Chapter 708 - 558: Solid Gold Technique
The two left the Certification Association and descended upon an area Ji An had never set foot in before, marked by a stone archway at the entrance.
Outside the archway, the crowd was bustling and lively, yet inside it was cold and deserted, with two tall and burly Body Cultivators guarding the entrance.
Using Divine Sense to detect their vitality, Ji An found they were Chao Origin Stage Body Cultivators.
Ji An could not help but click his tongue. Chao Origin Stage Cultivators were a backbone force in the Immortal City, and for them to be guarding here meant that this power was beyond anything he had encountered before.
Master Qingfeng explained:
"This area is a no-fly zone and is not open to Cultivators without an invitation or referral, while inside are disciples of Nascent Soul Sect powers."
After being briefed on precautions, Ji An nodded continuously, cupping his hands in thanks.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for the referral, allowing me the opportunity to enter such a high-tier establishment."
Entering certain circles requires a certain threshold, and without someone to refer you, entrance is impossible.
He was actually quite surprised by this, because in terms of acquaintance, they had known each other only for several months and could barely be called familiar strangers.
Master Qingfeng waved his hand lightly, "With Fellow Daoist's strength, obtaining an invitation here is not difficult; you just need a stepping stone.
I am willing to be that stepping stone."
These days, he had learned that the other party was simultaneously a Tier Three Lower-grade Alchemist, excelling in both alchemy and talisman making.
Ji An quickly responded, "You flatter me, Fellow Daoist; I have much to learn from you."
Maintaining humility can earn friends; otherwise, if one carries a haughty attitude thinking oneself invincible, they are sure to be disliked everywhere they go.
The two engaged in a wave of commercial mutual praise before Master Qingfeng arrived at the entrance and handed over a pale gold waist token.
"I am bringing this Fellow Daoist inside."
One of the Body Cultivators took the token and activated a Secret Technique, causing golden characters to appear on it.
He returned the token respectfully, saying, "Please, Sirs!"
He activated a Spell, causing the light and shadows at the archway entrance to twist and transform, revealing a portal.
Master Qingfeng entered first, with Ji An closely following.
Before them was an exquisite scene of palatial towers and jade palaces.
They walked slowly, with Master Qingfeng introducing everything along the way.
Shortly, they arrived at the Wind Listening Pavilion.
The ebony plaque painted with golden characters had an ethereal and out-of-this-world air, tinged with wisps of immortality.
Stepping inside, they were greeted by a Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivator named Guangji, who personally received them.
After some pleasantries, Ji An stated his purpose:
"I've come this time to purchase some Golden Core-level spells, namely Bing Fire God Thunder, Gui Water God Thunder, Wu Earth God Thunder, and Metal Element Defense Technique."
Guangji slightly raised an eyebrow, "Thunder Techniques are easy to learn but hard to master; are you sure you want to purchase so many Thunder Techniques?"
His tone carried a hint of advice as Golden Core Cultivators excelling at one Thunder Technique was already impressive, and Magical Combat primarily relied on Magical Treasures for attack.
Ji An nodded affirmatively, cupping his hands, "Thank you for your kind advice, Fellow Daoist, but I have my own considerations."
The matter of the Stone Turtle was too unbelievable, and he couldn't disclose them.
Guangji imperceptibly shook his head, revealing a polite smile, saying:
"There is only one defensive Metal Element Technique called the Solid Gold Technique.
Don't be fooled by its inconspicuous name; it provides exceptionally strong defensive power."
"The previous Metal Element Defense Techniques provided continuous defensive power, but the Solid Gold Technique offers extremely high defense in a very short time.
The Cultivator gathers Metal Element Spiritual Qi covering the whole body, forming a Qi fortress that can last for at most one breath before automatically dissipating."
"This spell consumes a lot of Magical Power, and after successful casting, the Cultivator cannot move.
Despite its many drawbacks, the defense it provides during its duration is the strongest among Golden Core-level spells."
"There was once a Cultivator with a Metal Element Dao Body who, at the Third Layer Golden Core, mastered this spell to its zenith; the defense provided by the Solid Gold Technique resisted multiple attacks from a Ninth-Layer Golden Core Cultivator using Magical Treasures."
"Furthermore, if Fellow Daoist can master the Solid Gold Technique to perfection, it can be instantly cast."
Listening to the introduction, Ji An felt his heart race; he loved this type of spell with absolute defensive capabilities.
"How many Top-grade Spirit Stones will it cost to purchase these four spells?"
Guangji pondered:
"Since Fellow Daoist Qingfeng recommended you, whom I have been acquainted with for years, I'll give you the best discount."
"Eight hundred Top-grade Spirit Stones; if you master the spells to a high level, it's definitely worth the price."
Ji An showed an odd smile as the conditions for defining the value seemed refreshing; mastering any spell to Great Perfection Level was very powerful.
What the other party called the greatest discount was just words; he wouldn't believe it.
Though his bargaining skill was weak, it didn't affect Ji An's theatrics.
His expression showed slight difficulty, "I believe your words, Fellow Daoist, but theory is one thing, and reality is another. Who knows how many years it would take to master the spells to a very high level.
Moreover, whether it can be achieved is also unknown, so the price of eight hundred Top-grade Spirit Stones is quite high."
