As one of the great clans, the Shang Clan had complete formulas for their disciples up to the Martial Intent Realm.
Advancement formulas were just the beginning. With the foundations of their clan, they had techniques, secret arts, and all the recipes required for a cultivator to train all the way up to the Martial Intent Realm. Moreover, they weren’t just random techniques or medicines. They were related in such a way that they could complement one another.
In fact, the inheritance of the Shang Clan was partially related to those in the institution. That was the reason Shang Xia could train in the Chaos Essence Manual provided by the Tongyou Institution when he was at the Martial Realm.
Now that Shang Xia had reached the peak of the Martial Extremity Realm, he decided to return to the clan to look for a way to break through.
After Shang Ke brought out the formula for the clan’s Triple Loop Coalescence Needle, he asked Shang Xia again, “Are you sure you wish to use our advancement medicine? You need to know that the moment you go through with this, you won’t be able to cultivate any other techniques in the Martial Intent Realm. You have to cultivate our clan’s Triple Providence Chapter and your main fighting technique will need to be the Providence Spear. Without any of the three, you won’t be able to reach your highest potential in the Martial Intent Realm. Think carefully. The moment you make your decision to advance with our Triple Loop Coalescence Needle, your path will be decided.”
A chuckle left Shang Xia’s lips. “Fifth Grandpa, you said this three times already! Since I already made my choice, I definitely understand what using the Triple Loop Coalescence Needle entails.”
Staring deeply into Shang Xia’s eyes, Shang Ke eventually sighed, “It’s good that you understand. I’m just afraid that you’re making a hasty decision. After all, everyone is saying that you have an exceptional talent in the way of the sword and you should be cultivating sword techniques in the Martial Intent Realm. If you forcefully change your fighting style to our Shang Clan Spear Art, you will be affecting your future potential.”
Shang Xia couldn’t help but laugh in response, “Fifth Grandpa, it’s not about the technique, it’s the cultivator!”
Seeing as Shang Xia was adamant about using the Triple Loop Coalescence Needle, Shang Ke decided to let him do as he wished. He handed over the stone tablet before leaving.
Only after Shang Ke left did Shang Xia get the chance to concentrate on the stone tablet. He started to memorize its contents.
As the knowledge poured into his mind, the blood red tablet reappeared once again and words started to appear all over it.
Advancement Medicine: Triple Loop Coalescence Needle
Prerequisite: Grand completion stage of the Martial Extremity Realm (Grand completion stage of the Yin Yang Realm)
Main Herbs: 1x Hundred Year Old Exquisite Grass, 1 inch of Heart Essence Tree Core, 1x Earth Magnetism Essence Light
Auxiliary Herbs: 1x Ebony Lingzhi, 1x Silver Thread Grass, 3x Cleansing Heaven Sand
Remarks: Use the three needles at the Guanyuan, Shanzhong, and Yintang acupoints. Effects will be enhanced if the needles are stained with the essence blood of a Martial Intent Realm expert.
Compatibility Rate: 70%
As Shang Xia studied the advancement formula, he tried to recall if he had prepared all the ingredients required.
As the most important advancement formula belonging to the Shang Clan, the herbs required to create the advancement medicine would definitely be collected. Most of them could be found in the Shang Clan’s treasury.
However, Shang Xia’s speed of advancement was too damn quick. He took less than three months to reach the peak of the Martial Extremity Realm from the Martial Realm! Even if the clan started to make their preparations earlier, they might not have been able to gather everything.
In fact, even if they did, Shang Xia was unwilling to let the clan provide everything for free. Instead, his sights turned to the Tongyou Institution.
Shang Xia might have gained a lot in the battlefield between the two worlds, but he knew who the ultimate winner was. The Tongyou Institution made it out like a bandit! Their gains could be said to be heaven-defying!
Of course, Shang Xia’s shadow could be said to be hidden behind most of it. When he presented his guide to comprehending the Chaos Essence Lightning Art to the institution, he earned quite a bit. He managed to obtain an entire set of cultivation techniques and some treasures along the way. However, that was a mere speck of dust if they were to compare it with the merits he gained this time.
After making up his mind to mercilessly extort the institution, Shang Xia’s attention turned to perfecting his advancement medicine.
The words around the blood-red tablet started to change once again.
The soft sound produced by the fissure sounded deafening in Shang Xia’s mind. He felt as though his bones were shattering.
A tiny crack appeared on another face of the tablet as it extended all the way down to the base.
When the crack finally reached the bottom, the words on its surface started to move once again. The optimal version of his advancement formula was created.
Advancement Medicine: Triple Loop Coalescence Needle
Prerequisite: Grand completion stage of the Yin Yang Realm
Main Herbs: 1x Hundred Year Old Exquisite Grass, 1 inch of Heart Essence Tree Core, 1x Earth Magnetism Essence Light
Auxiliary Herbs: 1x Ebony Lingzhi, 1x Silver Thread Grass, 3x Cleansing Heaven Sand
Assistive Treasure: 1x Intent Guarding Incense, 1x Essence Separation Liquid, A special bath containing Intent Gathering Powder dissolved in water.
Additional Treasure: Spirit Initiation Stone
Remarks: Burn Intent Guarding Incense, soak the needles in Essence Separation Liquid before applying them to the Guanyuan, Shanzhong, and Yintang acupoints. Soak in the special bath containing dissolved Intent Gathering Powder.
Compatibility Rate: 90%
Even though the formula was clearly described on the tablet, Shang Xia couldn’t be bothered with it. Instead, his attention was on the second crack.
It was several times more serious than when the tablet cracked previously.
From the looks of it, neither crack affected the functionality of the tablet. After doing it twice, Shang Xia had pretty much confirmed the guesses he had. Every time he used it to optimize an advancement formula, a crack would form!
There was also a tiny voice in his mind telling him that the tablet would crumble completely the moment cracks filled its surfaces. When that happened, his soul would shatter and he would die. Yet, the burning question remained unsolved. He was unable to find a way to repair the tablet!
Only a single thought remained in Shang Xia’s mind. No matter what, raising his strength was the way to go. The only way he could look for a way to fix the tablet was to grow stronger!
Finally snapping back to reality, he turned his attention to the formula produced by the tablet. He noticed that there were a lot of changes this time!
“Intent Guarding Incense? Essence Separation Liquid? Intent Gathering Powder?! What the hell are those?!”