Although Li Pingyi was only at the Qi Condensation 4th Layer, he deeply understood the importance of the Qi Sea.
That was the source of all power. The Spiritual Qi that cultivators gathered from heaven and earth all converged here, where it was refined, stored, and only then could one embark upon the immortal path. Expanding the Qi Sea and enhancing one's control over Spiritual Power were the eternal themes of cultivation.
"Listen to me and let me finish," Li Youdao slowly withdrew his affectionate gaze from Liu Yaqin, looking quite displeased by Li Pingyi's interruption. He turned around and glared fiercely at him.
"Later on, I set foot on the path of Qi Condensation once again. Through countless hardships, I barely managed to condense a spiritual core and was fortunate enough to achieve Foundation Establishment."
"Ever since then, I have been inquiring everywhere, searching for a way to completely repair my Qi Sea."
"At the time of Golden Core Formation, one must condense the Qi Sea into a core. But if the Qi Sea has flaws—such as having too little capacity, mixed Spiritual Power, or insufficient stability—then the possibility of forming a Golden Core is virtually nil."
"Until one day, Elder Gu sent someone to inform me that a Jade Slip brought out from a Grotto-Heaven contained a method for condensing a secondary Qi Sea."
A ripple of emotion crossed Li Youdao's face, as if he had returned to the joyous moment when he first received the news.
"I immediately consulted the Jade Slip. The method recorded within it could indeed condense a second Qi Sea. As long as one merged the two Qi Seas during the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, one could break through the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection in a single leap and successfully condense the Golden Core."
"However, the second Qi Sea opened up this way is twice as difficult to cultivate as the primary Qi Sea. In ancient times, Spiritual Qi was still abundant, and ancient cultivators had enough time to refine it. But in today's Canglan Continent, Spiritual Qi resources are scarce, and trying to achieve this is simply as difficult as ascending to the heavens."
"I am already sixty." Li Youdao sighed softly, a sigh full of the ruthlessness of passing time. "There isn't enough time."
Li Pingyi's heart tightened, and in an instant, he understood his father's despair.
Qi Condensation cultivators share the same lifespan as mortals; Foundation Establishment grants a mere hundred and twenty years, while the Golden Core gives four hundred springs and autumns. Breaking the core to form a Nascent Soul grants a thousand years of life; a Nascent Soul transforming into a Deity Transformation can live for two thousand years. As for those above Void Refinement, that was already a legend.
He looked at the white hairs at his father's temples, his throat tightening.
"But I have found a new method!" Li Youdao suddenly stood up, a sharp gleam bursting from his triangular eyes. "Directly refine a Spirit Object to serve as a second Qi Sea!"
Li Pingyi was so startled by Li Youdao's words that his scalp went numb. Without even thinking, he knew just how dangerous this method was.
Ancient cultivators all cultivated two energy vortices simultaneously from childhood in order to master the balance and coordination between them.
And you? You actually want to forcefully cram a "fake Qi Sea" in there instead?
He mentally calculated the odds.
Ten deaths, zero survival.
Li Youdao seemed to see through his thoughts, the corners of his mouth splitting into a somewhat ferocious arc. "It's not as bad as you think. True Lord Gu and I have deduced this many times. If we can find a suitable Spirit Object, the chance of success is forty percent! Even if I fail, the worst that can happen is losing all my cultivation and reverting to a mortal. Immortal cultivation has always been like sailing against the current; if I dare not contend for even this forty percent chance, I, Li Youdao, am unworthy of calling myself a cultivator!"
He flicked his sleeves, and an air of absolute resolve welled up from within him.
"A suitable Spirit Object?" A flash of insight crossed Li Pingyi's mind. "Dad, are you talking about... that little sapling?"
A meaningful smile crept onto the corner of Li Youdao's mouth. He reached out to gently press his son's shoulder, leaning in slightly to lower his voice. "Yes, and no."
He slowly straightened up, walking with his hands behind his back toward the desk, his tone turning solemn. "Spirit Objects are far too precious. The Patriarch of the Qingxuan Sect once promulgated a sect rule: Spirit Objects only accept bartering, and only those who have made massive contributions to the Qingxuan Sect are qualified to exchange for them."
Li Pingyi nodded blankly; this knowledge had long since exceeded the boundaries of his understanding...
With a trace of a smile in his eyes, Li Youdao patiently explained to Li Pingyi: "The biggest difference between Spirit Objects and spiritual plants, spiritual ores, or spiritual materials lies in their spirituality. As long as something possesses spirituality, it is a Spirit Object. That little sapling is very special; although it is only a low-grade Spirit Object, its entire body is permeated with spirituality, and its value is comparable to a high-grade one. Do you know why that is?"
"I still don't understand..."
"Think about it: is it more valuable to fish a single fish out of a Grotto-Heaven, or to bring out an entire fishpond that can continuously produce fish?"
"Of course it's the fishpond. But Dad, then why do you—"
Li Pingyi understood in an instant, then cast a meaningful look, his eyes darting toward the direction of the Qingxuan Sect's mountain gate.
Li Youdao caught on instantly, opening his mouth to explain: "Because we simply cannot keep it alive, while the Qingxuan Sect has that capability. Not only can they make it endlessly produce 'fish', but they can also protect it from being snatched away.
Although what it produces might only be ordinary spiritual plants, to the Qingxuan Sect, what it represents is no longer just the scope of a Spirit Object—it is the very foundation of a sect."
"And the most, most, most important point: that sapling is dying."
A crafty smile flashed in Li Youdao's triangular eyes as he said with a hint of amusement:
"Let the higher-ups of the Qingxuan Sect rack their brains over it. Anyway, I don't have the ability to save it. Understand?"
He put his hands behind his back, turned around, and continued:
"This opportunity is immensely beneficial to both of our families, especially that girl from the Ning family.
Her entering the inner sect this time is undoubtedly a sure thing, and she might even have hope of becoming a personal disciple.
As for me, I can also bask in your light, Pingyi, and finally have the qualification to exchange for a Spirit Object suitable for forming the Golden Core."
"Just look at how anxious your Uncle Ning has made himself."
With that, Li Youdao took out the message jade talisman.
On the message jade talisman, a person named Ning Zhiwei was sending messages incessantly:
"What are you doing?"
"You there?"
"Anyone there?"
"What on earth happened?"
"Susu's complexion didn't look right; she went straight back to the Qingxuan Sect as soon as she came out."
"A Spirit Object??????"
...