaking Second Tier, yet he was expected to reach Limit Breaking Third Tier Perfection in only two years.

This was far more difficult than reaching Martial Dao Second Rank within two years.

Even with his current talent and the boost to his Comprehension Ability from his future Divine Soul, it might not be possible.

Thinking of this, a troubled look appeared on Lin Yi's face.

However, on the other side, Gu Changsheng continued to smile, saying:

"Heh, stumped already?"

"Don't worry, there's something even harder. Third—within a year and a half, your willpower must break through to within the 200-meter range of the willpower stone pillar."

"What! Within 200 meters of the willpower stone pillar? And I have to break through within a year and a half?"

Hearing this condition, Lin Yi couldn't help but cry out in surprise.

To reach within 200 meters of the willpower stone pillar, such willpower was already no less than that of many martial arts teachers in the Tianshan Pavilion; Wang Yu's willpower, for instance, was roughly at this level.

And Wang Yu was a terrifying Martial Artist who could be considered high-tier or even top-tier among First-Rank Martial Artists. One could only imagine how strong his power and how terrifying his willpower were.

And now the Sect Master wanted his willpower to reach that level within a year and a half? The difficulty was simply astronomical!

"What? Lin Yi, are you scared?"

Seeing this, a faint, almost imperceptible glint of teasing flashed in Gu Changsheng's eyes, and he then smiled:

"If you're scared, I can give you a chance to choose again right now."

"You can give up on the second option now and re-select the first option, taking some of the treasures I promised you in that first option."

"Alright! From now on, I'll give you ten breaths of time to consider. Think it over carefully..."

"No need!"

As soon as Gu Changsheng finished speaking, Lin Yi looked into his eyes and said firmly:

"Sect Master, I choose the second option, and I will never regret it!"

The second option was indeed very difficult.

Except for the first condition of reaching Martial Dao Second Rank within two years, each of these conditions was as difficult as reaching the heavens for Lin Yi.

But as difficult as this option was, the rewards were equally bountiful!

Not only were the quantities of various Heaven And Earth Treasures and tianshan coins far greater than the first option, but most importantly, it would reward a Xiantian Low Grade Divine Soul-type Heaven And Earth Treasure—the soul profound spirit fruit!

Divine Soul-type Heaven And Earth Treasures had always been among the most precious of all Precious Medicines, perhaps even the single most precious!

In the Jiuzhou World, a Xiantian Low Grade Divine Soul-type Heaven And Earth Treasure was worth more than a Xiantian Medium Grade treasure of any other type. Even Xiantian Golden Core Realm experts would fight to the death over one.

If he could obtain such a treasure, then while he couldn't say a Breakthrough to the Innate Realm was imminent, he would have taken a massive step toward it.

"Very good!"

Looking at the determination in Lin Yi's eyes, Gu Changsheng was completely satisfied.

"Lin Yi, since you have made your choice, you cannot change it even if you regret it in the future."

"From now on, go back and Cultivate well! I will be waiting for the day you complete your assessment!"

"Yes! Sect Master."

Hearing this, Lin Yi gave a slight cupped-hand salute and then immediately left the small courtyard.

Watching Lin Yi's departing figure, Gu Changsheng suddenly smiled behind him.

"Heh, this little fellow is quite bold!"

"I originally intended to tease him, so I deliberately set the conditions high, waiting for him to bargain."

"I didn't expect him to be so honest, actually agreeing to everything in one breath."

"Even someone with willpower talent as strong as Jiang Hanhan took a full two years and three months to break through from 400 meters to 200 meters at the willpower stone pillar."

"And the time I gave him is only a bit more than half of what Jiang Hanhan took. He didn't even ask for an extension, but just agreed directly. He truly is audacious!"

"But, so be it!"

"As the saying goes, 'Aim for the top and you might reach the middle; aim for the middle and you'll only reach the bottom.'"

"Although the requirements I set this time are high, it happened to work out by accident, applying more pressure and motivation to him."

"This way, he will work even harder in the next year and a half to strive for higher achievements."

"As for the result?"

"Heh, when the time comes, as long as he can reach 220—no, 230 meters at the willpower stone pillar, reach Limit Breaking Third Tier in his Force Exertion Realm, and reach Third Rank Peak in cultivation, then I'll give him the rewards ahead of schedule!"

Gu Changsheng smiled and shook his head, then poured himself a cup of hot tea and continued to savor it slowly... Meanwhile, outside the small courtyard.

"Lin Yi, you're out!"

As soon as Lin Yi stepped out, Wang Yu, who had been waiting outside the courtyard, immediately came forward and smiled:

"How was it? You broke our Heavenly Mountain Sect's historical record this time, and as far as I know, the Sect Master isn't a stingy person. He should have given you quite a few rewards this time, right?"

"Quite a few."

Lin Yi nodded slightly, but then shook his head again.

