Chapter Forty-Seven: Rapid Training Commences

“Everyone must remember, first rule: during the accelerated cultivation period, you must stay inside the cultivation chamber, no leaving. In fact, even if you want to leave, you can’t. Second rule: during this period, it’s as if the whole world has only you left. So, all the supplies and food you’ll need must be prepared in advance. Third rule: the cultivation duration is ten years, but when you return, only a single second has passed in real time. In other words, you lose ten years of your lifespan compared to others. Of course, if your cultivation bears fruit, those ten years won’t matter. You could say that, in the blink of an eye, your cultivation has advanced by ten years. That’s about it. Are you all ready?” Tang Yi shouted loudly as he finished.

“We’re ready!” The three hundred cultivators responded in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

“Good! You can all go in now, but keep order! Line up, line up—yes, you, pay attention, you! If you don’t queue properly, you’ll lose your qualification for accelerated cultivation and be barred for life! Now, that’s what I call a good student…” Tang Yi relished the role of headmaster, remembering how things were in school back then. Now, finally, he was headmaster himself, haha…

All three hundred cultivators entered the chamber and took their designated seats. The chamber had two floors; the lower floor, besides the main hall, was divided into four rooms, and the upper floor was laid out the same way. Each room had meditation cushions, each marked with a number. Tang Yi used his spiritual sense to observe for a while—everyone had begun meditating. He nodded in satisfaction. With a gesture of his right hand, the chamber shrank and flew to him. He activated his powers, entering a state of stopped time, while the chamber’s array was set in motion, sending waves of iridescent light from Tang Yi’s hand.

During those ten years, Tang Yi devoted himself to studying the arts of artifact refinement, alchemy, and talisman crafting. He had previously obtained jade slips and books from Qiu Chuji and his two brothers. So absorbed was he in his research that ten years passed without him realizing. He continued, and after another fifteen years, he finally mastered the talisman arts. Of course, Tang Yi had only thoroughly understood what was written in the materials; true mastery of these three fields was still far off.

“Damn, fifteen years! What a loss this time,” Tang Yi checked his specially made electronic clock and saw that fifteen years had passed. He quickly returned to normal time and released the students from the chamber. When the three hundred emerged, each radiated spirited energy.

“This chamber truly is miraculous! My cultivation progressed several times faster than anywhere else. The spiritual energy here is denser than anywhere I’ve been. Next time, I’ll definitely come again,” one cultivator commented to his companion.

“You’re right, but next time we’ll have to wait thirty years!” another nodded.

“Thirty years? It’ll pass quickly. Just go back and enter closed-door cultivation,” the first replied.

“Brother Chen, I’m not like you! The cost of this accelerated session was nearly my entire fortune. I need to earn resources for cultivation. Thirty years is too short for me!” another cultivator chimed in from behind…

…Titan Resources—

“Master, a man named Bai Dongfang requests an audience!” In the hall, a man in black informed the person seated above.

“Oh, let him in,” the seated man considered and replied.

“Yes, Master. Bai Dongfang, come in!” The black-clad man called from outside. Bai Dongfang entered with a coffin strapped to his back, which puzzled the black-clad man—why did this person never part from his coffin?

“Greetings, Leader Ling, greetings, Elder Zuo!” Bai Dongfang cupped his hands and bowed to both.

“Dongfang Bai, is it? What business do you have with me?” Leader Ling spoke with closed eyes.

“My name is Bai Dongfang, Leader. I’ve come to request permission to take my senior brother to Earth in search of spiritual medicine,” Bai Dongfang said, patting the coffin on his back.

Though the two factions battled every ten years, informal interaction between their cultivators was not forbidden. Sometimes, a joint marketplace opened for both sides. However, anyone wishing to travel into the other’s territory needed high-level approval and a special pass token. After all, both factions had common origins, and relationships inevitably intertwined. With the pass token, one could move freely and enjoy mutual protection. But very few such tokens were ever issued.

“What happened to your senior brother? Lying in a coffin—is he already dead? Why bother seeking medicine then?” Leader Ling opened his eyes and glanced at Bai Dongfang.

“Leader, my senior brother was wounded by a ghostly being. Thanks to the sect leader’s Millennium Cold Ice Pearl, he is in a state of suspended animation. I wish to seek medicine on Earth to revive him,” Bai Dongfang explained.

“Millennium Cold Ice Pearl? You’re from the Xuan Yin Sect? Is your leader Hua Fengtian?” Leader Ling sat up straight.

“That’s right. Leader, please grant me a pass token, so I may take my senior brother to seek medicine as soon as possible!” Bai Dongfang cupped his hands earnestly.

“Very well, for your sect leader’s sake—Zuo, give Dongfang Bai a pass token,” Leader Ling instructed the man in black.

“Yes, Master. His name’s Bai Dong…” The black-clad man was about to correct Leader Ling, but seeing his expression, swallowed the rest and handed Bai Dongfang a token. Bai Dongfang thanked them and hurried away. The black-clad man then asked Leader Ling,

“Master, why did you give the token so readily? I truly don’t understand.”

“You really need to use your brain, otherwise you’ll turn into a pig-headed fool!” Leader Ling laughed and scolded him.

“Master’s teaching is wise. Master is brilliant and unparalleled. Please enlighten me!” The black-clad man smiled obsequiously.

“All right, enough flattery. I’ll tell you straight—the reason is twofold. First, their sect leader, Hua Fengtian, holds a Millennium Cold Ice Pearl. For these two to possess one means they’re favored in his eyes. The Pearl is a life-saving treasure. If we do him this favor, we might ask for a few Pearls in return someday. But more importantly, the second reason: according to Dongfang Bai, his senior brother was wounded by a ghostly being. If he finds a way to cure such wounds, it would be a tremendous boon for us. We’d no longer be helpless when others are injured by those ghostly beings,” Leader Ling explained patiently.

“Master, you truly are wise and resourceful…” The black-clad man continued his flattery…