Chapter 128: High-Grade Mystic Stone

Chapter 128: High-Grade Mystic Stone

Furnace Mountain was located among the peaks at the edge of the Ghost Dream Wilderness, an active volcano. The crater perpetually burned with flames and would occasionally erupt with lava. However, this lava was not ordinary—it contained large quantities of Mystic Stones, Earth Core Mystic Iron, Flame Steel, and other ores. These minerals were treasures for forging artifacts and refining medicines, attracting numerous Heart Nurturers and Forging Masters to gather here.

Over time, this place became a sacred site of the Three Masters Martial Academy. Even the academy’s main hall was built near Furnace Mountain, making it convenient for students to enter and search for precious ores.

Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qianqian arrived at the Furnace Mountain region and entered the Three Masters Martial Academy’s hall, where they met the Deputy Headmaster, Li Dan.

This was Ning Xiaochuan’s first proper look at the Deputy Headmaster. His hair was disheveled, his face covered in stubble, and his robe was greasy and charred—it was unclear how long it had been since he last washed.

This man hardly seemed like a Deputy Headmaster. If he were walking on the street, he would undoubtedly be mistaken for a ragged old beggar.

No wonder his nickname was "Li Lata"—it was truly fitting.

Ning Xiaochuan cupped his hands in salute and said, "Thank you for saving my life, Deputy Headmaster. Ning Xiaochuan will never forget your kindness."

"No need, no need. It was only right," Li Dan replied.

He examined Ning Xiaochuan carefully and nodded in approval. "Not bad. Your physical cultivation is quite impressive. After taking my Tiger Qi Intermediate Elixir, your injuries have mostly recovered in such a short time. If it were anyone else, they’d still be bedridden for days."

Ning Xiaochuan bowed again. "Thank you for the Intermediate Elixir, Deputy Headmaster."

"No need, no need. The Tiger Qi Intermediate Elixir is refined from mystic medicines like Dragon-Tiger Grass, Fire-Tiger Bone, and Ice-Heart Spring. Among Intermediate Elixirs, it’s top-tier. On the market, it could fetch at least twenty million Small Coins. Twenty million!" Li Dan smiled warmly and extended a wrinkled hand.

Yu Qianqian frowned slightly. "Deputy Headmaster, what are you…?"

Li Dan chuckled amiably. "The Deputy Headmaster of the Emperor's Martial Palace receives no monthly salary, but refining medicines as a Heart Nurturer consumes vast resources. Every Mystic Pill is the result of a Heart Nurturer’s hard work. Today, I must teach you a lesson: as an outstanding Heart Nurturer, you must first cherish the fruits of your labor. Every pill is a drop of sweat and blood—never waste them carelessly."

He stretched out his hand again.

Ning Xiaochuan suddenly understood. Exchanging a glance with Yu Qianqian, he smiled wryly inwardly and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Deputy Headmaster. Here are twenty million Small Coins, as payment for the Tiger Qi Intermediate Elixir I received from you."

From his Heaven and Earth Bag, Ning Xiaochuan took out two hundred Large Silver Cakes and placed them on the table.

Ning Xiaochuan currently possessed over eight hundred million Small Coins, originally intended to redeem Yu Ningsheng. However, that plan had failed, leaving him with the funds.

In other words, Ning Xiaochuan was still quite wealthy.

Li Dan stared at the two hundred Large Silver Cakes on the table, their surfaces reflecting a white gleam. He pursed his lips slightly and said solemnly, "Xiaochuan, do you really think the Deputy Headmaster is the kind of person to haggle over a single Intermediate Elixir? I’m not that petty. This is merely an educational method—to teach students to value the fruits of their labor."

Ning Xiaochuan said, "Deputy Headmaster, perhaps I should…"

Li Dan waved his hand and continued, "However, since you've already taken out the 200 Large Silver Cakes, it shows you have considerable awareness. Hmm, I'll accept them. As the Deputy Headmaster, I should lead by example." With a sweep of his hand over the desk, the 200 Large Silver Cakes were stored into his Heaven and Earth Bag.

