Chapter 4, The Architect of Spirits

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Chong Zhao said to Tian Yingdong: "Junior Brother Tian, let us go in quickly"

Master Zhang! The old Daoist Wang Ming suddenly spoke up: "You wouldn't be thinking of taking Tian Yingdong as your disciple again, would you?"

Chong Zhao let out a cold snort without responding, while Chong Yang, feeling helpless, said softly: "Senior brother, junior brother has left first. I will definitely come to apologize on another day, and I will ensure that it satisfies you."

Alright, we have arrived

As it progressed, Wu Yao became somewhat impatient, ultimately offering only a brief comment and deciding not to explain much to Sun Li.

Upon entering Chongzhao, a disciple specifically assigned to guard the Xuanwu Hall informed that the Master and several senior disciples were waiting in the left side hall

The venerable Wang Ming sat to the left of the esteemed Master Wang Xu, holding a position of great respect, which Tian Yingdong naturally noticed. Wang Ming took the initiative to accept disciples, and Tian Yingdong felt a sense of happiness that was somewhat hard to believe

All the disciples have received a new set of dark blue robes and cloth shoes. The senior disciples have also donned their ceremonial garments, exuding a solemn and dignified atmosphere

The disciples stood in a square formation outside the mountain gate in the order of their initiation. In front of them were the various senior masters, with the foremost being the headmaster, the Illusory Void True Person.

In Sun Li's mind, Wu Yao suddenly spoke: "Kid, how does it feel to be overlooked?"

Tian Yingdong was mesmerized, lingering and reluctant to leave. He was particularly envious of those immensely powerful senior divine weapons. However, Sun Li kept his head down, staring at his own toes

The speaker is an elderly man sitting to the right of the Illusory True Person. The old man has a peculiar appearance, with hair that is half red and half black, a face like that of an infant, and a pair of eyes that shine with brilliance

Unfortunately, he does not understand that the greatest benefit of cultivating both water and fire elements lies in their fusion. Every time one cultivates a trace of water elemental essence or a trace of fire elemental essence, it must be fused immediately. After fusion, the richness of the essence itself increases exponentially. This method of cultivation is not intended for warfare

Upon reaching the third level of the Mortal Realm, one would be considered a disciple of the Su Bao Mountain. However, this only qualifies as an outer sect disciple. Once one breaks through from the Mortal Realm to the Daoist Realm, they will become an inner sect disciple

This flying sword is quite good, much better than scrap metal! I must say, combining these several materials for forging is truly a peculiar idea!

The four individuals tidied their appearance and entered the Xuanwu Hall

Currently, the individuals residing in the back mountain are all figures of the master uncle and ancestral master level. In this generation, there has not been a single disciple who has been able to enter the back mountain

Therefore, the task of recruitment is particularly sought after within the sect; finding promising candidates is a significant achievement for the sect. Due to certain circumstances, Chong Zhao had previously been in a very passive position within the sect. In a desperate situation, he resorted to his last means to seize this recruitment task, which felt somewhat like a gamble.

Although aware that Chongzhaokou was not in alignment with his heart, Wang Xu Zhenren still nodded slightly in satisfaction: "That being said, not rewarding those who have made contributions will also dishearten the other disciples. From today onwards, you will be in charge of managing the rental of spirit beasts in the Spirit Beast Garden"

Hahaha! Wu Yao laughed heartily: "Nonsense! How can one get used to this? Just look at these people; they treat you as if you were air. No matter what they think, you must understand that they are all ordinary mortals, mere flesh and blood, and have no idea what kind of talent is truly worth nurturing."

Luo Huan said faintly in Sun Li's mind: "This old man's cultivation method should be the dual cultivation of water and fire energies. Although this method is indeed powerful, unfortunately, the old man has gone in the wrong direction. He is merely focusing on the arduous training of the two energies separately, probably thinking that during battle, he can forcibly merge them to unleash an overwhelming power"

The two individuals were reprimanded by him, unwilling to accept it, they fell silent but exchanged furious glances, displaying an attitude of absolute unwillingness to let the matter rest

As the four individuals emerged, the elder Taoists in the side hall were about to disperse when the Real Person of Wangxu called out, "Brothers, please wait a moment; there is something I need to discuss with you all."

When Sun Li entered, the doors of the other three rooms were all closed, and he did not know if there were people inside. He was not good at interacting with others, so he stayed in his own room and had a good rest for the night

On this journey, there are approximately fifty to sixty crystal prisms along the way. It must be said that Su Bao Mountain indeed has a rich heritage.

