Chapter 33: Star Shield

Translator: GGP

“It shouldn’t be a Hidden Spirit Body. Otherwise, it would have been directly exposed during the spirit-opening process. However, I heard from Shi Chuan that this disciple possesses rather strong spiritual power, which is why Brother Ruan from the scripture pavilion allowed him to select and cultivate the Ghost Spirit Technique. Strong spiritual power is quite advantageous in cultivating the Ghost Spirit Technique, perhaps that’s the reason he managed to cultivate the first layer of the technique so swiftly,” Gui Ruquan spoke slowly.

“Strong spiritual power! If that’s the case, it does make sense. But he will encounter quite some trouble with the subsequent techniques. Is he really going to pursue the path of refining corpses?” the Daoist nun said with furrowed brows.

“Since he has made such a choice, he naturally has to bear the consequences of this decision. But looking at Bai Congtian, even though he is young, he has quite a knack for actual combat and acts quite maturely in his temperament and behavior. He probably has his own intentions. Let’s do this, we needn’t interfere too much, just assist him a little with resources, and perhaps we will have a pleasant surprise,” Zhu Chi pondered for a moment before saying from the side.

“Junior Brother Zhu’s words are sensible,” the scholar said in agreement.

“Well then, I will personally make contact with the boy later on.”

The beautiful Daoist nun thought it over and also nodded in agreement.

After discussing a few more sentences, the Daoist nun went out to preside over the competition for disciples under thirty.

Five or six hours later, Liu Ming watched unwaveringly at an astonishingly fierce real-combat test at the center of the plaza.

A middle-aged disciple around forty years old was seen hiding behind a floating ice shield low in the sky while his hands were ceaselessly forming seals.

Not far in front of him, two huge figures were relentlessly pounding and striking each other.

One of them was unmistakably a giant, three-zhang tall sword-wielding puppet, while the other was a white skeleton engulfed in thick black qi, with green lights flickering in its eye sockets and sawtoothed bone sabers in each hand.

Both of them didn’t dodge or avoid but rather swung their weapons like a gale to attack the other.

In just a moment, the pitch-black armor that the puppet was wearing was already tattered and worn.

The skeleton was in even worse shape, with most of its bones shattered and even half of its skull chopped away by the giant sword of the puppet.

However, at this moment, the middle-aged disciple hiding behind the ice shield pointed repeatedly towards the distant skeleton in the void while murmuring incantations.

An amazing scene unfolded.

Black qi around the skeleton suddenly became more intense, and the cracks on its body along with the half-chopped skull visibly healed and regenerated at an astonishing speed. In just the blink of an eye, it became smooth and restored to perfection.

“Bang” “Bang”

The skeleton wielded its bone sabers in a frenzy and managed to shatter the iron armor on the puppet, revealing the spirit stones embedded in its chest.

With one more strike from the skeleton, the spirit stones shattered.

The puppet then heavily collapsed onto the ground, motionless.

The middle-aged disciple proudly waved his hand to dissipate the ice shield in front of him and made a beckoning gesture.

Suddenly, the skeleton spun and rapidly shrank, turning into the size of a palm in a blink of an eye, and swathed in black qi, it flew towards the middle-aged disciple.

“Tsk tsk, Senior Brother Xin’s Bone Devil is becoming even more formidable. It seems to have reached the ‘Hundred Bones’ realm as it easily overpowered the trial puppets in no time,” someone said.

“Senior Brother Xin was incredibly lucky back then, stumbling upon a Spirit-Communicating Yin Bone by chance, which allowed him to refine this devil. If only I had that sort of luck,” another voice lamented.

“What’s the use! No matter how powerful the Bone Devil is, Senior Brother Xin has been stuck at the latter stage of Spirit Apostle without advancing further, and now he’s over thirty, there’s little hope for him to advance to Spirit Master like the rest of us,” someone pointed out.

“Indeed, it’s because Senior Brother Xin indulged in refining this devil too much in the past that he neglected his own cultivation. And in a real fight, if someone figures out how to trap this devil first, defeating the master would be easily done. Senior Brother Xin himself is still a bit weak; in the next grand competition, he most likely won’t become a core disciple,” another observed.

“I didn’t expect that the combination of the Spirit Communication Formula and this Bone Devil could have such a miraculous effect. Perhaps we should also try cultivating this secret technique,” someone suggested.

“Forget it. Our sect’s foundational techniques don’t really match well with the Spirit Communication Formula. Senior Brother Xin only cultivated this secret technique because he had chosen the Mysterious Yin Technique,” another countered.

Other disciples around the plaza discussed the battle with various opinions, showing a mix of praise and criticism.

“So, this is the Spirit Communication Formula, able to actually control and command ghosts; it’s truly unbelievable!” Liu Ming whispered to himself.

Even though he had already heard about the disciples of the Barbarian Ghost Sect being able to command ghosts and demons, this was the very first time he witnessed it with his own eyes, and the shock was beyond imagination.

Not just him, the other new disciples were also dumbfounded by the sight. Even Xiao Feng, a disciple with nine spiritual veins, was somewhat starstruck at the appearance of the Bone Devil.

Such beings differed from common spells like wind blades and fireballs – ghosts and demons were always shrouded in mystery in the secular world.