Yu Qianqian took a deep breath and said, "Deputy Headmaster, Ning Xiaochuan is here to collect the reward treasures he obtained from the Opening Battle."

The Deputy Headmaster took out a jade box, measuring about 30 centimeters square, emitting wisps of Cold Qi, and handed it to Ning Xiaochuan. When Ning Xiaochuan opened the jade box, a dazzling white light burst forth, accompanied by an intense surge of Martial Arts Profound Qi. Just a single whiff of the Profound Qi made Ning Xiaochuan feel the blood in his body grow incredibly active.

Inside was a translucent white stone. Upon closer inspection, one could see liquid-like currents of Profound Qi flowing within, taking on myriad strange forms. "A High-Grade Mystic Stone!" Ning Xiaochuan was utterly shocked.

A single Low-Grade Profound Stone could sell for 100,000 Small Coins, enough to sustain an ordinary family for ten years. A High-Grade Mystic Stone, however, was far more precious and rare, with purity exceeding that of a Low-Grade Profound Stone by a hundredfold. It wasn’t just a vessel for storing Profound Qi—most importantly, martial artists could directly absorb the Profound Qi within it and convert it into their own Martial Arts Profound Qi. Low-Grade and Mid-Grade Profound Stones lacked this capability.

In other words, martial artists who obtained Low-Grade or Mid-Grade Profound Stones couldn’t absorb them themselves. They could only sell them to Heart Nurturers for refining mystic medicines or to Forging Masters for crafting Mystic Artifacts. But with a High-Grade Mystic Stone, a martial artist could directly absorb its Profound Qi, increasing their cultivation speed by at least threefold. For martial artists, a High-Grade Mystic Stone was a supreme treasure.

The appearance of a single High-Grade Mystic Stone could incite fierce battles among martial artists, even leading to the downfall of entire families. Naturally, its price was astronomically high—a typical High-Grade Mystic Stone could sell for one billion Small Coins, equivalent to 100,000 taels of Green Gold.

"The Emperor's Martial Palace is truly extravagant, rewarding the second-place winner with a High-Grade Mystic Stone. Even a Martial Venerable would covet such a treasure," Ning Xiaochuan thought to himself, glancing subtly at the Deputy Headmaster.

The same Deputy Headmaster who had lectured Ning Xiaochuan extensively over 20 million Small Coins now showed not the slightest interest in the High-Grade Mystic Stone, not even bothering to look at it properly. If he were truly greedy, he could have easily pocketed the stone, and Ning Xiaochuan wouldn’t dare challenge a Deputy Headmaster, forced to swallow the loss. Yet, he didn’t do so. This Deputy Headmaster was indeed a man of principle—what was his, he wouldn’t yield; what wasn’t his, he wouldn’t take a single coin.

The Deputy Headmaster said, "Ning Xiaochuan, you must use this High-Grade Mystic Stone wisely. For you, it may serve a great purpose."

Ning Xiaochuan asked, "Does the Deputy Headmaster mean refining a True Cauldron?"

The Deputy Headmaster became very solemn and said, "Your talent in heart-nurturing and alchemy is exceptional. To become an Intermediate Heart Nurturer at such a young age means you have great potential to advance to an Advanced Heart Nurturer in the future. However, to reach that level, you must refine a True Cauldron."

The Heart Nurturing Cauldron within Ning Xiaochuan's Heart Ventricle was forged from mystic medicines and could only be called a "Heart Cauldron." But this Heart Cauldron was highly unstable and could at most refine Intermediate Elixirs. Relying solely on the Heart Cauldron, it was impossible to refine higher-grade Mystic Pills. At this stage, an Intermediate Heart Nurturer must seek materials to forge a true medicinal cauldron—one crafted from gold, stone, steel, and iron—known as a "True Cauldron." Only by merging the internal Heart Cauldron with the external True Cauldron could one become an Advanced Heart Nurturer and refine Mystic Pills far more precious than Intermediate Elixirs.