The Illusory Sage looked at Chong Zhao and said: "Chong Zhao, this time you have made a great contribution to our sect. What reward do you wish for?"

Upon reaching the "Sage Realm," one gains the right to enter the back mountain and establish a cave dwelling. Only then does one become a true figure of authority in Su Bao Mountain, incomparable to that of a mere disciple

Chong Zhao and Chong Pu, upon stepping out with the two individuals, immediately clasped their hands together and said: "Congratulations, Master Disciple Tian!"

Sun Li felt a sudden jolt in his heart as he recalled Luo Huan's words from earlier. Instinctively, he nudged Tian Yingdong. Tian Yingdong glanced at him in confusion but chose to ignore it.

Regardless of the sect, the most important aspect is the inheritance of the Dao lineage. Only by finding promising talents can the sect ensure its continuous development and growth in the future

Haha! Wu Yao's laughter was like thunder

With a sullen expression, the Illusory Void Real Person glanced at everyone and said: "Of course, I will no longer contest, but you should also restrain yourselves a little! As for who Tian Yingdong will ultimately take as his master, let him decide during the mountain-opening ceremony."

Young man, you must understand that the pursuit of the Dao is what we strive for. A heart devoted to the Dao is as solid as a rock. However, if along the path of cultivation, you can leave behind those who doubt you, ignore you, belittle you, and despise you, leaving them all in a state of astonishment, that feeling is quite exhilarating! If one can enjoy such an experience, why not embrace it?

Alright, you may go down first. Additionally, please settle the two of them for now; it would be best for them to stay with the other disciples.

Becoming a structural architect is by no means an easy task

In that direction, a figure swiftly approached, followed by a girl of about thirteen or fourteen years old

Nodding slightly with a hint of satisfaction, he said: "I have also heard that Master Zhu Yanqing is planning to refine a new spiritual pattern array and requires Sanwen Earth Fire for the ritual. Therefore, I went to great lengths to establish connections and informed Master Zhu that there is a high-quality Sanwen Earth Fire pit behind our Su Bao Mountain. I even sent someone to collect some samples of the fire and delivered them to Master Zhu for his review. After examining them, he indeed expressed great approval and has already written to inform us that he will visit tomorrow to borrow our fire pit for the refinement of the spiritual pattern array"

At your command

As long as one is favored by the masters in the back mountain and accepted as a direct disciple, the future will be boundless, far surpassing that of ordinary inner disciples. It is certain that Tian Yingdong will become a direct disciple.

Chong Zhao then revealed a faint smile and patted Chong Yang on the shoulder, saying, "Haha, well said, well said"

In the realm of cultivation, the left side is also held in high regard. In the left side hall, where the headmaster and several senior uncles were present, Chong Zhao was overjoyed. After expressing his gratitude to the disciple on duty, he hurriedly took Tian Yingdong over. As for Sun Li, who followed behind... Throughout this journey, in the minds of Brother Chong Zhao and his fellow disciples, Sun Li's presence was virtually nonexistent.

The Illusory Sage smiled with satisfaction: "Good, indeed not bad!"

Inside the main hall, there is a statue and altar dedicated to the Great Emperor Xuanwu. Generally, matters that do not pertain to the survival or demise of the sect are absolutely not discussed in the main hall.

Tian Yingdong smiled modestly: "Both of you, my senior brothers, are my guiding lights; this kindness, I, Tian Yingdong, will always remember in my heart"

Chong Zhao arranged a private courtyard for Tian Yingdong, while Sun Li was sent to a small room. The courtyard of that room contained a total of four rooms, all of which were already occupied.

Early the next morning, the entire Su Bao Sect was mobilized, from the sect leader down to the disciples who were about to enter the sect, all of whom were making serious preparations

Sun Li quickly restrained himself—he had just reminded Tian Yingdong purely out of his kind nature. But what kind of occasion is this now

From beginning to end, no one asked Sun Li a single question

The delusional sage is in an awkward position

Everyone was silenced by his shout, and the matter was left unspoken for the time being

I do not care about others; in any case, I am determined to fight for this opportunity this time!

"Master, you have already taken Qin Tianzhan from me; how can you still want to take Tian Yingdong? That is simply unreasonable"

... ...

The knowledge involved in becoming a Spirit Architect is extensive, which implies that one must possess almost comprehensive qualifications as a practitioner. Furthermore, it requires diligent study in nearly every subject, resulting in a very slow progress. Many aspiring Spirit Architects often find that they have not yet acquired all the necessary knowledge before reaching the end of their lifespan

The Taoist from Chongyang was taken aback, his gaze sweeping over Sun Li and Tian Yingdong behind him. He passed right by Sun Li and fixed his eyes firmly on Tian Yingdong!

