Longevity: Starting with an infant's innate growth potential

Chapter 180 Refining Sword Stones and the Five Elements Sword Formation

"Ling'er, this spirit wine costs ten low-grade spirit stones per jar?"

At lunchtime, Li Ru pointed to the spirit wine she had bought that morning and said with some surprise.

In the morning, Zhou Ling took his parents for a stroll in the nearby streets and bought some spiritual food at a market.

Zhou Shan also wanted to try the taste of Qingyun Immortal City's spirit wine, so he bought a small jar.

Although this jar of spirit wine was not cheap, Li Ru and his wife felt it was really quite ordinary.

It was far inferior to the spirit wine they brewed from two low-grade spirit stones.

Zhou Ling picked up the earthenware bowl, poured half a bowl, took a sip, and indeed felt that the brewing process was not as good as the spirit wine brewed by his mother.

She couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Mother, prices are high in Qingyun Immortal City. The brewer may have used inferior spirit rice to save costs."

Li Ru shook his head. "I also inquired about the price of spirit rice. It's made from high-quality black rice, and the cost is at most two low-grade spirit stones."

"The profits are truly astonishing!" Zhou Shan exclaimed in surprise.

“Dad, isn’t this normal? The rent in Qingyun Immortal City is so high,” Zhou Ling said.

After all, in addition to material costs, labor costs and site costs also need to be taken into account, which will definitely be much higher than Lingxia Immortal City.

"Ling'er, Mother plans to rent a small stall to continue brewing and selling wine."

"Our brewed spirit wine is far superior to this!"

Li Ru thought about it and discussed it with Zhou Ling.

I took a stroll around this morning, and the prosperity of Qingyun Immortal City is incomparable to that of Lingxia Immortal City.

Prices have increased two or three times.

Considering that she would be living in Qingyun Immortal City for a long time, she did not want the two of them to become a burden to her son.

After all, the cost of cultivation here is too high, and my son also needs to prepare for Foundation Establishment, which requires purchasing Foundation Establishment Pills and Foundation Establishment Spiritual Items, which is also a large sum of money.

Therefore, they definitely need to find a way to survive.

And right now, their greatest skill is undoubtedly brewing wine!
Hearing this, Zhou Ling nodded and smiled, "Father, Mother, you can decide this matter yourselves."

"However, we should still focus on cultivation!"

"As for the Foundation Establishment Pills, don't worry, I'll figure something out!"

Although he hoped his parents would focus on cultivation, he also knew in his heart that they probably wouldn't be able to stay idle for a while.

Brewing and selling wine is a good way to keep busy and earn some spirit stones!
However, the original brewing ovens were left in the distillery, so a new brewing oven needs to be built.

However, this was not a problem for Zhou Ling.

The academy starts tomorrow. Go find Xu Qiang to forge a brewing furnace and draw a second-tier inscription yourself.

Afterwards, Zhou Ling discussed the rental of the shop with her parents.

······.

The following day, after listening to the instructor's lecture at the Taoist temple, Zhou Ling went to Xu Qiang's workshop.

In the new year, the academy's curriculum will focus more on practical application and less on theory.

So whether or not you go to the temple is not a big deal.

Of course, if you encounter any problems during the practice process, you should ask your instructor so that you can master the skills more quickly.

Upon arriving at the workshop, Zhou Ling immediately explained to Xu Qiang that he wanted to create a second-tier brewing furnace.

After some discussion, the matter was settled.

Afterwards, Zhou Ling inquired about some matters related to the forging of swords.

I learned that crafting five swords based on the Five Elements would be quite expensive.

Moreover, his plan was to create a mid-grade second-tier sword, but Xu Qiang could only create low-grade second-tier artifacts at present.

After some thought, Zhou Ling decided to go to the Heavenly Crafts Bureau to find a task: to complete the forging of swords.

This is more cost-effective.

This saved money on materials and allowed us to complete the task assigned by the Heavenly Crafts Bureau.

The quality is even more guaranteed!

After lunch, Zhou Ling left the Taoist temple and headed to the Heavenly Crafts Bureau.

Although Zhou Ling is said to be a steward of the Heavenly Crafts Bureau, there is a distinction between chief and subordinate stewards of the Heavenly Crafts Bureau.

Since Zhou Ling is still at the Qi Refining stage, he is still a steward.

The duties of a deacon are relatively flexible and free; as long as they complete the monthly tasks and assessments of the Heavenly Crafts Bureau, they do not need to report to the Heavenly Crafts Bureau.

Upon arriving at the office, Zhou Ling searched around for a while.

There are also many tasks involved in forging spirit swords.

Soon, Zhou Ling found two tasks to forge spirit swords, each requiring him to forge three mid-grade spirit swords with gold and fire attributes.

After receiving the materials, Zhou Ling left the Tiangong Division.

Afterwards, Zhou Ling went to the largest market in the vicinity, intending to buy some crystals that could imprint sword intent.

