Chapter 176 - 169: Exchange, Eccentric Senior Brother
"Elder Jing Lun."
Jiang Zuo called out softly.
"What is it, kid? What do you need me for?"
The Artifact Spirit was online twenty-four hours a day and would respond to any request from Inner and Outer Disciples.
The moment Jiang Zuo called, the Artifact Spirit appeared beside him.
"Elder Jing Lun, does your collection include any Celestial-Tier Cultivation Techniques for the Water and Fire Elements?"
Jiang Zuo asked.
"Of course I do! What, you want them?"
The Artifact Spirit’s eyes darted around as it asked almost instinctively if Jiang Zuo wanted them.
"I do. I was just wondering how I might trade for those two Cultivation Techniques."
"I told you before: books I haven’t collected."
"I want to know the exchange rate. If I give you a very long novel, something like a hero’s biography, how many would it take to trade for a Celestial-Tier Technique?"
"Those? Eighty to a hundred volumes, maybe. While I enjoy reading them, they don’t have much value. If you want to trade for a Celestial-Tier Technique, you’ll have to hand over that many."
"But if you’re not trying to trade for a Celestial-Tier Technique and just want some other books, the number required would be much, much lower!"
’Just as I thought. It’s not that easy to get a Celestial-Tier Technique.’
Jiang Zuo wasn’t too surprised to hear the Artifact Spirit’s words.
Although the Artifact Spirit hadn’t said it outright, the name "Ten Thousand Dao Scripture Tower" had already given Jiang Zuo a clue. The spirit wasn’t collecting new books just for pleasure; it was also a way for it to advance itself.
Collecting books and Cultivation Techniques was its path to promotion.
But different books and techniques naturally had different effects.
The higher the tier of the Cultivation Technique, the greater its value. It wouldn’t be easy for Jiang Zuo to trade for one with ordinary novels.
’But... eighty to a hundred volumes sounds like a lot, but if I compare them to the novels I’ve read, one of mine is easily worth ten of them. It would probably only take about ten novels to make the trade.’
’With my Divine Sense, I could write ten novels in about a year.’
’Two Celestial-Tier Techniques would take two years.’
’Calculated like that, it’s actually quite fast.’
’However... if I’m not mistaken, I have something on me that should make trading for the techniques even easier.’
Jiang Zuo thought to himself.
"Elder Jing Lun, I have something I’d like to show you. Perhaps it can be used to trade for the techniques you have."
"However, this item is from a fortunate encounter of mine, and I don’t want others to know about it. You must swear that you will not mention this to any person or thing. If you break this oath, you will never be able to advance!"
Jiang Zuo looked at the Artifact Spirit and spoke in a low voice, afraid of being overheard.
"So mysterious? Fine, I’ll see what a mere Qi Cultivation kid like you can possibly produce!"
The Artifact Spirit was a little skeptical of Jiang Zuo’s words, but considering he had written a valuable book at such a young age, it was unlikely he was trying to trick it.
The Artifact Spirit then spoke, making an oath as Jiang Zuo had requested.
Only an Artifact Spirit would make such an oath without much thought. If it had been a person, they probably would have turned hostile immediately upon hearing Jiang Zuo’s demand.
"Elder Jing Lun, please allow me to take something out of this storage pouch."
Jiang Zuo took out a storage pouch.
"Go ahead."
The Artifact Spirit said without moving a muscle.
With a thought, Jiang Zuo retrieved a first-tier Porcupine Beast Pattern from the storage pouch and handed it to the Artifact Spirit.
"A Talisman? Talismans are basically worthless to me, as I’ve collected many books on Talisman crafting."
The Artifact Spirit said, a little puzzled, but it still took the Porcupine Beast Pattern from Jiang Zuo’s hand.
The moment the Porcupine Beast Pattern was in its hand, the Artifact Spirit’s eyes went wide.
The Porcupine Beast Pattern vanished from its hand in an instant. The spirit then closed its eyes, standing perfectly still.
After a moment, it opened its eyes and said hurriedly, "Zhou the kid, do you have more? Give me two more—no, just one more that’s different from this one, and I’ll give you a Celestial-Tier Cultivation Technique!"
"I do!"
