Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Tian Hu had already guessed Yang Zhenshan’s origins and knew that true Spirit Pills were almost nonexistent in the Spiritual Wilderness. He explained, ”This is a Bone Tempering Pill, refined using the Rune Secret Skill!”

”The Rune Secret Skill involves using one’s own True Qi to draw runes, attaching them to the Spirit Pill, which enhances potency, removes impurities, isolates internal and external interference, and stabilizes the spiritual elements!”

”Senior might not know, elixirs are divided into Mortal Grade, Spirit Grade, Divine Grade, and Immortal Grade. Only Innate Martial Artists can refine Spirit Grade elixirs by using their True Qi to draw runes!”

”Spirit Grade elixirs are further divided into three levels. Of these thirty-eight Spirit Pills, twenty-two are lower Spirit Pills, twelve are middle Spirit Pills, and four are upper Spirit Pills.”

After listening, Yang Zhenshan thought for a bit and took out a Soul-attaching Pill he had refined.

”Is this considered a Spirit Pill?”

Tian Hu looked at the dull gray elixir, initially stunned, then almost burst out laughing.

”Senior, this was probably refined using attribute Spirit Fruit. Though the ingredients and Spirit Fruit can form a Spirit Pill, it clearly didn’t use the Rune Secret Skill!”

”Such alchemy is a bit, um, a bit~~”

Before he finished, Yang Zhenshan understood what he meant, ”A bit wasteful!”

”Uh, yes!” Tian Hu retracted his neck a little.

”Do you know the Rune Secret Skill?” Yang Zhenshan ignored Tian Hu’s comments and asked.

Tian Hu gave a wry smile, ”Senior may not know, but the Rune Secret Skill is an undisclosed secret of the major family clans. How could a small person like me know it?”

”Family?”

”Yes, a family refers to a clan that has had a member reach the Martial God Realm, like our Dazhao royal family!”

Yang Zhenshan nodded, roughly understanding his point.

The Rune Secret Skill and Martial God Realm Cultivation Techniques are very precious; even Innate Martial Artists have limited access to them; only those born into family clans have a chance.

The resources Tian Hu gave him were extraordinary; likely, they were Prince Ji’s savings.

The Royal Mansion of Dazhao is equivalent to a branch of a family; its wealth might even surpass a sect like the Shaking Mountain Sect.

Though Tian Hu was just a guard, as Prince Ji’s guard, he knew many things even the Shaking Mountain Sect didn’t and could offer treasures that would leave the sect envious.

The Shaking Mountain Sect’s loud pursuit of him was not solely because of that child; perhaps it was due to the Storage Bag in his possession.

”Do you know my origins?” Yang Zhenshan asked casually.

”I, I~” Tian Hu hesitated, unsure if he should tell the truth.

”It’s fine, knowing is knowing. From now on, follow me; I’ll raise the kid, and these items will be my reward!”

Yang Zhenshan, without blushing or skipping a beat, claimed everything in the Storage Bag for himself.

The Spirit Fruits and Spiritual Medicine were very useful to him; Spirit Fruits could be directly planted in the Spirit Source Land, and in a few years, he could freely obtain four kinds of Spirit Fruits.

Some Spiritual Medicine could be cultivated, while others had been processed and could not be cultivated.

”Is this a Spirit Stone?” Yang Zhenshan took out a fingernail-sized, crystal-clear stone from the Storage Bag.

He’d seen such stones before at the Zhu family on Earth Fire Island.

The Zhu family on Earth Fire Island had eight such stones, supposedly picked up during a volcanic eruption.

The stone was as luscious as jade, and holding it, he felt a gentle energy permeating his body, greatly beneficial for cultivation.

”Yes, Spirit Stones contain Spiritual Energy, and are the most commonly used resources for cultivation, alchemy, artifact refining, and setting up arrays!”

”The Rune Secret Skill I mentioned earlier involves using the Spiritual Energy in Spirit Stones to draw runes; Spirit Stones are essential for both alchemy and artifact refining!”

Tian Hu explained.

Yang Zhenshan caressed the Spirit Stone, feeling it closely.

As his mind fluctuated, that gentle energy flowed into his body, merging with his meridians and acupuncture points, slowly transforming into True Qi.

So that’s what it is!

A realization dawned in his heart.

He finally understood why there was no Rune inheritance west of the Stormy Sea Area.

Even though Ten Thousand Miles Sea Domain and Dazhao were separated by the Stormy Sea Area, it was unlikely for Ten Thousand Miles Sea Domain to have no Rune inheritance at all.

The reason lay with these Spirit Stones.