With the help of the [Mountain Search for Treasure] skill, he unexpectedly found two third-tier burning stones and a second-tier mid-grade wooden lotus sword.

The inscription inside the Wooden Lotus Sword is almost completely damaged, making its repair quite difficult.

However, based on the intermediate analysis, Zhou Ling felt there was still a chance to fix it.

In addition, the sword also contains a wood-attribute sword intent, which is what Zhou Ling values ​​most.

Moreover, these three spiritual items only cost him five hundred low-grade spirit stones.

You could say they got a great deal.

Of course, the main factors are the [Search for Treasure] and [Intermediate Observation] talents.

After returning home in the evening and having dinner with my parents, I went back to the Taoist temple.

The Taoist temple's spiritual energy is more abundant, and it contains all four elements, which is more beneficial to his cultivation.

Furthermore, now that the Five Elements Thunder Body has been activated, the more abundant the spiritual energy, the faster the cultivation level will improve.

He sat cross-legged in the cultivation room, pondered for a while, and then finalized a preliminary plan for refining the spirit sword.

The task he received from the Heavenly Crafts Bureau did not require integrating the sword stone, so it wouldn't be too difficult for him.

Of course, there are quite a few: two tasks, six mid-grade spirit swords, and ten other swords.

Even if it takes two or three days to successfully forge one piece, that will keep him busy for the rest of the month.

"First, enter the [Illusionary Realm Simulation] to try refining it and ensure a high success rate!"

Zhou Ling murmured.

Tiangong Company has very high requirements for the success rate of its equipment.

The requirement is over 60%.

However, he still needs to keep one sword, so he only has one chance to fail.

In that case, you need to improve your proficiency as quickly as possible.

Moreover, the illusion simulation has a deductive function, which is also very helpful in forging spirit swords.

As the scene before them shifted slightly.

Although it was still set up in a training room, Zhou Ling knew that he had entered an illusion.

Then, with a slight tremor of his right hand, a flash of black light appeared, and a dark, ore material emerged in his hand.

It was one of the two third-tier burning stones he had unexpectedly acquired today.

Then, he pointed his finger at the burning stone.

With a soft "whoosh," a burst of flame swept out, instantly engulfing the burning stone like a firebird.

Begin refining.

After an incense stick's time, when the black material on the surface of the burning stone is removed, the surface bursts forth with dazzling flame light.

Not only were there bursts of fire, but there was also a cluster of flowing flame patterns within the ore, making it look extremely mysterious.

As the burning stone gradually softened, Zhou Ling withdrew the beast flame.

With a thought, a fiery sword aura slowly appeared.

He then manipulated the fiery sword energy, transforming it into wisps of sword light that merged into the burning stone.

Two days later, Zhou Ling looked at the burning stone in front of him, drenched in sweat.

Meanwhile, the burning stone, now the color of magma, hummed, and faint golden light occasionally emanated from its surface.

This is the Furnace Sword Intent that Zhou Ling has condensed.

It looked like it exuded a terrifying aura of burning.

"The sword stone is finally finished!" Zhou Ling murmured, though his face showed signs of fatigue, his eyes were full of smiles.

If a mid-grade fire-attribute spirit sword is integrated with this sword stone, its power will increase by at least 100%.

Moreover, since it is a sword stone that matches one's own sword intent, the consumption will be less once it is used.

He then took out the Qi-union pill and began to recover.

······.

Three months have passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the cultivation room, Zhou Ling sat upright on a futon, surrounded by what seemed to be swirling sword energy.

The room was illuminated by various sword energies, each reflecting a different light.

A moment later, he slowly opened his eyes, exhaled, and said with a face full of joy, "I have finally fully comprehended the Five Elements Sword Intent!"

These days, he focuses his energy on two main things.

First, forge the Five Elements Spirit Sword; second, comprehend the sword intent.

With the activation of the Five Elements Thunder Body, the cultivation of the Five Elements Sword Technique and the Five Elements Qianyang True Technique also progressed rapidly.

In three months, he successively comprehended the Wood Source Sword Intent, the Earth Shield Sword Intent, and the Ripple Sword Intent.

He fully comprehended the Five Elements Sword Intent.

The circulation of the Five Elements Sword Technique meridians within the body is also quite different.

Sword energy flickered throughout his meridians, with various types of sword energy circulating and giving Zhou Ling a mysterious feeling of endless vitality.

It was as if he himself had become a sword formation; as long as he had a thought, the Five Elements Sword Formation could be formed.

Of course, this is also the reason why the Five Elements Sword Technique has entered the second level.

The Five Elements Sword Formation can now display two forms.

First, there is the Five Elements Sword and Shield, an attribute-based defensive sword formation.

This sword formation is highly defensive; once it is fully formed, it is strong enough to withstand attacks from a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Moreover, the consumption is not high.

The second attack formation of the Five Elements Sword Formation was what Zhou Ling cared about most: the Five Elements Unifying Sword Formation.

