Chapter Sixty-Four: A Belated Reward

Art of Manipulation: the power to control spiritual energy outside the body and command objects. Under He Song’s direction, whether it be tables, chairs, or teacups, once enveloped by his spiritual energy, all could move at his will within a hundred feet. In the future, when manipulating magical implements, this distance would likely remain the same. Cultivators at the mid-stage of Qi Refining could project their spiritual energy roughly a hundred feet from their bodies. Naturally, the range of their attacks was also limited to this distance, and only with further advancement did the reach of spiritual energy increase significantly.

Thus, He Song’s ability to command objects within a hundred feet was considered normal. A hundred feet was neither far nor close; with cultivation reaching late-stage Qi Refining, this range would increase, perhaps to two hundred feet. Upon entering the Foundation Establishment stage, manipulation would rely on divine sense, the scanning range of which, at the initial stage, extended roughly a mile. This vast disparity allowed late-stage Qi Refining cultivators to easily dominate those at the mid-stage. Whether ambushing or pursuing, they possessed the advantage of greater reach.

As for Foundation Establishment adepts, if faced with a siege by Qi Refining cultivators—even if all were at the late stage—they stood no chance whatsoever. When a Foundation Establishment adept attacked using divine sense to control magical implements, no matter how many Qi Refining cultivators there were, he could slay them all; killing a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator was easier than slaughtering a chick.

To Qi Refining cultivators, within a mile, a Foundation Establishment adept was akin to heaven itself. This was why each immortal market was typically guarded by a single Foundation Establishment adept. With such a guardian, evil cultivators dared not harass the market, only daring to act in its outskirts. Thus, the immortal market needed no defensive arrays—the cost was simply too great. Outside the market, in places beyond the reach of a Foundation Establishment adept’s divine sense, only patrol squads were required. With such an adept in residence, chaos could not take root; should any trouble arise, the wrath of the Foundation Establishment adept would descend like thunder.

Only the immortal cities would lay down grand defensive arrays, and even then, they were not activated at all times. Of course, the distances mentioned here referred to the limits of attack range. In most cases, even Foundation Establishment adepts would not duel from a mile apart. Nor would late-stage Qi Refining cultivators attack from such a distance. Combat between cultivators required accuracy as well.

Aside from the Art of Manipulation...

He Song’s second spell of study was the Stone-Breaking Finger. Both the Art of Manipulation and the Stone-Breaking Finger were mid-grade spells. Since he had mastered the Art of Manipulation in only a month, able to wield it at will without loss of power, the Stone-Breaking Finger should not take much longer.

As expected, another month passed. He Song activated the Stone-Breaking Finger: with a single point of his finger, a golden ray shot forth, striking the floor of his room. He Song saw only a flash of gold before the light vanished into the darkness beneath the floor. Only a pitch-black hole remained, its depth unknown.

Yet He Song believed it must be deeper than that made by the Spirit Arrow Spell. After all, the Spirit Arrow Spell was merely a basic technique for killing pests in spiritual fields—not even a fundamental spell. The Stone-Breaking Finger, however, was a mid-grade offensive spell! He Song had spent a hundred spirit stones to purchase it from the Spell Pavilion. The difference in power between the two spells was obvious and incomparable.

However, residing in the immortal market, He Song could not properly test the Stone-Breaking Finger’s true power. Thus, having mastered it to the point where he could use it freely without diminishing its force, he devoted only a portion of his daily practice to it, turning his focus to the third and final spell: the Earth-Burrowing Technique.

The Earth-Burrowing Technique was the only high-grade spell He Song had purchased. Once cast, it allowed him to travel swiftly beneath the earth—an essential spell for his work out in the spiritual fields. As soon as he began studying it, He Song felt its complexity; it would not be easily mastered in a short time. Nevertheless, he persisted, practicing it daily in hopes of quick proficiency.

Yet, as He Song immersed himself in the study of the Earth-Burrowing Technique, an unexpected visitor shattered his tranquil life.

Three months after He Song returned home with his three newly acquired spells from the Spell Pavilion, on a certain day...

“He Song, open up! I’ve brought your reward!” Zhao Lin’s voice rang out from outside, prompting He Song, who had been practicing the Earth-Burrowing Technique, to open his eyes in surprise.

Zhao Lin was the connection Meng Guan left for He Song when he went to mine at the Scarlet Gold Mine. When He Song had just broken through to mid-stage Qi Refining, Zhao Lin had kindly helped him handle the expansion of his spiritual fields, saving He Song much time each day. Yet this act had earned Chen Zhou’s resentment, forcing He Song to send him off to the King of Hell.

Now Zhao Lin was at his door, claiming to deliver a reward. What reward could this be? With curiosity, He Song opened the door and welcomed Zhao Lin inside.

Over more than three years, He Song’s relationship with Zhao Lin had not grown distant. On the contrary, as both worked in the Spirit Herb Pavilion, their familiarity had deepened. The two were friends, now even closer. With the Mist Formation concealing the two arrays inside the room, He Song had no reason to turn Zhao Lin away.

But as He Song ushered Zhao Lin in, a flash of insight struck him. He remembered! Before sending Chen Zhou to his fate, He Song had specifically informed Zhao Lin to remove Chen Zhou’s name from the ranks of the Spirit Planters. Zhao Lin had said then that Chen Zhou was guilty of bullying the weak, extorting spirit stones, and committing all manner of evil. He Song had done a great deed by exposing him, and Zhao Lin had promised to request a reward on He Song’s behalf, saying he would deliver it personally.

Three years had passed with no sign of this promised reward, and He Song had gradually forgotten about it, assuming Zhao Lin had failed in his efforts. Yet now, after so many years, Zhao Lin had actually managed to secure the reward? This was a true and unexpected delight.

With this thought, He Song looked at Zhao Lin with renewed interest. A reward delayed for three years had finally arrived. He Song wondered what it might be. Though curious, he did not ask immediately. Instead, he invited Zhao Lin in and leisurely brewed a pot of fine tea.

As the fragrance filled the room, He Song finally spoke. “Friend, what is this reward you speak of? Though I am but a Spirit Planter, I don’t believe I have contributed much to the immortal market. What reward could there be?”

He Song lied effortlessly, feigning ignorance though he had already recalled the origin of the reward. He simply pretended not to remember.