Jiang Zuo took out a Turtle Breath Beast Pattern.
Before he could even hand it over, the Artifact Spirit snatched it away impatiently.
"Are there any more? I have the two Celestial-Tier Cultivation Techniques you need right here!"
"Just two more different ones, and you can have all the techniques you want!"
After confirming it was real, the Artifact Spirit spoke again.
"I have one more. This one is better than the previous two. I want to trade it for one Celestial-Tier Cultivation Technique. Otherwise, no deal."
Jiang Zuo took out a second-tier Night Cat’s Eye Beast Pattern.
"Let me see it first."
Seeing that Jiang Zuo could produce another one, the Artifact Spirit hurriedly took it to examine.
"Alright, I agree to your terms!"
After just a glance, the Artifact Spirit said happily.
The effect of a single second-tier Beast Pattern was far stronger than two first-tier ones combined.
Jiang Zuo understood this as well, but he couldn’t be bothered to haggle with the Artifact Spirit right now. He just wanted to get the techniques first.
Besides, he still had several other types of Beast Patterns. It wouldn’t be too late to drive a harder bargain next time he wanted to trade for something else.
"What Water and Fire Celestial-Tier Techniques do you have? Let me take a look before I decide."
Jiang Zuo said, taking the opportunity.
"’Take a look before you decide’? What are you thinking? Do you think Celestial-Tier Techniques are a dime a dozen?"
"In over ten thousand years, after countless trials and tribulations, the Black Tortoise Dao Sect has only managed to obtain three Celestial-Tier Cultivation Techniques."
"For Water and Fire, I only have one Celestial-Tier Cultivation Technique for each attribute in my collection. If you want to be picky, I’ll have to trade you for a different technique instead."
The Artifact Spirit said irritably.
Many sects didn’t even have a single Celestial-Tier Technique, yet this kid was already being picky.
Jiang Zuo chuckled sheepishly. He had just said it casually. What if the Artifact Spirit really did have a huge collection of Celestial-Tier Techniques?
The Artifact Spirit waved its hand, and two Cultivation Techniques appeared before Jiang Zuo.
"The Water Attribute Celestial-Tier Technique, Water Curtain Celestial Splendor!"
"The Fire Element Celestial-Tier Technique, the Nine Flames Reincarnation Technique!"
Jiang Zuo quickly scanned the two Celestial-Tier Techniques.
Water Curtain Celestial Splendor was a defense-oriented technique. After mastering it, one could manifest a celestial curtain of water.
The curtain could suppress enemies within and block attacks from without.
At first glance, Jiang Zuo felt this Cultivation Technique was excellent.
As for the Nine Flames Reincarnation Technique, Jiang Zuo felt a bit of a headache coming on after reading its description.
It wasn’t that the technique wasn’t powerful; once mastered, it would be incredibly strong.
Upon mastering it, Jiang Zuo could form a spinning wheel of fire around his body to attack enemies.
But cultivating it required him to devour different Spirit Fires until the wheel contained as many as nine different kinds.
Only then could he reach Great Success in the technique.
This meant Jiang Zuo would have to find Spirit Fires to devour for his Cultivation, or his progress with the technique would stall.
’Whatever, I’ll take it. Nine Spirit Fires is a bit much, but if the requirements for the fires aren’t too high, it shouldn’t be that hard to collect them.’
’The Black Tortoise Dao Sect has a dedicated Artifact Refining Hall, and I’ve heard they have several kinds of Spirit Fires inside.’
’Plus, the major and minor competitions the Black Tortoise Dao Sect holds every few years often have Spirit Fires as rewards.’
’At least until I reach the late stage of the Divine Body Realm, I probably won’t have to worry about finding Spirit Fires for my Cultivation.’
After a moment of thought, Jiang Zuo made his decision.
Although it was a bit troublesome, if he gave up the Nine Flames Reincarnation Technique and tried to find another Fire Attribute Celestial-Tier Technique, who knew how long that would take.
His other four attributes would all have Celestial-Tier Techniques, while only the Fire Attribute would be stuck with an Earth-Tier Technique. The very thought was unacceptable.
Besides, in the long run, if he cultivated an Earth-Tier Technique, he would still have to switch to a Celestial-Tier one when he reached the Dao Fruit Realm. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to break through to the Manifestation Realm.
