In the end, Wuming felt embarrassed to linger and chat with Zhou Wuji for too long. After speaking for a little while, she took her leave with clear reluctance.
Li Ruyi, who had stayed by her side, merely offered Zhou Wuji a word of congratulations before following Wuming away.
Once the area was finally clear of people, Yang Tieying strode over with an ecstatic grin and cupped his hands in greeting. "Congratulations, Master, on advancing to the seventh rank and receiving the secret arts!"
Yang Tieying had wanted to drop to his knees and kowtow several times to convey his overflowing joy, but remembering Zhou Wuji's earlier instructions, he forced himself to hold back.
Zhou Wuji was quite fond of this nominal disciple of his. As an eighteen-year-old youth, his mind was somewhat simple, but he was not stupid; he merely lacked life experience, and he still carried the courage and drive unique to youth.
Though Shangxing was even younger, having spent so long steeped in the Branch Abbey, his sharpness had become tinged with a touch of worldly slickness. For a boy of fourteen or fifteen, he could be called precocious.
One could only say Shangxing had suffered a great deal of hardship. Otherwise, what boy wouldn't possess the unbridled spirit of youth?
Shangxing was also very close with Zhou Wuji. Following behind Yang Tieying, he offered his warm congratulations, his small face lit with a sincere smile.
Zhou Wuji nodded and accepted the well-wishes from the two juniors. He praised Yang Tieying with a few words, then patted Shangxing's head.
With a smile, he said, "Train hard, both of you. In a couple of days, when I have some free time, I'll take you into the city for a stroll—"
"That's wonderful! Thank you, Martial Uncle!" Shangxing loved the bustle of the city; Feixuan Hall was truly far too quiet.
Though Yang Tieying had spent his years training in martial arts, he had visited Yunyang Prefecture before and had little interest in wandering the city.
Stiffening his neck, he said, "I'm not going! When Master has free time, please teach me sword arts instead!"
Having witnessed his master's divine prowess, and with his grandfather constantly praising his master's swordsmanship, he had long yearned to learn the sword from Zhou Wuji.
It was just that his master had been far too busy lately and had no time to spare for him.
Now that an opportunity had presented itself, Yang Tieying immediately voiced his wish.
"Haha, all right!" Zhou Wuji agreed with a laugh.
The Xiaoxiang Sword was vastly different from what Yang Tieying practiced, but with his own sword arts having reached the Consummate realm, instructing Yang Tieying would still be child's play.
Returning to Feixuan Hall, Daoist Yiping retired to rest first, but Shangxing and Yang Tieying were buzzing with excitement, crowding around Zhou Wuji to ask all sorts of questions about the transmission and ordination.
Both of them had seen the starlight condense into shape and cascade down from high above the Nine Heavens. That magnificent spectacle had been utterly breathtaking, leaving them both immensely curious and deeply envious.
Zhou Wuji was in high spirits and in even better form, so he shared some insights on cultivation tailored to the two boys' circumstances.
While his current cultivation base could not match Zhiyuan's, his comprehension of the Northern Dipper Celestial Pivot Scripture and sword arts was likely superior.
Guiding two boys who had barely stepped onto the threshold of cultivation, he could pierce straight to the heart of the matter with surgical precision.
Yang Tieying and Shangxing did not understand the underlying theory, but they felt that everything Zhou Wuji said rang entirely true, with just a few sentences bringing them sudden, crystal clarity—
After speaking for a while, Zhou Wuji sent the two off to rest.
A person's energy was limited, and trying to absorb too much at once meant remembering none of it. What he had just shared was more than enough to keep them practicing for months.
The room finally grew quiet. Zhou Wuji washed up briefly and lay down on the bed, feeling completely relaxed in body and mind.
Staying in the Branch Abbey had one distinct benefit: there was no need to worry about his safety, allowing him to truly unwind.
