Chapter Thirty-Five: Transforming Spiritual Materials

The time for the Spirit Foundation was approaching; it was time to make preparations. To break through to the Spirit Foundation stage, second- or third-grade spirit materials could be used, but Li Mu planned to employ third-grade materials. Though the hardship would be greater, for the sake of future success, Li Mu could only give his all.

Spirit materials were divided into two types. One included divine fruits, divine flowers, and the like, whose spiritual energy remained rich upon harvest but could not be refined into medicinal herbs. The other encompassed spirit creatures—divine fish, pet eggs, and so forth. Using these materials granted the possibility of unique properties but also carried a risk of severe mental damage, as sentient beings often resisted, resulting in something neither human nor ghost.

Therefore, Li Mu chose to use the first kind.

Over these days, he had searched all through Deyang City, seeking spirit materials of the divine fruit type, but found none. Those who possessed such materials were powerful cultivators, and even third-grade items were exceedingly costly. A single top-tier third-grade Water Dew Seed could be sold for two thousand medium-grade spirit crystals, enough to leave anyone stunned.

Li Mu had anticipated such circumstances. He finally purchased two third-grade materials: Dogtail Grass and Seven-Core Seaweed.

These two materials were common and rarely used. Even the finest specimens, aged over a century, cost only ten medium-grade spirit crystals apiece.

He then exchanged for a large quantity of low-grade spirit crystals, numbering in the thousands.

Li Mu returned to the Wooden Jade Hall. “I’m cultivating. If there’s nothing urgent, don’t call me.”

Li Ying, who wanted to approach him, could only wrinkle her nose and walk away, muttering, “Alright, alright.”

What was he about to do?

He was about to attempt something big.

He sent his spiritual sense into the Spirit Tower, piling the low-grade spirit crystals like a small hill, placing the two herbs beside them.

Previously, inside the Spirit Tower, he had transformed a second-grade Scarlet Fruit; now, with these two inexpensive herbs, he hoped to transform them into a superior divine fruit.

The odds were slim, for third-grade materials were countless, and transforming them into a suitable divine fruit was extremely difficult. Yet as long as hope remained, he would try; perhaps fate would smile upon him. If it truly proved impossible, he would simply use the second-grade Scarlet Fruit directly.

“Transform, transform...”

Again and again, he repeated the process, feeding spirit crystals into the tower.

Transforming a third-grade material required four tower points, that is, four low-grade spirit crystals.

Various superior materials emerged from the Spirit Tower: minerals, herbs, even spirit beast materials, so many that most were unknown to him.

This was not surprising. In this world of cultivation, thousands of realms existed, and as time passed, new realms continually appeared.

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Not all realms were under the control of human cultivators; some were ruled by demons, others by monsters, and in the endless sea realms, countless marine folk dwelled. Human cultivators were only a part of the universe, not its masters.

Li Mu had learned these truths gradually from books. When he understood them, he felt a certain joy—boundless horizons, infinite possibilities.

Many of these unknown materials came from other races’ realms.

“Transform, transform...”

Li Mu had no time to study each material; he cared not for their quality, only continuing the transformation whenever he encountered a non-divine flower or fruit.

Time slipped by; after several hours, the hill of spirit crystals was gone. Near the Spirit Tower lay two ordinary hemp herbs—identical, coincidentally heart-wrenching.

“Could it be impossible? I refuse to believe it.”

Li Mu went downstairs, exchanged for more low-grade spirit crystals at nearby shops—more than before.

His exchange rate was low, and the shopkeeper was delighted, barely able to contain his joy. “Next time you come, Manager Li, I have plenty of low-grade spirit crystals here—take as many as you like.”

Back upstairs, Li Mu repeated the transformation process.

The heavens reward diligence; even the lowest odds cannot compare to persistent effort.

Five days passed. After tens of thousands of transformations and countless trips downstairs, Li Mu finally obtained two spirit materials.

Though weary, a glimmer of hope lifted his spirits.

A purple-red peach.

On the pale pink fruit, veins of purple crisscrossed, overlapping in a strange, beautiful pattern. The divine peach’s spiritual energy was dense; even without holding it, one could sense the pure earth-core flame within its purple veins.

Records stated the purple-red peach did not grow on branches, but formed within fiery magma, nourished by spirit crystal lodes—a rare fire attribute material.

Moon Flower.

Its heart and petals were nearly water-colored, with pale yellow veins drifting like moonlight reflected on river waters, resembling ice, resembling crystal, exquisitely delicate. Just a glance could intoxicate the soul.

Only in places of extremely pure spiritual energy, touched by the purest moonlight, could a Moon Flower emerge. It did not grow like other plants, but was the condensation of spiritual energy and moonlight, without any attribute—exceptionally rare. It was said that in all of Yunshan Realm, there was only one.

Li Mu recognized it from a single obscure book, and inferred its identity.

He never imagined he could transform such a material; if he sold it now, even at a price of ten thousand medium-grade spirit crystals, people would fight for it.

Yet he could only smile helplessly. As superb as it was, it was too good. The Moon Flower suited female cultivators, not him; he could not use it to advance to the Spirit Foundation stage. If Li Ying wanted it, he could give it to her, so he kept it.

But the purple-red peach was perfect. As a five-attribute material, cultivators could easily absorb it, and the cultivation method he practiced did not conflict with its properties.

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This was the one.

Grateful for his success, Li Mu’s face was radiant as he carried the spirit material and slowly left the cultivation chamber.

Li Ying was reading upstairs; seeing Li Mu emerge, she only glanced at him, her expression displeased.

She grumbled inwardly, “These days, big brother goes out, and even when he sees me, he ignores me. Well, I’ll ignore him too.”

Li Mu approached, “Are you angry with your brother?”

“Mm.” Li Ying turned her head away and ignored him.

Li Mu paused, said little on purpose, and passed by her.

Li Ying was momentarily dazed, her heart pounding. “He’s really not paying attention to me now? Big brother is infuriating.”

Her fair cheeks flushed, lips pouting slightly, large tears swirling in her eyes—a pitiable sight.

Suddenly, her eyes closed, and Li Ying’s petite form floated into Li Mu’s arms, where he held her tightly. Li Mu rubbed his little sister’s nose. “Let’s go out, Ying’er. Let’s have some fun.”

Li Ying laughed through her tears, but still turned her head away. “Hmph, I won’t answer you anymore.”

The two went downstairs together. As soon as they entered the shop, they saw Sun Qi rushing over, holding a large announcement board.

“What’s this?” Li Ying asked in surprise.

Sun Qi respectfully handed the board to Li Mu. “Something sent from the Jade Iron Sect, Brother Mu, take a look.”

“It’s about the rent for the shop,” Li Ying said indifferently, infusing a strand of true energy. As she read, her expression grew strange.

Sun Qi added, “It’s Madam Wang’s intention.”

“She’s asking me to go to the Jade Iron Guild in Deyang City?”

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