Cultivation: Immunity to Negative Effects

"A Tier Three Low Grade Puppet? Congratulations on your great progress in the Puppetry Technique, Second Senior Sister, but I can’t accept it. I’ll be heading back to the Sect in a few years anyway—I could even go back now if I wanted. So I have no use for it!"

Zhang Chi’s eyes lit up when he saw the item Shangguan Hui offered, but he quickly shook his head and refused.

The item was a Puppet. Before being activated, it was only a foot tall. It was a humanoid metal figure holding a Giant Sword and a Shield, and it radiated a powerful pressure that told you it was strong with a single glance.

The Puppet was still very new; it must have been refined recently.

However, limited by his own Cultivation, Zhang Chi was incapable of refining such a Puppet. Seeing it, he was naturally very tempted.

But he still wasn’t planning on accepting it.

There was no other reason; the item was simply too valuable.

Back then, that Wood Carving was just a single-use item, and it was worth 180,000 Low Grade Spirit Stones. This was a reusable Puppet, which would be worth even more.

"It’s fine, just take it. The help you gave me can’t be compared to a mere Puppet," Shangguan Hui insisted.

"How about this, Junior Brother? You can take the Puppet for now, just treat it as a loan. When you form your Golden Core in the future, you can return it to Second Senior Sister. Wouldn’t that solve the problem?"

Zhang Chi had tried to refuse again, and Shangguan Hui was still insisting. At the side, Zhong Yu thought for a moment and finally proposed this compromise.

"That’s a great idea!"

"I think so too!"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Alright then!"

Only then did Zhang Chi accept the Puppet.

He really liked this Puppet. It would also be a valuable reference for improving his own Puppetry Technique.

Accepting it as a gift would be too much, but borrowing it was a different matter.

Once he reached the Golden Core Realm, he would definitely be able to refine one himself.

’Besides, it won’t be that long from now.’

"That works too!"

Shangguan Hui thought about it and had no objections.

After all, while she wanted to help Zhang Chi, it wasn’t like she had so many Spirit Stones she didn’t know what to do with them.

In fact, if she didn’t know that Zhang Chi was the type to repay his debts, and if she hadn’t made a promise beforehand, she really would have been reluctant to part with this first Tier Three Low Grade Puppet she had worked so hard to refine.

’Besides, from her perspective, Zhang Chi just reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage ten years ago. Between Cultivation and gathering Spiritual Objects, it would take him at least a hundred years to form a Golden Core.’

’In that case, giving him the right to use the Puppet for a hundred years wasn’t much different from giving it to him outright.’

Watching this from the side, Qin Susu and Chen Ling’er were quite envious of Zhang Chi.

They were envious not only that he received the Puppet, but also of the fellowship he shared with Shangguan Hui as a fellow disciple.

Anyone who didn’t know the truth might see this and think both of them were being foolish, or even insincere.

But they understood that both parties were being completely genuine.

"Since our senior brothers and sisters are all leaving, let’s have a proper celebration today. I’ll personally cook and prepare food and wine for everyone. Senior Brother Zhang, is that alright?" Qin Susu volunteered at this moment.

"Of course. Bring out a few jars of the Tier Two Peak Spirit Wine I have hidden in the cellar. Oh, and send a message to have He Shi, He Yan, and the others come over as well."

Zhang Chi nodded in satisfaction.

"Yes, Senior Brother."

Qin Susu immediately and efficiently went about her task.

Watching this, Li Ruohai, Yan Tengfei, and Chen Bufan were all quite envious of Zhang Chi’s good fortune with women.

Chen Ling’er and the other Female Cultivators were a little speechless. They clearly couldn’t bring themselves to act that way; they couldn’t even imagine it.

After a while, the He siblings and the Hong siblings arrived.

Because their Cultivation was too low, they were all very reserved, but they also felt very honored.

They knew that Zhang Chi had called them over because he was looking out for them.

Otherwise, they would have had no right to participate at all.

After all, there were two Golden Core cultivators present, and the rest were all Cultivators expected to reach the Golden Core Realm.

They, who had taken decades to reach Foundation Establishment, were in a completely different world.

Because of this, they were sensible enough to greet everyone upon arrival and then set up their own seats outside.

He Shi and Hong Jin’er even went to the kitchen to help Qin Susu prepare various delicious Spiritual Foods.