Copying a few Jade Slips to earn several hundred Top-grade Spirit Stones, this business was indeed a windfall.
After a round of bargaining, Ji An acquired four magic techniques for seven hundred top-grade spirit stones.
He couldn't help but recall the sects of the Western Continent; seven hundred top-grade spirit stones weren't particularly expensive, but the sect always needed to buy so much inheritance that they were continuously stretched thin.
With the money and goods settled, Guangji became even more enthusiastic and asked:
"Fellow Daoist, do you need to purchase more magic techniques? We have the Metal Divine Thunder and Yi Wood God Thunder in our shop, and if you choose to buy them, you'll have mastered all Five Elements Divine Thunder."
Earlier, he had advised that Thunder Techniques are easy to learn but hard to master, yet now he tossed that advice to the nine heavens.
Opportunities to earn spirit stones so easily were rare, and he intended to seize them well.
Ji An gently shook his head and let out a poor smile:
"I need the remaining spirit stones to buy pills at the auction house; I can't spare a single one."
Actually, his spirit stones were quite sufficient, but he couldn't display too many just yet.
Master Guangji nodded solemnly and considerately said:
"Cultivation is paramount; it's indeed wise to reserve enough spirit stones for purchasing pills."
After chatting for a while, Ji An and Guangji stood up to bid farewell.
Later, Master Qingfeng rushed back to the Wind Listening Pavilion and held out his hand:
"Where's my share?"
Master Guangji took out a storage bag. "I've prepared it long ago. By the way, how did you meet such a cultivator willing to spend on technique inheritance?"
Selling four magic techniques for seven hundred top-grade spirit stones was something no cultivator had been willing to do before.
Master Qingfeng checked the spirit stones in the storage bag and nodded with satisfaction.
"The other party is an alchemist and also a talisman maker, both certified at Tier Three.
Moreover, he is a cultivator from the Western Continent who urgently needs to enhance his own foundation.
A cultivator with extra money in hand will naturally be willing to spend spirit stones."
...
Upon returning to the grotto mansion, Ji An's first action was to take out four magic technique jade slips and place them on his forehead one by one.
He first browsed through them in a cursory manner, gaining a vague understanding of each technique.
Finally, he picked up the Jade Slip of the Solid Gold Technique, pressed it to his forehead, and studied it carefully.
He already possessed the Metal Divine Thunder and Yi Wood God Thunder as attack techniques, so he was not urgently in need of practicing other thunder techniques.
He discovered that it was not the imagined Dao of Xin Metal Technique, but rather a composite of Metal Divine Thunder and Xin Metal.
Only by achieving Yin Yang Unity could it unleash the most powerful defense power.
Ji An took out the Gourd Stone and entered the Little World.
He found that whether practicing cultivation methods or magic techniques here yielded better results.
He could also sustain his efforts longer because of various divine sense replenishing means, like the Gathering Essence Tree and Soul Nourishing Wood.
He contemplated the changes during the application of Yin Metal and Yang Gold, gaining insight into the divine intent of the spell.
About two double hours passed, and Ji An had gained a clearer understanding of how to perform the magic technique.
However, by this time, his divine sense was exhausted, making practicing the technique half the effort for twice the result.
He brewed a pot of Jade Dew Golden Bud Tea, where wisps of golden strands floated in the silver tea soup.
This was the change that occurred when spirit tea reached Tier Three, enhancing the effect of nourishing the spirit soul.
Drinking tea, he meditated with closed eyes, and after two pots of hot tea, Ji An felt his divine sense had recovered substantially.
He formed a spell, allowing the magical power to run through his immortal veins in a specific route, with the Lung's Golden Mansion as the nexus, mobilizing the majority of his internal immortal veins.
Two Metal Element Dao Seeds shimmered with light, injecting mystical vitality into the magical power.
The success wasn't achieved in one stroke; the cycle of spell trial and error, summarizing experiences, then trying again, was constantly repeated.
Without a teacher's verbal guidance, the knowledge about the magical power's operation and the subtleties of the spell incantation consumed a lot of his time.
Unconsciously, four double hours passed, and Ji An pressed his temples; all he felt now was like his brain was about to burst, in great discomfort.
He had encountered many pitfalls, but hadn't finished stepping through because any change in spell technique required an alteration in the entire process.
This was the most difficult technique he had come across thus far; no other could compare.
Even Thunder Techniques did not involve so many immortal veins, nor was the magical power circulation as complicated.
Ji An turned the power of his Soul Nourishing Wood pendant to its maximum and brewed more Tier Three Jade Dew Golden Bud Tea.
His divine sense quickly recovered, and he sat leaning against the Gathering Essence Tree, and fell into a deep sleep without realizing it.
Three days later, in the early evening.
Ji An formed the spell, causing golden spirit light to surge out from within, and rapidly form outside.
The spirit light had a sand-like texture, quickly transforming into a massive cylinder that tightly encased him; Solid Gold Technique was a success!
Within it, he could breathe freely but was unable to take any action, not even raising his arm.
The spell's effect lasted for about a second before the golden light vanished, and Ji An regained control of his body.
"It was truly not easy," he exclaimed, with delight in his eyes.
This technique took him the most time to successfully cast, totaling over twenty double hours, with hundreds of modifications to the casting technique.
Fortunately, as the flower blooms, so the fruit appears, he finally attained entry to the technique.