Once the first two conditions are met, it becomes the nightmare of 99% of aspiring architects: creativity

Indeed, although you are the leader, you cannot be so domineering, can you

"So what if I snatch it?" said the Taoist priestess of Wangxi without any courtesy

Sun Li's small gesture was indeed noticed by those people. However, including the Illusory True Person, they all believed that this was a manifestation of Sun Li's unwillingness to be overlooked

Indeed, it is worthy of the name Baoliu Huigen, responding appropriately

A piece of spiritual pattern array equipment, even at the lowest quality, can enhance the user's combat power by 20 percent

A slight change may be detected by those old sages above!

In his mind, Wu Yao casually reviewed each of these divine weapons, which were regarded as "sacred objects" by the disciples of Su Bao Mountain, using a tone reminiscent of someone haggling in a vegetable market.

The expressions of the brothers Chong Zhao changed dramatically. Chong Pu could no longer contain himself and said indignantly, "Chong Yang, stop gloating. I tell you, this time when we went out, we found a disciple who possesses the Ten Great Roots of Wisdom!"

Secondly, it is about inheritance

They waited until noon, when the sun god's fiery heat scorched the Su Bao Mountain. However, from the esteemed Wang Xu Zhenren to the disciples who were about to enter the sect, none appeared impatient; instead, they stood solemnly in place.

The Master of the Sect, known as Wang Xu, raised his hand and said, "Get up." However, his gaze was fixed on the person behind him, Tian Yingdong, and he asked, "Are you Tian Yingdong?"

Enough! The Master of Illusions scolded angrily: "A group of seniors, fighting and scrambling in front of juniors, what kind of decorum is this!"

Chongyang left in a disheveled state, while brothers Chongzhao stood tall and proud, feeling quite accomplished and satisfied with their achievements

The crafting of spirit pattern array equipment is not a simple repetition. Each piece of spirit pattern array equipment must be tailored specifically for the user. As the users differ, so too must the spirit pattern array equipment.

A spiritual pattern array device, which may involve numerous areas of knowledge such as talismans, spiritual texts, formations, artifact crafting, spiritual beasts, and so on, encompasses almost all professions within the entire realm of cultivation.

This process has kept 99% of apprentices at the threshold of the architect's door

Chong Zhao hurriedly fell to the ground and said: "Serving this sect is my duty. This is all due to the grace of Heaven towards me, Su Bao Shan. As a disciple, I do not dare to seek credit for it, nor do I dare to ask for any rewards."

A sudden warm breeze came from the southwest, and it was unclear who had spoken out of turn, shouting "It's here." As a result, the Master of the Sect turned around and shot a fierce glare at them

At that time, the return of Qin Tian Zhan caused a sensation throughout Su Bao Mountain. The Wang Xu Zhen Ren exerted considerable effort and sacrificed numerous interests before finally accepting Qin Tian Zhan as a disciple.

As soon as this person spoke, others chimed in: "Exactly, exactly, we have made concessions so many times before, this time it is only fair that the two of you reciprocate."

Zhu Yanqing conveyed in his letter that he would arrive precisely at noon

Having learned the foundational knowledge, how to integrate this knowledge to create a true spiritual pattern array is undoubtedly a process that requires creativity

At this moment, the old man was speaking to Tian Yingdong with a kind and pleasant demeanor: "Young man, I am Lao Dao Wangming, would you be willing to become my disciple?"

Along the way, Chong Zhao also introduced them to the situation of Su Bao Mountain

As for what he said, Tian Yingdong and Sun Li did not quite understand, but it was nothing more than some behind-the-scenes dealings

Wang Ming and Wang Xi stood up in anger and shouted, "Do you intend to rebel?"

Although it is a side hall, all the necessary facilities are exceptionally complete. At the entrance stand two bronze crane incense burners, emitting curling wisps of smoke. The entire side hall is permeated with a fragrance that refreshes the mind and clears the eyes.

Turning her face to face Tian Yingdong, the female cultivator suddenly donned a pleasant expression and smiled, "Young man, I am Wang Xi, and on my 'Daxi Peak', the female disciples are the most numerous in the entire Subao Mountain. How about you join my sect?"

The Illusory True Person indeed cannot be contested any further, yet his heart is bleeding.