Of course, Qin Susu was still the main one doing the work; they were just helping out.

Over the years, Qin Susu had put in a great deal of effort to win Zhang Chi’s favor, even specifically learning the skills of a Spirit Chef.

When the dishes and Spirit Wine were served, everyone drank to their hearts’ content.

While Zhang Chi and the others used the Spirit Wine to liven up their conversation, He Shi and her group, who rarely had a chance to drink Tier Two Peak Spirit Wine, seized the opportunity for Refinement to raise their Cultivation.

During the idle chat, Zhang Chi learned that Yu Wan of the Cyan Cloud Sect had formed her Golden Core last month. Furthermore, it was a legendary Top Grade Golden Core, so all the major top-tier Immortal Sects were preparing to send high-level representatives to congratulate her.

When this was mentioned, everyone was extremely envious. Only Zhang Chi was inwardly scornful, thinking, ’So this is all a Celestial Grade Spirit Root amounts to. Not only did she fail to form her Core several years before me, but her Golden Core isn’t even Celestial Grade.’

’But on second thought, this is actually normal.’

’Generally, it’s considered very impressive for someone with an Upper Grade Spirit Root to form a Middle Grade Golden Core. Most can only manage a Low Grade Golden Core.’

’Those with a Top Grade Spirit Root usually form a Middle or Upper Grade Golden Core.’

’So it’s natural that a Celestial Grade Spirit Root would, at best, produce a Top Grade Golden Core.’

’As for those with a Middle Grade Spirit Root, they generally can’t achieve Core Formation at all.’

’But the number of Cultivators with Middle Grade Spirit Roots is enormous, so many are lucky enough to reach the Golden Core Realm. However, the Golden Cores they form are, nine times out of ten, either Low Grade or Fake Cores.’

As the conversation turned to forming a Golden Core, Shangguan Hui inevitably thanked Zhang Chi once again.

Chen Ling’er and the others were all very envious of Zhang Chi, because they hadn’t obtained any Core Formation Spiritual Objects during their Exploration back then.

When it came to forming a Golden Core, their highest goal was Middle Grade. Even if they dreamed of an Upper Grade, they were too embarrassed to say it out loud, afraid of being laughed at.

Afterward, the topic shifted to Master Jian only having about thirty years of Lifespan left, and Zhong Yu and the others grew sorrowful.

Li Ruohai in particular, a man built like an iron tower, actually began to weep bitterly. Embarrassed, he insisted it was just because he had drunk too much Spirit Wine.

But Zhang Chi knew he was a Golden Core cultivator; he would never get drunk on Tier Two Spirit Wine.

However, he was Master Jian’s first disciple, had studied under him the longest, and had received the most grace from their master. Naturally, he was the most reluctant to see his revered master die at the end of his Lifespan.

Thinking of Master Jian, Zhang Chi also shook his head slightly. Because time was too short, he was equally powerless to help.

Next, the conversation turned to the situation in the Demon Abyss. The group was split into two factions. One believed it was just the normal ebb and flow of a Demon Tide that would recede in a few decades.

The other faction, however, believed the situation was extremely dire.

Just like that, night fell. As the group was about to continue, they suddenly heard waves of roars from the distance.

At first, no one paid it any mind, but soon their expressions changed slightly, the effects of the wine vanishing in an instant.

"Those are the roars of Tier Three Demon Beasts and Demons. Something seems unusual tonight. Everyone, since we haven’t left yet, let’s stand guard for one more night!"

"Right!"

"Junior Brother Zhang, we’re heading out. You stay and guard Divine Needle Peak, but remember to be extra careful!"

"That’s right! We’ll come back tomorrow to continue drinking with you!"

"Yeah, we’re not done celebrating yet!"

Then, everyone immediately circulated their Magical Power to dispel any lingering effects of the alcohol. They then flew off separately toward Lin Yuan Peak and Demon Suppression Peak.

"Alright!"

Zhang Chi nodded slightly, walking them to the door before stopping.

BOOM!

Just then, two slender golden lights suddenly shot up into the sky in the distance.

The golden lights soared into the clouds and then abruptly exploded, like fireworks, yet they outshone any firework.

They weren’t just dazzlingly brilliant; they also caused intense Spiritual Power fluctuations and were clearly visible even from hundreds of miles away!