Chapter 69: Distribution of the Spoils

“To call oneself ‘Nameless in the Way of Techniques’...”

It seemed that, aside from the two ink treasures, this was the most important item in the legacy that Senior Lin Qinglong had obtained. Song Yan suddenly recalled the autobiography inscribed along the corridor of that cave dwelling.

Back when Senior Lin Qinglong first received his inheritance, some itinerant cultivators had mocked him: How could rotten wood bear the dew? In the end, mud could never be shaped into a wall.

Now, looking again at this fragment of a Daoist tome, together with the self-deprecating title the senior had adopted, Song Yan couldn’t help but feel the capriciousness of fate.

A fragment of a Daoist scripture.

It had enabled a discarded disciple from a minor sect to rise swiftly and become a late-stage Foundation Establishment expert. Its value was self-evident.

If he put it up for auction, it would easily fetch over a thousand spirit stones.

Especially since Wu Huaguo had once mentioned that her family, the Wu clan, stood behind her—a small clan, eager for any treasure with potential to further their development.

Song Yan calculated that he could probably earn about five hundred low-grade spirit stones from this.

He made this estimate mainly because the couple had expended quite a bit to act as his protectors, retrieving spiritual items for him at considerable loss to themselves.

Under their protection, his sword Dao seed had made a qualitative leap during this journey.

Out of a sense of humanity, to let them benefit a little more was no great loss.

He exhaled softly, as if having resolved something.

Rong Xiaofeng took out all three of their mid-grade spirit stones from his pouch, as well as the three they had obtained earlier. Swallowing hard, he finally gritted his teeth and pushed the spirit stones to the center of the table, in front of Song Yan.

“Fellow Daoist Song, my wife and I would like to discuss something with you.”

Usually so composed, Rong Xiaofeng now seemed uncharacteristically nervous.

Song Yan found this rather amusing.

“All the mid-grade spirit stones from this trip are yours.”

“As for the fragment of the Nameless Daoist Tome, and the talismans, artifacts, and other miscellaneous items from these three people’s spatial bags, leave those to the two of us.”

“What do you think?”

Song Yan’s eyes lit up.

Profit.

A tidy profit.

He had already glanced through all the items in those spatial bags—nothing he particularly needed. Even if there was, it was just common self-defense talismans, readily available elsewhere.

Other than the fragment of the Nameless Daoist Tome, nothing was special.

Even Xiao He had poked her head in, but found nothing inside that tempted her.

It was no surprise to Song Yan that the couple wanted these items; he had already guessed as much.

With a family behind them, the Wu clan would need everything—elixirs, talismans, artifacts, formation disks.

If he thought it over, perhaps apart from Che Ning, who had obtained the two ink treasures, the biggest winners of this venture were this couple before him.

With the fragment of the Nameless Daoist Tome and these various spiritual resources, the Wu clan’s future on the path of immortality was surely promising.

Song Yan pondered quietly.

Looking back at Senior Lin Qinglong’s life...

Of course, as they say, one should speak well of the deceased, so it’s not right to criticize lightly.

But truthfully, before Senior Lin obtained his predecessor’s legacy, his prospects were bleak. If forced to comment—one could only say he was ignorant and untalented.

“The Nameless Wanderer...”

He had rated his own talent as extremely poor, likely possessing four or even five spiritual roots.

If the Wu clan managed its affairs well and developed steadily, with a few triple-rooted or even double-rooted disciples of decent disposition and insight, then with this tome, they could secure their place in their county or prefecture.

And perhaps, in the State of Chu, even make a name for themselves.

Thinking this far, Song Yan even felt a faintly absurd sense that, should this family rise to greatness in the future, he would have contributed to their fortune.

Senior Lin Qinglong’s path of cultivation could not be summarized by a single Daoist tome, nor could his ultimate achievements be replicated.

Still, who could say there wouldn’t be someone of great fortune among the Wu clan’s descendants?

The only thing Song Yan couldn’t quite understand was...

What was the situation with this clan, that they needed two mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators to support them?

He considered much, though only a few moments had passed.

Song Yan said nothing more, simply nodded. “Agreed.”

Rong Xiaofeng and Wu Huaguo both let out a sigh of relief.

In terms of sheer quantity, Song Yan was indeed profiting.

But because the value of the Nameless Daoist Tome fragment was so hard to appraise for mere Qi Refining cultivators like themselves, the couple had been worried.

Afraid Song Yan would open his lion’s mouth and make exorbitant demands.

At the very least, they were determined to obtain this tome.

Just as Song Yan had guessed, this was of vital importance to the entire Wu clan.

His straightforward consent elevated their opinion of him even further.

“Then, our thanks to you, Fellow Daoist Song.”

Thanks to Song Yan’s nature as a sword cultivator, the division of spoils was astonishingly swift, leaving the couple in shock.

The young man before them truly wanted nothing but spirit stones.

Which, for the two of them, was absolutely ideal.

None of them were in the mood for idle chatter and soon prepared to part ways.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave,” Song Yan said, rising. The couple saw him to the door.

Rong Xiaofeng, beaming, was clearly in high spirits. “Fellow Daoist Song, should you ever come to Beiya Mountain in Longquan Prefecture, you and your companion will be most welcome in our humble abode.”

“I will, certainly,” Song Yan replied.

These two were interesting people and not wicked sorts. Besides, it was only a courtesy, and there was no harm in agreeing.

...

After parting with the couple, Song Yan hurried back to his sect.

Having refined the Withered Wood Wind and Thunder, he sensed a vague premonition.

The Dao seed within him had likely reached the utmost limit for his current cultivation.

If he wished to progress further, he would have to perfect his Dao heart and sword intent, and truly possess a life-bound flying sword.

Moreover, Song Yan noticed something he could not yet be certain of.

For a sword cultivator, the advancement of spiritual power and the breakthrough of cultivation bottlenecks seemed subtly linked to changes in the sword Dao seed.

Previously, according to the Sword Planting Technique, Song Yan believed that improving the quality of the sword Dao seed merely enhanced his cultivation aptitude.

After all, he had always considered the sword Dao seed to be a sword cultivator’s spiritual root.

Yet, after refining the Withered Wood Wind and Thunder, a bottleneck that had previously separated him from the sixth level of Qi Refining now felt tantalizingly close.

Improving and strengthening the sword Dao seed seemed to have nudged his cultivation forward as well.

Even if only by a negligible amount.

But that was enough to excite him.

He had a rough guess in mind.

The purest spiritual items were, after all, distilled elemental spiritual energy. When strengthening the Dao seed, there would naturally be some spiritual energy diffusing into the meridians.

All in all, it was a good thing, and Song Yan did not delve further.

Now, only one thought filled his mind.

“Break through...”

The sixth level of Qi Refining.

It was time.

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