Upon reaching the realm of an Advanced Heart Nurturer, one could place the medicinal cauldron outside the body and refine pills using external flames or retract it into the body and nurture pills with the Heart Flame. It could be said that only by attaining the level of an Advanced Heart Nurturer could one truly step into the hallowed halls of heart-nurturing and alchemy, gaining a position of immense influence not just among Heart Nurturers but throughout the entire martial world.

For an Intermediate Heart Nurturer to "fuse and refine a True Cauldron," they required the assistance of a High-Grade Mystic Stone. Thus, the Deputy Headmaster's words were a reminder for Ning Xiaochuan to carefully preserve the High-Grade Mystic Stone in preparation for his future advancement to an Advanced Heart Nurturer.

The Deputy Headmaster then took out a wooden box, holding it in his hand, and continued, "You have brought great honor to our Three Masters Martial Academy this time, securing the second-place ranking. Many students now look up to you with pride, and numerous female students are likely already quite infatuated with you—this, too, is a form of glory. Our Three Masters Martial Academy has also decided to reward you with a treasure. Open it and see."

Ning Xiaochuan took the box, noticing it was not made of ordinary wood but rather a type of Mystic Wood. When he opened it slightly, a rich medicinal fragrance wafted out. Inside lay a white fungus, its leaves shaped like clouds or a piece of white jade.

"Seven-Grade Mystic Medicine, Jade Fungus."

Ning Xiaochuan was thrilled. It was his first time seeing such a rare and valuable mystic medicine—for a Heart Nurturer, this was nothing short of a priceless treasure.

Jade Fungus, also known as "Jade Medicine," grew within jade, formed from the concentrated medicinal essence of refined jade. Even jade spirits were rare within jade, let alone Jade Fungus. Thus, Jade Fungus was exceedingly scarce, and one that had grown for seven hundred years was even rarer.

"Thank you, Deputy Headmaster." Ning Xiaochuan stored both the Jade Fungus and the High-Grade Mystic Stone inside his Heaven and Earth Bag.

The Deputy Headmaster nodded, his expression still solemn. "This time, you and Ming Yang fought to a draw, sharing second place. But you must not grow complacent. In one year, you will face him again in a decisive battle. The victor will earn seven days of training in the Heavenly Palace. Do you understand what seven days in the Heavenly Palace signifies? It means leaving your peers seven years behind."

Ning Xiaochuan replied, "I will spare no effort to seize this opportunity."

The Deputy Headmaster lifted his eyelids slightly and said, "Of course, it's not only the Champion of each term who qualifies to cultivate in the Heavenly Palace. There are other methods to enter the Heavenly Palace for cultivation, though the difficulty is considerably greater."

"Are there other ways to enter the Heavenly Palace for cultivation?" Ning Xiaochuan's eyes brightened, realizing the Deputy Headmaster was hinting at something.

Just imagine—if Ning Xiaochuan could enter the Heavenly Palace to cultivate for a single day before his decisive battle with Ming Yang, it would be equivalent to an extra year of training. That would undoubtedly give him a significant advantage in the fight.

The Deputy Headmaster continued, "There are three methods to enter the Heavenly Palace for cultivation in the Emperor's Martial Palace. The first method, of course, is to become the Champion of a term, which grants seven days of cultivation in the Heavenly Palace. This is the easiest method, though the competition is fierce, and only one person gains this qualification every five years."

"The second method is to challenge the Heavenly Bridge. For every layer of the Heavenly Bridge you pass, you earn one day of cultivation in the Heavenly Palace."

"Don’t think challenging the Heavenly Bridge is an easy task. Among newly enrolled students, few can pass even the first layer of the Heavenly Bridge. Those who manage to do so as freshmen are already considered peerless geniuses."