Zhou Wuji was in no rush to examine the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment, nor was he in a hurry to cultivate. He simply lay quietly on the bed, savoring this ease and freedom, letting his thoughts run wild like an unbridled mustang—
Only after a good while did Zhou Wuji rein in his mind to cultivate formally.
As the divine acupoint between his eyebrows breathed the spiritual essence in and out, the Heavenly Gate responded instantly. A vast torrent of spiritual qi surged in through the Heavenly Gate, channeled through the divine acupoint to circulate through his body, before ultimately transforming into a wisp of pure true qi that returned to the divine acupoint at his glabella—
Circulating the Northern Dipper Celestial Pivot Scripture for one hundred and eight heavenly cycles took less than half the time it used to, yet the efficacy of circulating his true qi was enhanced by four to five times.
Taken together, the gap was astronomical.
The effect of breaching the Heavenly Gate and condensing the Baihui acupoint far exceeded his expectations.
Zhou Wuji opened the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment, and the first thing he saw was his cultivation level marked as sixth rank.
His true qi value had increased by six hundred, reaching a total of one thousand six hundred.
Judging from Wuzheng's situation, a seventh-rank Daoist's true qi hovered around seven hundred, though specific amounts varied from person to person.
To advance to the sixth rank and breach the Heavenly Gate, one's total true qi had to at least double, reaching a value of one thousand four hundred.
His current level of true qi was naturally far superior to the seventh rank, though he was merely a newly ascended sixth rank.
Well, he was roughly on par with the sixth-rank demonic cultivator he had slain in Baizhu Village.
That sixth-rank demonic cultivator's true qi had been impure and chaotic, so strictly speaking, it was inferior to his.
With a fundamental leap in the quality of his true qi, his efficiency in drawing in true qi had increased tenfold, and the power unleashed by circulating it had multiplied several times over.
For the exact same spell, less true qi was consumed, yet the power unleashed was vastly greater. This was the most direct change brought by advancing to the sixth rank.
As for how much stronger it was, that depended on the specific spell and was difficult to quantify precisely.
His spirit had also grown by more than twenty percent, reaching a total of five hundred.
He had observed Yizhen closely over this period, and through the resonance between heaven and earth during the ritual, he had caught an even clearer glimpse of Yizhen's true state as the officiant.
On the spiritual plane, he was likely on the same level as Yizhen, if not stronger.
True qi could be continuously tempered and strengthened, but strengthening the spiritual plane was exceedingly difficult.
His physical attributes had not changed; a value of five hundred was already extraordinarily potent, not something that a single boost in true qi could alter.
Aside from breaching the Heavenly Gate, his greatest advancement this time was undoubtedly the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword reaching the Consummate realm.
Both the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword and the Northern Dipper Celestial Pivot Scripture were now at the Consummate realm. Technique and method complemented each other, which finally granted his Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword genuine combat potency.
Zhou Wuji silently recited the incantation and focused his divine sense. The divine acupoint at his glabella directed his seven apertures to gather the Seven Stars true qi, and in a flash, an azure light blade about a foot long condensed into being just before the tips of his right fingers.
With a shift of his thought, the azure light sword spun into an azure sword-wheel, then abruptly snapped to a dead halt.
From stillness to motion, and from motion to stillness, it required no transition whatsoever. The entire process produced virtually no sound.
Spells were powered by true qi and steered by divine sense, an entirely different path from martial arts.
Under the direction of Zhou Wuji's divine sense, the foot-long azure light sword darted through the room like a bird, circling the space several times in the blink of an eye without disturbing a single speck of dust.
Zhou Wuji took a piece of pure steel armor plating from the bedside cupboard. With a flash of azure light, the sword pierced straight through the plate pinched between his fingers, leaving a thread-thin, translucent cut.
With a flick of his finger, he sent the armor plate flying into the air. The azure light sword transformed into a spinning sword-wheel and shot forward, shredding the plate into tiny bits that scattered through the air.
After completing this strike, the azure sword grew dim, on the verge of dispersing.