Seated above was a middle-aged man dressed in an apricot-yellow Bagua Daoist robe. His figure was slightly plump, yet his eyes held a restrained brilliance, exuding an extraordinary demeanor

With a sly smile, Wang Ming turned to Tian Yingdong and said, "Young nephew Yingdong, I, the old Daoist, am the wealthiest in the entire Su Bao Mountain! With money, what kind of woman is beyond my reach?"

Tian Yingdong hurriedly knelt and said: "I, the worldly youth Tian Yingdong, humbly and fearfully pay my respects to the master"

Both of you have your own strengths, but the rest of us also have our own merits

Excellent! The old Daoist Wangming was overjoyed: "Master Zhu is a renowned spirit architect in the realm of cultivation. If we can take this opportunity to establish a connection with Master Zhu, as long as he is willing to craft one or two spirit pattern array devices for us at Subao Mountain, we will be able to create two top-notch experts.

Wang Ming was furious: "Old Daoist nun, do you dare to compete with me for disciples!"

This can at most be considered a level nine standard. There are numerous runes that appear to possess great power. However, in reality, the majority of these runes have redundant functions. By employing two opposing attributes simultaneously in an attack, these functionally redundant runes will find themselves at a disadvantage and collapse together

The Spirit Architect is a unique presence in the realm of cultivation, and it can be said that the spirit pattern formations represent the highest culmination of all achievements in the cultivation world over the past several hundred thousand years

As a master, one can only provide guidance; it is impossible to instill one's own creativity into the disciple

A mere treasure like Baoliu Huigen leads to a bloody struggle. Yet, true gold and jade are cast aside like worn-out shoes

Qin Tian, possessing the Five Elements Wisdom Root, is endowed with an exceptionally rare first-class wisdom root. This type of Five Elements Wisdom Root is inherently sensitive to the perception of the Five Elements Spiritual Essence, allowing for a cultivation speed several times faster than that of an ordinary person

Sun Li said calmly: "I have gotten used to it"

Cough, cough! The Master of Illusions had to cough once, interrupting the two: "What kind of behavior is this! You two are of an age, and there are still several juniors watching below. Do not lose your dignity. As the headmaster, I must also consider the reputation of Su Bao Mountain"

The Wangshan Bieyuan covers a considerable area, occupying half of the hillside. The green bricks, dark tiles, and white walls are adorned by various flowers and trees, creating a space that emerges from between the green grass and rocks, extending all the way to a small river in the valley.

Chong Zhao was pleasantly surprised: "Thank you, Master Uncle!"

The grand hall is situated amidst a grove of pine trees, remarkably tall and spacious, such that even the ancient pines, aged a thousand years, cannot obscure its full view. Upon reaching the entrance, a Taoist priest happened to emerge from within and, upon seeing Chong Zhao, laughed heartily: "Oh, isn't this my senior brother Chong Zhao? You have exhausted all means to take on this task of guidance. So, how has it been? Have you managed to turn your fortunes around?"

"Brother Wangming, are you in such a hurry? Are you going to take action now?" A female Taoist priestess to the right of Master Wangxu spoke淡淡. Her face was sharp and angular, with two inverted triangular eyes. Her tone was neither warm nor cold, and she cast a disdainful glance at Wangming, showing little courtesy.

Upon the utterance of these words, the crowd of elder Taoists erupted in an uproar

This item is somewhat better, barely qualifying as a third-rate artifact. The crafting has been done with some care, and it contains a formation that has been layered four times. Unfortunately, the formation itself is too weak, with a limited capacity for spiritual essence. It is effective against low-level enemies, but against high-level opponents, it can be easily broken. Any unfortunate disciple chosen by this item should just hope for the best

Chong Zhao and his brothers are now inner disciples

Without a lifespan, there is no time to learn the vast ocean of fundamental knowledge

Although Tian Yingdong possesses the innate wisdom of precious jade, he has certainly not reached the level of being able to utilize the main hall

The area is divided into the front mountain and the back mountain, with the Xuanwu Grand Hall serving as the boundary.

And those old masters had more important matters to attend to, so no one paid any attention to Sun Li

Upon hearing this, the minds of the elder Taoists immediately became lively: So when the mountain gate opens? That means before that, everyone relies on their own means

The ceremony for opening the mountain gate is particularly important, yet no one opposed the decision to postpone it in order to welcome Master Zhu Yanqing. Instead, everyone wore expressions of joy, saying: "Master, is it really Master Zhu?"

