The heavens and earth contained boundless spiritual energy.
This ordinary spiritual energy itself might not possess any particular attributes, yet it could nurture the growth of all things. The various rare treasures and precious materials that existed in the world were all formed through the long-term nurturing of spiritual energy, such as various spirit stones, crystal stones, spiritual veins, seeds, and so on.
Due to the relationship of the Great Nature's Yin-Yang and Five Phases, some spirit stones and spiritual veins had a small chance of undergoing changes during their formation, developing attributes. For example, the Yanyang Spiritual Vein of Yunxia Sect and the Bingxuan Spiritual Vein of Bingxuan Sect—these spiritual veins all contained attribute spiritual energy.
The attributes of the Great Nature were numerous, as many as the profound mysteries within the Great Nature itself.
Moreover, many attributes, if they only existed as spirit crystals without a spiritual vein, would be extremely valuable. Without a spiritual vein, they could not be nurtured. Once the attribute spiritual energy within a spirit crystal was absorbed, it was gone. As the saying goes, rarity increases value. Therefore, some rare attribute crystal stones, even mere fragments, commanded astronomical prices on the market.
Since many attribute spirits were nurtured according to the right timing, geographical advantages, and human harmony, there were many uncertainties. Many precious and rare attribute spirits might not appear for a century, or even a millennium or ten thousand years, which also contributed to the uniqueness of attribute spirits.
However, almost every era had many representative attribute spirits.
And 'Taixuan' was one of the representative attribute spirits of the ancient era.
Back when Gu Qingfeng used to roam this world, he had once snatched a few Taixuan crystal stones from a major sect with a ten-thousand-year heritage and absorbed the Taixuan spiritual energy within. That stuff was indeed powerful. Even just a wisp, if absorbed and refined, could definitely equal a hundred years of arduous cultivation. The Taixuan Pill, hailed as one of the Ten Great Spirit Pills of the ancient era, was refined using this very thing.
From memory, this Taixuan Spirit had only appeared during the mid-ancient era, and that was due to a celestial phenomenon. It had never appeared again since. Now, hearing Huode say that the Nine-Hua Alliance possessed a stele that not only contained the Taixuan Spirit but also seemed capable of nurturing it... this somewhat surprised Gu Qingfeng.
What surprised him even more was Huode also saying the stele was inscribed with the Jiuhua Taixuan Scripture.
He had never heard of this thing before.
"I heard the Jiuhua Taixuan Scripture is incredibly profound. Many people, after comprehending it, not only saw their cultivation advance by leaps and bounds, but all ten arts of the immortal path experienced unimaginable improvements."
Huode grinned, his eyes wide with a look of envy and jealousy. "Otherwise, why do you think the Nine-Hua Alliance is such a den of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, filled with all sorts of reincarnated individuals, treasure bodies, and souls who seized rebirth? They're all aiming for the Jiuhua Taixuan Stele."
"Listening to you, it sounds quite reasonable."
Gu Qingfeng smiled and asked, "How does the Nine-Hua Alliance have something like this?"
"Not clear. When the Calamity occurred, the whole world was thrown into chaos. All sorts of ancient cave dwellings emerged one after another. Many sealed sect ruins from five thousand, even ten thousand years ago also appeared. Some say the Jiuhua Taixuan Stele might have been unearthed from some sect ruin. But others say... this stele fell from the sky."
"The sky?" Gu Qingfeng frowned.
"The Heavenly Realm, of course." Huode narrowed his eyes. "Didn't you kid used to hang around the Heavenly Realm? Haven't you heard of it?"
Gu Qingfeng thought carefully and shook his head. "I really haven't heard of it. But when the Calamity happened, the Heavenly Realm was even more chaotic. If something fell from the Heavenly Realm, it's not impossible."
"Anyway, that thing is pretty strange. At the end of the year, the Nine-Hua Alliance will definitely open the Jiuhua Taixuan Stele. You can go see for yourself then. But the waters of the Nine-Hua Alliance run deep, with too many mysterious experts hidden within. You, kid, after being judged by the heavens, aren't what you used to be. You must be careful when the time comes."
Gu Qingfeng smiled and said nothing.
Huode originally wanted to advise him a couple more times, but on second thought, he let it go. He understood Gu Qingfeng's character well, knowing full well this guy was never one to listen to advice.
"By the way, kid, there are two people. Do you want to see them or not?"
"Who?"
"One is the old master of Crimson-Letter Manor, Old Sen." Huode took a sip from a bowl of wine. "That old fellow has come looking for me several times, always wanting to see you. But you've been busy recently, and I didn't pay him much mind. The old fellow asked me to tell you he's been waiting at Crimson-Letter Manor, hoping you'll find time to visit."
"Perfect." Gu Qingfeng stood up and stretched. "I was just thinking of asking him about something."
He was filled with doubts about the existence of the Chizi Head and planned to go to Crimson-Letter Manor in a couple of days to get some answers.
"Also, Old Master Shi Tong wants to see you too."
"What Shi Tong?"
"Don't tell me you've forgotten?" Huode smacked his lips, giving a disdainful side-eye. "That old master even gave you some pointers back in the day."
Gave pointers? Shi Tong?
Gu Qingfeng truly had no impression. In his five hundred years of cultivation, while he had made many enemies, he had also encountered many benefactors who helped him. Some saved his life, others offered enlightenment or guidance.
"You kid really forgot Old Master Shi Tong? That old master is proficient in formations, a renowned formation grandmaster in the Four Regions Great Domain, with particularly remarkable attainments. Back then, to hone your own formation skills, you specifically went around challenging formation grandmasters. Quite a few old seniors were played for fools by you, left utterly ashamed."
"Among them, Old Master Shi Tong's formation attainments were profound. He broke your formation. After that, you didn't stop pestering that old master, did you? Digging pits, setting traps... it went on for months, right? You nearly wore out half his life, almost playing him to death several times. Later, the old gentleman, being magnanimous, not only held no grudge but even gave you guidance for a period. Your formation skills improved so quickly largely thanks to Old Master Shi Tong."
Listening to Huode's detailed account, Gu Qingfeng gradually began to recall.
Back then, in his pursuit of mastering arts, he could absolutely be called unscrupulous, employing almost any means necessary. If he could comprehend it, he would. If he couldn't, he'd study it. If studying didn't work, he'd steal the technique. If stealing failed, he'd resort to threats and bribes. In doing so, he truly brought trouble upon quite a few old seniors. Some of those old seniors, well, they were trouble anyway, not good eggs themselves, so Gu Qingfeng didn't feel much guilt.
But there were a few old seniors whom, after causing trouble for, he felt rather sorry about.
Old Master Shi Tong was one of them.
Just as Huode said, back then he had troubled that old master for several months, digging pits and setting traps. In the end, he succeeded in stealing the technique, but also caused the old master considerable hardship. What moved Gu Qingfeng the most was that the old master, in the end, not only didn't blame him but even imparted all his lifelong learning to him.
Thinking about it now, that old master truly deserved to be called virtuous and highly respected!