"However, due to some matters, those rewards can only be obtained after completing certain assessments first."

"So I need resources now! A large amount of resources to help me complete those assessments!"

"Right! Teacher Wang, I remember the Jiang Family had been contacting me before, wanting me to join their Family faction?"

"Tell them on my behalf now! As long as they are willing to provide enough silver, I can join them now."

"Otherwise, although I personally lean toward them, if another Family faction offers too high a price, I'll have to join another faction."

Lin Yi said.

The Jiang Family was the Family of the Dongshan Martial Academy Dean, 'Jiang Hai,' and was also one of the five major Innate families within the Heavenly Mountain Sect. The Family had one Xiantian Golden Core Realm and two Innate True Essence Realm experts.

In terms of strength, although they weren't the strongest among the five major families, they were ranked in the upper-middle, and their strength was quite substantial.

Lin Yi had studied at the Dongshan Martial Academy before. Although his time there wasn't long and he hadn't even met Dean 'Jiang Hai,' there was still a bit of a connection there.

So under equal conditions, Lin Yi naturally preferred to join the Jiang Family.

"Good! I will go and tell the Jiang Family Head."

Seeing Lin Yi's solemn expression, Wang Yu also nodded gravely, but then reminded him:

"But you only want silver this time, not other resources? Like tianshan coins, or other First Rank Precious Medicines, Medicinal Pills, and such?"

"The Jiang Family is one of our Heavenly Mountain Sect's Innate families after all. Even if their strength isn't the absolute top, they are still quite wealthy and powerful."

"Even though your strength is currently low and they might worry about you dying prematurely and thus won't invest too many resources, if you really want them, I think they'd be willing to give two or three wuxin pills a year, or First Rank Precious Medicines of equivalent value."

"No need, I just want silver."

As soon as Wang Yu finished speaking, Lin Yi immediately shook his head.

"If there's anything else I need, I'll go to the Wanlong Chamber of Commerce to buy it myself."

"After all, I am a Saint-level Genius of the Wanlong Chamber of Commerce with great authority; I can purchase any treasure below the Second Rank."

"Ever since I broke into the top 500 meters of willpower last time, my authority has increased again, allowing me to buy any treasure below the First Rank."

"As for now, I estimate that as long as it's a treasure below the Innate Realm, I can basically buy it with silver at the Wanlong Chamber of Commerce."

"So for me, silver is the most convenient. If it were Precious Medicines, and I suddenly needed something else, I'd have to exchange the medicine for silver first before buying it, which would be inconvenient."

"Hmm, that makes sense."

Wang Yu nodded in agreement.

"In that case, I'll go contact the Jiang Family for you immediately. Give me a few more days to negotiate with them for a bit."

"I guarantee that I'll at least get you a deal of ten million taels of silver per year!"

"Haha! Then many thanks, Teacher Wang."

Hearing this, Lin Yi laughed.

Based on the increasing rate of silver required for Talent Evolution previously, ten million taels of silver would be enough to help him evolve two talents with some left over.

As long as those two talents weren't too poor, they would definitely bring a qualitative leap to his already incredibly powerful talent.

When that time came, he might just have a chance to complete the Sect Master's three major conditions.

Thinking of this, anticipation rose in Lin Yi's heart... Time passed quickly, and three days later, outside Lin Yi's room in the Tianshan Pavilion.

"What! Fifteen million silver? This Jiang Family is actually so generous! They gave so much more than the previous estimate?"

Looking at the thick stack of Silver Notes Wang Yu handed him, Lin Yi's face was filled with shock, and intense excitement rose in his heart.

Because ten million taels of silver could only help him evolve two talents, while fifteen million taels of silver could help him evolve a full three talents!

And the further along Talent Evolution went, the higher the probability of evolving a high-level talent.

So while three talents might only be one more than two, the difference in effect between the two was actually like heaven and earth!

He really had to thank this Jiang Family properly.

"Lin Yi, this fifteen million taels wasn't given by the Jiang Family alone."

On the other side, hearing this, Wang Yu shook his head and explained:

"Of this silver, only ten million and fifty thousand taels actually came from the Jiang Family."

"As for the remaining four million five hundred thousand taels, it was sent to me urgently by the Qingzhou branch of the Wanlong Chamber of Commerce after they heard you needed silver. They told me to give it to you along with the Jiang Family's silver."

"Wanlong Chamber of Commerce?"

Hearing this, Lin Yi was stunned, but after a moment, he nodded slightly.

"Good! I, Lin Yi, will remember this favor from Wanlong. Teacher Wang, tell that messenger from the Wanlong Chamber of Commerce later that I, Lin Yi, will definitely repay them in the future."

"This is my promise!"

After saying that, Lin Yi thanked Wang Yu once more and then immediately went into room number ninety-nine with the money.

Three talents... he wondered what kind of talents would be evolved?

Furthermore, after having these three talents, just how much would his own talent improve?