His blunt remark immediately alerted everyone

At that time, who could have imagined that a small mountain village like Lianhua Tai could give rise to a person endowed with the Ten Great Wisdom Roots? Su Bao Mountain was indeed fortunate, not only gaining a disciple with first-rate wisdom roots but also discovering another individual with the Ten Great Wisdom Roots!

It is difficult to find a good disciple, and for a spiritual architect, it is particularly challenging to locate a disciple with suitable qualifications. Finding a disciple who not only possesses the right qualifications but can also break through their realm in a short period and has a long life is even more difficult

To cultivate a Spirit Architect, it is essential to have a Spirit Architect as a master. Not to mention the vast amount of foundational knowledge, even a super strong individual at the level of a Supreme Being would be unable to teach it all.

Luo Huan murmured, "Two petty-minded fellows"

In addition to the top ten wisdom roots, there are three levels below, with the highest being first class and the lowest being third class

The two individuals, Chong Zhao, were filled with immense joy: as Tian Yingdong received more attention, their contributions became increasingly significant

The two immediately smiled and said, "Let's go find a good place for our junior brother to stay"

Pah! Sun Li and Wu Yao together

This is the Xuanwu Hall of the Su Bao Sect's Decision-Making Chamber.

In addition to the Spirit Beast Park, the Great Sun Heavenly Fire Cannon Platform, and other such structures, the front mountain also houses numerous residences and palaces. The "Wangshan Bieyuan" where they are currently located is one of them. The facilities here are average and have traditionally been used to accommodate core disciples.

This old man is sacrificing the essential for the trivial, using a special technique to suppress two attributes that are completely opposite in nature. It won't be long before a major incident occurs

After a while, Chongyang gritted his teeth and nodded, then cupped his fists in a salute to Chongzhao, saying: "Brother Chongzhao, I have been blinded by my own ignorance and have offended you in many ways before. I hope you can be more forgiving, brother!"

Wang Xi is the only woman present, and she immediately trembles with anger: "Wang Ming, that old scoundrel, is being too overbearing!"

I never expected that he actually won the bet, and surprisingly found such an outstanding disciple as Tian Yingdong, who possesses the precious Liuhui root. At this moment, he is about to turn his fortunes around and gain recognition within the sect. Daoist Chongyang has no choice but to humble himself and mend his relationship with Chong Zhao.

The two brothers have been waiting for Tian Yingdong, and throughout the journey, they have taken great care of him. Isn't it all to build a good relationship with this future powerhouse?

Master Zhu Yanqing will visit our sect tomorrow, therefore I have decided to postpone the opening ceremony scheduled for tomorrow and dedicate all efforts to receiving Master Zhu

Another Daoist chuckled and said: "Hehe, this, Brother Wangming, Sister Wangxi, you two shouldn't be too domineering, right? In the past, everyone has always yielded to you, who made you the senior brothers and sisters? But this time, it concerns our Daoist lineage, and this absolutely cannot be compromised."

Wisdom roots are also divided into various levels, with the best naturally being the renowned top ten wisdom roots in the realm of cultivation

While the Illusory Master and others were discussing how to grandly welcome Master Zhu Yanqing, Brother Chong Zhao arrived at a courtyard with Sun Li and another person.

Chong Zhao pointed to a grand hall ahead and said

Sun Li revealed a strange smile in his heart: "How did I discover that your personality is very similar to mine?"

In ordinary times, one should employ a certain special mental technique to ensure that the forces of water and fire are each returned to their rightful place, which is why the hair appears half red and half black

For low-level cultivators, this enhancement may not be as effective as a high-grade magical artifact, but for true experts, this twenty percent can definitely produce astonishing results

First and foremost is the qualification

The remaining senior disciples around also looked at Tian Yingdong with smiles on their faces, nodding repeatedly

Unfortunately, it did not manage to intimidate anyone. The old Taoist who spoke first said in a neutral tone: "How is this fair? Are you two the only ones allowed to take in good disciples, while the rest of us are destined to go without food and even a sip of soup?"

Disciple Chong Zhao / Chong Pu, respectfully greeting Master Zhang Jiao!

Those cultivators who are capable of creating spirit pattern formations are revered as Spirit Architects, representing the most esteemed existence in the entire realm of cultivation

This... even if it is of the lowest quality, I do not wish to say anything more. Why do these people from a declining sect always like to embellish things unnecessarily, truly believing that the more things sealed within a magical artifact, the greater its power? How can they not understand that a good magical artifact relies on the combination of materials, formations, and restrictions, and also requires careful consideration of the crafting techniques? There is no best, only what is most suitable.