Spirit Stones are the foundation of the Rune Secret Skill. Without them, auxiliary professions like Alchemists, Artifact Refiners, and Array Masters cannot use the Rune Secret Skill.

At the least, Innate Realm practitioners require such support, possibly the Martial God Realm might use the Rune Secret Skill without Spirit Stones.

In regions west of the Stormy Sea Area, Spirit Stones are extremely rare; any Rune Secret Skill inheritance would be in vain, as unusable Techniques can’t survive.

”Is this thing easy to come by?” Yang Zhenshan asked.

Tian Hu shook his head, ”Not easy. Our Dazhao has no Spirit Stone veins. The Sea of Spirit has veins, but they’re controlled by the three major Sects; others have to exchange resources with them to obtain Spirit Stones!”

Yang Zhenshan nodded, ”Looks like your master is quite wealthy!”

With both Spirit Pills and Spirit Stones, they’re rare items, but Prince Ji had many, indicating substantial foundations.

Actually, Yang Zhenshan didn’t know that the Ji Royal Mansion wasn’t an ordinary one. Dazhao had an 800-year legacy, and the Ji Royal Mansion 600 years of kingship, possessing some of the top accumulated wealth in the west of Dazhao.

Unfortunately, in the past century, the strength of the Dazhao royal family declined, followed by the Ji Royal Mansion’s decline.

The accumulated wealth of centuries failed to produce outstanding descendants, eventually getting overtaken by the Shaking Mountain Sect.

The stuff Yang Zhenshan held was just a small portion of the Ji Royal Mansion’s century-long savings.

Before meeting his demise, Prince Ji sent his descendants out of the mansion, each with some resources.

However, this child, being the first grandson of Prince Ji, meant Tian Hu’s resources were the most abundant.

But now, these resources became Yang Zhenshan’s gain, or rather, one can’t say who truly gained; it’s too early to tell.

If this child follows Yang Zhenshan, his future would hold more opportunities.

Actually, the most valuable items in the Storage Bag weren’t the Spirit Pills or Spirit Stones, but the Cultivation Techniques.

After understanding Spirit Pills and Spirit Stones, Yang Zhenshan examined those Cultivation Techniques.

He discovered something unique with just the first Cultivation Technique.

Mystic Fire Glaze Body!

This was a Body Refining Cultivation Technique.

It emphasized tempering the body with fire energy, not by burning the body, but by using Fire Attribute elixirs and Spiritual Objects for assistance.

When mastered, the body becomes solid as Mystical Iron, fire-resistant, and even capable of fire control.

This technique was extraordinary, far beyond anything Yang Zhenshan had encountered before.

This sort of technique couldn’t have been practiced in previous Da Rong.

Since its cultivation required large quantities of Spirit Pills, and Da Rong lacked them, such techniques couldn’t be trained.

Even if trained, progress would be slow, making it inferior to ordinary techniques.

Yang Zhenshan skimmed through the Storage Bag, broadly understanding the differences between local cultivation techniques and those of the Ten Thousand Miles Sea Domain.

Simply put, local cultivation techniques rely heavily on Spirit Pills for assistance, each technique needing several Spirit Pills.

Using Spirit Fruit and Spiritual Medicine as substitutes is possible, but effectivity can’t compare to Spirit Pills.

Due to resource scarcity, these techniques are hard to practice on the region west of the Stormy Sea Area.

Aside from their methods, these techniques are interconnected.

Mystic Fire Glaze Body, Red Flame Refining Skill, Fiery Flame Guarding Skill, Flame Saber Skill, Fiery Flame Palm, Red Flame Rainbow Skill, etc.

”Is the Dazhao royal family’s Martial God Realm Technique Fire Attribute?” Yang Zhenshan asked.

”Yes! It’s said to be the Flame Sun Earth Fire Golden Body Skill!”

Yang Zhenshan squinted, a slight smile on his lips.

”Flame Sun, Earth Fire, Heavenly Gang Qi, Earth Evil Qi, it seems this technique involves drawing Flame Sun Qi and Earth Fire Qi into the body?”

Tian Hu was stunned, then shook his head, ”That’s beyond what I’d know!”

Yang Zhenshan wasn’t surprised; Flame Sun Earth Fire was clearly a Fire Attribute Technique.

It was not surprising for him to deduce so much; the technique’s name was too indicative.

But he couldn’t practice it, as he didn’t know how to draw Flame Sun Qi and Earth Fire Qi into the body, nor how to maneuver them within.

This wasn’t something one could just practice on a whim; precise Cultivation Techniques were necessary.

Otherwise, one might just set oneself ablaze.