Even though Liu Ming and the others were somewhat prepared, witnessing it firsthand still had an impact far beyond their imagination.

But it was precisely this moment that made Liu Ming look forward to cultivating the Spirit Communication Formula in the future even more eagerly.

Half a day later, when a burly man wrapped in a layer of golden light smashed the head of his battle dummy to pieces with a punch, the small-scale competition test finally came to a complete end.

Among those who received a high evaluation, there was only Xiao Feng.

There were as many as five people who received an above-average evaluation, including Liu Ming and “Senior Brother Xin,” as well as Shi Chuan, the eldest disciple among those remaining at Jiuying Mountain.

As for Zhu Lianxing and Gu Meishan, the two women performed averagely.

During the test, Liu Ming did not see Zhu Lianxing use that rumored spiritual weapon.

According to the varying evaluations, all the disciples who participated in the small-scale competition received different rewards.

Those with an average evaluation or below all received three Return-to-Origin Pills.

These pills, when consumed after one’s magical power is exhausted, can restore one’s own magical power at a rate several times faster than usual.

Liu Ming and the other four with above-average evaluations, in addition to the three Return-to-Origin Pills, also received one Tranquility Incense stick each.

This incense seems no different from ordinary sandalwood, but when lit during mental exhaustion, it can accelerate the recovery of spiritual power to a certain extent and has a certain miraculous effect when used during the comprehension of magical techniques and secret formulas. Therefore, its value was far greater than that of the three Return-to-Origin Pills.

However, the only person to receive a high evaluation, Xiao Feng, received not only the Return-to-Origin Pills and Tranquility Incense but also a bottle of the more rare Soul-Piercing Liquid.

It was said that if one drank this spirit liquid before facing a formidable enemy, it could temporarily increase one’s magical power by as much as twenty percent for half an hour.

Subsequently, Gui Ruquan announced the end of the small-scale competition, and the disciples were free to leave.

At this, the disciples all bowed to the three Spirit Masters and then took to the air, mounting their clouds.

Just as Liu Ming was about to follow the crowd and leave, he was suddenly called to a halt by “Aunt Master Zhong.”

“Is there something you wish to instruct, Aunt Master?” Liu Ming was somewhat puzzled, but he did not show it on his face. Instead, he walked over respectfully and said.

“You performed well in actual combat. If it weren’t for the fact that the technique I cultivate is not suitable for you, I would have taken you on as my personal disciple directly. However, since you already have a solid foundation in actual combat, you might as well take some time to undertake some less dangerous contribution point tasks on the second floor of the Service Hall. The importance of contribution points within the sect is far beyond what you new disciples can imagine. Cultivation is not just about solitary hard work,” the beautiful daoist nun said solemnly to Liu Ming.

“Thank you for the guidance, Aunt Master. I understand,” Liu Ming said, nodding repeatedly.

“This copper ring is your talisman, right? Its power of sonic attack is quite decent, but I fear it falls a bit short in terms of defense. Well then, I have a protective talisman that I used in my early years at hand. I will give it to you now. Although you cannot use two different talismans at the same time, you can switch between them depending on the situation,” the daoist nun said thoughtfully before suddenly taking out a palm-sized triangular iron plate from her sleeve.

“Thank you for your generous gift, Aunt Master! This talisman is…” Liu Ming exclaimed with great joy.

“This Three-Star Shield is different from other talismans, it cannot attack or injure, but can only be used for protection. Once you communicate with it and get a handle on it, you’ll understand how to use it,” the daoist nun said unhurriedly, handing over the iron plate.

Liu Ming took the iron plate-shaped talisman and naturally thanked her repeatedly.

“You may go. I have high hopes for you. Do not let me down,” the daoist nun said with a slight smile, then turned and left.

Liu Ming bowed once more before backing up a few steps and rising into the air.

In the clouds, he glanced sideways and noticed that Xiao Feng and Yu Cheng had not left the square either. They were standing next to Gui Ruquan and Zhu Chi, also with respectful expressions, listening to some guidance.

It seemed that his decision to show some of his cultivation results in the small-scale competition was indeed the right one.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been one of the people left behind, let alone unexpectedly receiving a talisman.

Liu Ming touched the triangular iron plate in his sleeve and could not help but show a hint of joy on his face.

Apart from the standard-issue talisman sword, he had long wanted to obtain another handy talisman for use.

For an ordinary disciple, wielding two talismans might be a daydream, but for him, who could divide his consciousness in two, it was a matter of course.

With two talismans, he, as “Aunt Master Zhong” had said, had the capability to undertake some simple contribution point tasks.

After all, he would occasionally encounter some issues in cultivation, and since he could not directly ask Shi Chuan and others of the Jiuying lineage due to the Nether Bone Secret Formula, spending some contribution points to seek answers at the Wisdom Heaven Hall was naturally the best solution.

Before that, it would be more prudent to practice the Soul Refining technique a bit.

With these thoughts in mind, Liu Ming returned to the skies above his dwelling without realizing it and descended into the small courtyard.

His gaze shifted, and he suddenly saw a small two-zhang high tree outside the courtyard. A smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he began murmuring some words. In seven or eight breaths’ time, he suddenly raised both hands together.

With two “whoosh” sounds, two green wind blades shot out from his hands, one after the other, and with a flash, the small tree was cut into three sections.

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