Moreover, having one technique a full tier lower than the others could cause unnecessary trouble during his Cultivation.
That being the case, he might as well cultivate the Nine Flames Reincarnation Technique.
"Zhou the kid, any more? If you have them, bring them out! I still have plenty of books in my collection, I’m sure there’s something you’ll like!"
The Artifact Spirit wasn’t satisfied yet. It continued to circle Jiang Zuo, its voice full of longing.
"That’s all for now. But if I find more in the future, I’ll definitely come back to trade with you."
"By the way, Elder Jing Lun, can I trade these two Celestial-Tier Techniques with others, or perhaps offer them to the sect?"
Jiang Zuo had no intention of trading with the Artifact Spirit again for the time being, but he had many ideas for the two techniques in his possession.
"Of course not! In your dreams! Can you pass the books you get from the Scripture Pavilion on to others after you leave?"
"It’s the same with my books. As soon as you take them out of the Scripture Pavilion, you will automatically agree to a Dao Heart Oath, just like the one I just swore."
The Artifact Spirit shot Jiang Zuo a look.
If Celestial-Tier Techniques could be passed around so easily, how could it use them to trade with others in the future!
’Alright, it seems I was overthinking things.’
Jiang Zuo shrugged, not too surprised.
After leaving the Ten Thousand Dao Scripture Tower, Jiang Zuo discovered that the two Celestial-Tier Techniques he had traded for, as well as the first two layers of the three Celestial-Tier Techniques he had redeemed from the sect, were all gone.
But when he focused his thoughts, the techniques would appear in his mind. It was truly magical.
’Looks like this Ten Thousand Dao Scripture Tower is really something else,’ he thought.
Jiang Zuo had just returned to Taihao Peak when he received a summons from Luo Taidong.
"Master, you summoned me?"
Jiang Zuo arrived before Luo Taidong’s cave residence and asked respectfully.
"Your third senior brother has gotten into trouble. The other party insists I go over personally before they’ll release him."
"I’ll be gone for a while. During this time, you are to stay on the peak and focus on your Cultivation. Don’t wander off. When cultivating, you must not be rash or impatient. If there’s anything you don’t understand, go find Elder Yan."
Luo Taidong sighed as he instructed Jiang Zuo.
’Third Senior Brother?’
Jiang Zuo muttered to himself.
On the day he became a disciple, Luo Taidong had mentioned that he also had a second senior brother, a third senior brother, and a fifth senior sister.
As for his first and fourth senior brothers, they had likely already perished.
"Master, are you sure they’re not using Third Senior Brother as bait to lure you into a trap?"
Jiang Zuo said, a little worried.
"No, it’s not what you think."
"Your third senior brother is a playboy who falls in love with everyone he meets. This time, he got involved with a talented junior from a certain family. But her family found out about his reputation and told him to get lost."
"But what did he do? Not only did he refuse to leave, he even tried to elope with their talented junior and got caught red-handed."
Luo Taidong said helplessly.
This disciple of his was good at everything, except he was far too much of a womanizer. The number of women he’d been in love with was at least eight or ten, if not more.
If Luo Taidong had a daughter, he would never entrust her to such a man.
But this guy was not only handsome, he was also genuinely sincere every time he fell in love.
If you were to call him a scumbag, well, he was definitely a scumbag.
But as for how much of a scumbag he was... it seemed he wasn’t *that* bad.
"I understand. I will be careful with my Cultivation."
Hearing this, Jiang Zuo was relieved.
He hadn’t expected to have such an eccentric senior brother.
"Well, if anything comes up, wait until I get back. If it’s truly urgent, go find Elder Yan."
Luo Taidong gave a few more instructions before leaving, finally feeling at ease.
Although Jiang Zuo had only been his disciple for a short time, Luo Taidong felt a sense of reassurance whenever he saw him.
If all the disciples he took on were like this, he wouldn’t have to worry so much.
"Excellent. Now the entire Taihao Peak is all mine!"
Jiang Zuo was thrilled.
It had been almost half a year since he entered the Black Tortoise Dao Sect, but he had yet to truly begin his Cultivation.