Condensing this sword formation is extremely difficult, requiring the comprehension of the sword intent of the five elements.

Only then can a sword formation be formed.

Once formed, its power is equally astonishing.

If paired with the Five Elements Spirit Sword, it would be even more complementary, multiplying its power.

Even those in the early stages of Foundation Establishment can easily suppress and kill those in the middle stages, or even those in the late stages.

Of course, the ability to simultaneously control five spiritual swords and condense them into a sword array is not something that ordinary sword cultivators can do.

Even for a Foundation Establishment stage sword cultivator who has comprehended sword intent, being able to control two spiritual swords is generally considered extremely powerful.

To control five spirit swords simultaneously is virtually impossible.

However, Zhou Ling possesses a powerful divine soul, the talent of [Sword Control], and now he also has the Five Elements Thunder Body.

It is already enough to control five Five Elements Spirit Swords.

"Now that I have mastered the Five Elements Sword Formation, my combat strength is sufficient to deal with Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"However, we still need to test the actual power of this Five Elements Sword Formation first!"

Zhou Ling murmured.

The power of the Five Elements Sword Formation is beyond doubt. What he wants to test is how long he can control this sword formation.

One hit, two hits, three hits, or more?
Of course, the verification method is also simple: just enter the [Derive Illusion Simulation].

In addition, during this period, he also successfully forged a spirit sword containing the sword intent of the furnace and the sword intent of the golden dragon.

In addition, there was the repaired spiritual sword containing the sword intent of the wood element.

He already had three spiritual swords imbued with sword intent in his hands.

All that's missing are water and earth elemental swords.

However, thanks to his [Meticulousness] talent, he consumes less energy when branding sword stones.

Therefore, as long as the sword intent reaches the minor completion level, the branding can be performed.

He then activated [Derived Illusion Simulation].

The scene before him changed, and Zhou Ling stood on the sword-testing platform in the Taoist temple square.

In front of him stood a jade pillar about ten feet long, crafted from glazed jade.

You can try to unleash the power of your sword moves.

With a thought, Zhou Ling sent five spiritual swords flying out from his storage ring.

Surrounding him.

Different colors and auras of sword energy swirled out from the five swords, condensing into five sword beams of different colors in front of them.

"The five elements are unified!"

Zhou Ling gave a low shout.

The five sword beams whistled and spun, as if guided, and began to merge, instantly condensing into a giant sword several tens of feet long.

The sword energy on it exudes a different aura.

It includes burning, sharpening, sealing, etc.

Moreover, the energy flows continuously, as if it is endless and extremely vast!

"Five Elements Sword Formation, descend."

As the sound faded, the giant sword roared and slashed fiercely down at the crystal pillar.

"boom!"

The vast sword energy seemed to condense into a terrifying sword domain, unleashing thousands upon thousands of sword energies that crashed down.

With a deafening roar, sword light flashed everywhere.

The next moment, the glass pillar shook violently.

A huge, deep gash was cleaved into the pillar.

You should know that this is a second-grade high-quality glazed jade, which is extremely hard.

"The power is not bad, but I am not yet able to fully integrate the five sword intents into the sword formation."

"Once fully integrated, the five sword intents can erupt simultaneously, and their power will certainly be more than this!"

Zhou Ling raised an eyebrow and murmured.

Of course, he was also very satisfied with the power that the Five Elements Sword Formation was showing!

The Five Elements Sword Formation is not only a fusion of the five elements swords, but also a fusion of the five elements sword intents.

Five different sword intents, when combined in a sword formation, can unleash power far exceeding their own.

Although for sword cultivators, the deeper their understanding of sword intent, the stronger the power they can unleash.

However, the Five Elements Sword Formation has a system of mutual generation and restraint, which can stimulate and condense different sword intents depending on the opponent.

It also has a continuous life force; once fully integrated and mastered, the consumption will actually decrease.

Of course, Zhou Ling still has a long way to go to reach that level.

But for him, the power of the sword formation is already quite good.

[You are currently controlling the Five Elements Sword Formation. Sword Control +1, Five Elements Sword Formation Proficiency +4]

[You are performing the Five Elements Sword Formation. Illusion Simulation +1, Divine Soul +3, Five Elements Sword Formation Proficiency +3]

Then, the scene before Zhou Ling's eyes changed, and he exited the illusion simulation.

They returned to the training room.

"The power of the Five Elements Sword Formation just now was enough to deal with a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

"Moreover, controlling the five spiritual swords also keeps my energy consumption within a controllable range."

"Next, we can enter the Ancient Cloud Realm and collect some more resources!"

Zhou Ling murmured.

Forging swords, buying spiritual herbs, and renting a stall for his parents during this period have also taken a toll on him.

The original ten or so mid-grade spirit stones have now been reduced to only seven.

So we still need to enter the Ancient Cloud Realm to see how much ore the sect has collected in the past few months.
To ease the financial strain, and also to find some blood crystals for my father.

(End of this chapter)