Cultivation: Immunity to Negative Effects

"These are minor matters. By the way, you should choose your abode here on my peak. Also, don’t leave for the next year. I will make time to personally teach you and answer your questions about cultivation."

"Furthermore, I have already notified your two senior brothers and your senior sister. They will be over to meet you later."

"From now on, get along well with them and support each other. Only then can you go further on the path of Immortal Cultivation," Master Jian continued.

After that, she asked Zhang Chi a few questions about his circumstances and gave him some on-the-spot guidance on his cultivation.

Even though her Cultivation Technique was completely different from his, Zhang Chi benefited immensely, feeling as if he had a sudden epiphany.

’As expected of a Golden Core Peak Powerhouse. It seems I really do need to stay in the Sect for a year! During that time, I can take advantage of the Spiritual Qi here. It definitely won’t delay my cultivation!’

Zhang Chi marveled to himself.

Master Jian’s abode didn’t have its own independent Spiritual Vein, but it had a branch diverted from the Sect’s main one, making it equivalent to a Tier Three Middle Grade Spiritual Vein.

Cultivating here, he would surely be like a fish in water.

The only regret was that this was a Master’s personal abode. According to Sect rules, even as a Closed-door Disciple, he couldn’t engage in long-term Cultivation in Seclusion here.

Besides, even though Master Jian’s lifespan was nearing its end, she would never abandon her last chance to break through to the Nascent Soul realm.

Moreover, a Golden Core Powerhouse required a massive amount of Spiritual Qi just for daily upkeep to prevent their cultivation level from regressing.

Fortunately, while long-term seclusion was out, ’borrowing’ the Spiritual Qi frequently for a year or so would surely not be a problem.

Of course, for a Golden Core Peak Cultivator, this Spiritual Vein was, strictly speaking, clearly insufficient.

This was likely one of the reasons why Master Jian had yet to reach the Nascent Soul realm, despite her advanced age.

The other reasons were likely the extreme rarity of Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects and the incredibly high demands the breakthrough itself placed on a cultivator.

"Oh, right. You don’t have a Tier Two Alchemy inheritance yet, do you? I happen to have one that I acquired years ago. It’s of no use to me now, so I’m giving it to you."

Just then, Master Jian seemed to recall something, and she took out a Jade Scroll, tossing it to Zhang Chi.

"Thank you, Master!"

Zhang Chi wasn’t too concerned about a Tier Two Alchemy inheritance, as he already had one. But since his master was offering, he could hardly refuse.

’Huh? There’s a Tier Three Alchemy inheritance in here, too?’

But as he took it and inspected it, he was pleasantly surprised.

The Alchemy inheritance in the Jade Scroll was excellent and remarkably complete—it actually covered everything from Tier One to Tier Three.

That made it quite valuable.

After all, even within the Sect, a Tier Three Alchemy inheritance would cost upwards of one hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

He wasn’t particularly short on Spirit Stones at the moment, but he would never complain about having more.

"That’s right. I gave you the whole thing, lest I suddenly die one day and forget to pass on the rest," Master Jian said.

"That won’t happen. Master, you will definitely reach the Nascent Soul realm before your time is up. And once I become powerful, I will find a way to get a Tier Three Life Extension Pill for you!" Zhang Chi said seriously after a brief silence.

Given Master Jian’s status and circumstances, she must have already taken the Tiers One and Two Life Extension Pills.

As for a Tier Three Life Extension Pill, however, even the Sect itself might not possess one.

"Haha, very well. I will wait for your Tier Three Life Extension Pill. I truly have never taken one of those, nor have I ever been able to obtain one. But before any of that, you should focus on your cultivation. Reaching the Golden Core realm is what’s most important."

"Otherwise, you won’t even be qualified to go treasure hunting. Besides, when I am gone, it would be enough if you would just help look after my descendants, like Zhong Yu and the others."

"Furthermore, when you disciples contribute to the Sect, I, as your master, also receive certain rewards. So just focus on working hard; you don’t need to constantly be thinking about how to repay me."

Master Jian said with a smile.

She didn’t actually believe that Zhang Chi could find a Lifespan Extension Pill that she herself couldn’t, but she was very pleased with his sentiment.