With another thought from Zhou Wuji, the azure light sword slipped out through a gap in the window, ascending several dozen zhang into the sky before finally dispersing into specks of drifting azure light.
"It can cover a range of a hundred paces."
Having mastered this spell to the Consummate realm, Zhou Wuji understood its power intimately.
Even so, he needed hands-on control to experience the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword's actual nuances and force.
After testing it, he was very satisfied with its power.
A single cast of the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword consumed about fifty points of magic power, with an attack range within a hundred paces. The farther the distance, the more divine sense and true qi it consumed.
Zhou Wuji cast the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword again, this time condensing seven light swords simultaneously.
Testing them out, he found that manipulating seven light swords at once burned through too much magic power and divine sense; he could sustain it for ten breaths of time at most.
However, the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword was not an actual sword; in essence, it was sharp dharmic force condensed from true qi.
Because of this, the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Swords could be layered together.
They could even be reshaped to a certain extent.
As Zhou Wuji shifted his thought, the seven light swords merged into a four-foot-long azure light sword. Its structure was extremely stable, though it carried no weight, making it feel peculiar in his grasp.
In this state, the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword only required maintaining its structural stability, putting minimal strain on his divine sense.
Zhou Wuji gave the four-foot light sword a few experimental swings. It was passable to use, though many subtle variations of sword arts could not be executed with it.
It still could not be treated as a real sword, but it served well enough for impromptu adaptation.
The Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword was an exceedingly intricate and profound spell, one that aligned perfectly with the Northern Dipper Celestial Pivot Scripture.
Very few people ever trained this spell to the Consummate realm. After all, there were simply too many high-tier spells available.
Zhou Wuji felt that the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword held great potential. He could reshape it at will now, but discovering how to alter it to unleash its true destructive might would require further experimentation and study.
Even so, with the current power of the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword, slaying seventh-rank practitioners and evil spirits would become remarkably easy.
The Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword transitioned from illusion to reality, matchlessly sharp.
It posed a tremendous threat to seventh-rank martial artists and formidable demons alike.
If wielded well, he could dispatch enemies from a distance. With spells at his disposal to defeat foes, he would no longer need to draw his sword for close-quarters combat.
Between the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword and the boost to his true qi cultivation alone, his combat capability had at least tripled compared to before—a monumental improvement.
Among sixth-rank Daoists, he could likely be considered an expert now.
Finally, his lifespan had increased by four years, bringing his total lifespan to one hundred and six.
The rapid surge in his cultivation base and the strengthening of his spirit had both provided a noticeable boost to his longevity.
Zhou Wuji reviewed his overall condition, thoroughly satisfied with his progress.
***
After a sound night's sleep, Zhou Wuji went to Tianshu Hall the following morning to see Daoist Yizhen.
Having completed the transmission and ordination, he was eligible to study advanced spells. By right, he had to consult the Scripture Master, and upon receiving approval, he could proceed to Taixuan Hall to collect the corresponding spell manuals.
If one had a master, they could also be taught directly, though such instruction still required authorization from the Branch Abbey.
Since it was Yizhen who had presided over his transmission and ordination, he had to consult Yizhen.
Daoist Yizhen had prepared for this well in advance. He handed Zhou Wuji a signed and stamped slip.
"Go to Taixuan Hall and choose whatever you wish to learn. If there is anything you do not understand, feel free to come and ask me."
"Thank you, Martial Uncle."
Taking the slip, Zhou Wuji headed to Taixuan Hall. The deacon guarding Taixuan Hall was already acquainted with him; after checking the slip, he handed over a catalogue of spells, leaving him to make his choice.
At the seventh rank, there were dozens of spells available for study.
There were arts of geomancy and divination, arts of warding off evil and curing ailments, arts of praying for blessings and averting disasters, arts of guiding souls to the afterlife, and arts of exorcising demons.
A Daoist's most common tasks were actually healing the sick, surveying feng shui, divining fortunes, and helping people harmonize their minds and bodies, among other such matters.
When they did take action with spells, it was mostly to deal with demons, ghosts, and monsters.
Occasions where they truly came to blows with other people were actually rare.
Browsing through the sprawling selection of spells, Zhou Wuji found a few that seemed fairly interesting.
However, he did not possess much primordial profound spirit, so he could not afford to squander it on spells that held no practical combat value.
Take *Ziwei Doushu*, for instance; it claimed to calculate the past and the future, but that was just talk.
This miraculous numerology art was exceedingly convoluted, and at lower ranks, it could at best be used to calculate directions and read feng shui.
For him, it was practically useless.
Zhou Wuji first chose the *Northern Dipper Celestial Pivot Yin Thunder Method*. This was an essential art for Daoists of the Arctic Sect; not only could it dispel evil and eradicate demons, but it could also protect one's Great Dao, making it of paramount importance.
Next, he selected the *Big Dipper Heavenly Astral Divine Incantation*, an essential practice for personal protection that was a must-learn.
The *Body Cleansing Divine Incantation* could purify oneself and ward off evil filth, and could also be cast on others, making it very useful.
Once Zhou Wuji had made his three selections, the deacon looked them over and said, "The *Celestial Pivot Yin Thunder Method* is five hundred taels, the *Big Dipper Heavenly Astral Divine Incantation* is three hundred taels, and the *Body Cleansing Divine Incantation* is fifty taels. Eight hundred and fifty taels in total."
The price was rather steep, but for Zhou Wuji, it posed no problem. He paid on the spot without hesitation.
The deacon was somewhat surprised by Zhou Wuji's wealth. He had originally intended to recommend a spell loan with three percent interest, but since Zhou Wuji had the coin, he dropped the idea.
With great formality, the deacon counted the silver banknotes, wrote out a receipt, stamped it, and made two copies.
Once the formalities were concluded, the deacon fetched a scroll of the *Northern Dipper Celestial Pivot Yin Thunder Method* for Zhou Wuji.
The Northern Dipper Celestial Pivot Yin Thunder Method was extremely intricate. The practitioner first had to set up an altar to establish communion with Marshal Tianpeng high above the Nine Heavens.
Through Marshal Tianpeng, Yin Thunder was condensed, which the practitioner could then unleash.
Within the Arctic Sect, Marshal Tianpeng was actually an avatar of the Broken Army Star Lord—the final star of the Northern Dipper, the Yaoguang Star.
Only by unblocking their seventh aperture, the mouth aperture, could Arctic Sect practitioners sense the corresponding Yaoguang Star and truly wield the thunder art.
This was the fundamental reason why one had to be at the seventh rank to practice the Northern Dipper Celestial Pivot Yin Thunder Method.
Without seeking complete comprehension right away, Zhou Wuji first memorized all three spells by rote.
That evening, after returning to Feixuan Hall, Zhou Wuji consulted Daoist Yiping regarding the Northern Dipper Celestial Pivot Yin Thunder Method.
Daoist Yiping gave a broad explanation of the thunder art and emphasized, "This method is an orthodox art of our sect. To cast it, one must commune with Marshal Tianpeng. Generally, one must use a Tianpeng ruler, set up an altar, and burn incense; none of the various rituals may be done incorrectly—"
Zhou Wuji listened attentively. The Northern Dipper Celestial Pivot Yin Thunder Method was indeed convoluted, comprised of incantations, mudras, pacing, talismans, and ritual implements, where not the slightest mistake could be made during casting.
The most crucial part remained communing with Marshal Tianpeng and erecting an altar, a step that barred outsiders from any possibility of cultivating the Northern Dipper Celestial Pivot Yin Thunder Method.
With the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment in hand, Zhou Wuji could bypass the step of erecting an altar. Even so, the way he cast spells was vastly different from others, and he would have to remain cautious whenever he wielded the Yin Thunder Method in the future—
Chapter 89