"Thank you for the reminder, Master. I will remember."

Zhang Chi nodded.

He naturally understood the priorities. He wasn’t about to drop everything and spend a huge amount of time searching for a Tier Three Life Extension Pill just because he’d received an inheritance worth over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

Still, Master Jian’s reminder made him feel that she was a truly forthright and sincere master.

"Master, where’s our little junior brother?"

"Little Junior Brother, your Second Senior Sister is here! Aren’t you going to hurry out and greet me?"

"Senior Sister, keep your voice down! Don’t scare our little junior brother!"

"Piss off. Mind your own business!"

Just then, a series of shouts erupted from outside, and three cultivators—two men and a woman—walked in.

These three were precisely Master Jian’s other disciples, besides Zhong Yu and Zhang Chi.

The one in the lead was tall and burly with solid muscles and a sharp gaze—this was his Eldest Senior Brother, Li Ruohai.

Behind him was a tall, curvaceous woman in black robes—his Second Senior Sister, Shangguan Hui.

The last one, currently bickering with his Second Senior Sister, was a lean man with a constant smile. His name was Yan Tengfei, the Third Senior Brother.

Zhang Chi had already read about these three when he looked up Master Jian’s information, so he recognized them at a glance.

He also knew that Li Ruohai was not only a practitioner of Dual Cultivation of Body and Spirit with profound attainments, but he had also achieved Spirit and Martial Unity, giving him immense Combat Power.

Li Ruohai was also a Golden Core Early Stage cultivator who had just turned two hundred this year.

This might seem old, but for a Golden Core cultivator, he was exceptionally young.

Shangguan Hui and Yan Tengfei were at the Foundation Establishment Peak and Foundation Establishment Late Stage, respectively.

The former was just over one hundred and fifty, while the latter was around one hundred and twenty. Both were considered outstanding for their age.

Of course, anyone accepted as a disciple by Master Jian was a top prodigy of the Sect, so such achievements were only to be expected.

By comparison, Zhong Yu’s innate talent was even a cut above these three before him.

Of course, compared to Zhang Chi himself, even Zhong Yu paled in comparison.

However, Zhang Chi didn’t underestimate the trio.

Take Li Ruohai, for instance. Not only was he a Golden Core cultivator, but it was rumored he had formed a Middle Grade Golden Core. His Combat Power had to be immense, and his experience in Body Refining and combat was definitely something Zhang Chi could learn from.

Shangguan Hui was a Tier Two Peak Puppet Master, meaning she was no slouch either.

Only Yan Tengfei seemed somewhat more ordinary, with no obvious specialty. However, he possessed a Mutated Spirit Root and came from a major family.

"I, your junior brother Zhang Chi, greet Eldest Senior Brother, Second Senior Sister, and Third Senior Brother."

Zhang Chi immediately offered his greetings.

"Mm. Hello, Little Junior Brother. I’m your Eldest Senior Brother, Li Ruohai. Here’s a little something for our first meeting; I hope you’ll accept it. Also, if you ever run into trouble, feel free to use my name."

"And when you’re free, feel free to come find me for a spar. Don’t worry, of course—I’ll suppress my cultivation so I don’t hurt you!"

Li Ruohai nodded, his voice booming as he replied, and casually took out a silvery-white Armor—a Top Grade Magical Artifact—and presented it to Zhang Chi.

"I’m your Second Senior Sister..."

Next, Shangguan Hui and Yan Tengfei also gave brief self-introductions and presented Zhang Chi with their own meeting gifts.

The former gave him a black, Tier Two Peak Tiger-shaped Puppet. Before activation, it looked small and exquisite, yet it radiated a ferocious aura.

The latter gave him a Tier Two Peak Wind Escape Talisman, which was also incredibly useful for a typical Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator.

"Thank you, Senior Brothers and Senior Sister."

Zhang Chi hurriedly expressed his thanks.

Regardless of their true feelings toward him, these three gifts were, at the very least, offered with great sincerity.

The Tiger-shaped Puppet, in particular, was the most valuable and the most useful of the three.

Of course, this was only possible because Shangguan Hui was a Puppet Master; an ordinary Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator would not necessarily be able to afford such a generous gift.