A moment later, a Jade Scroll shimmering with a treasured light was placed before Ling Changqing. This was the first volume of the Profound Truth Black Water Scripture.
Then there was another Jade Scroll, a gift from the Ling Family, titled "Records of All Heavens." The contents within were extensive and varied, introducing all sorts of aspects of this vast and magnificent world.
It detailed the major continents and oceans, the distribution of the many important powers in the Human Race's Cultivation Realm, an overview of the various intelligent races, a catalog of common Cultivation Method Scriptures and Cultivation Resources, and the major events that had occurred throughout the long river of history.
This kind of common information wasn't hard to come by, and most older Cultivators would know much of it. Of course, it was still very valuable to the current Ling Changqing.
As for the three thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones, Ling Changqing had no intention of holding onto them. He immediately exchanged them for one hundred Profound Yin Blood Essence Pills at a price of twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones each.
This was an essential auxiliary Elixir for cultivating the Profound Truth Black Water Scripture. It would guarantee that his efforts would yield twice the results with half the work, allowing him to get started as quickly as possible.
"...At the beginning, middle, and end of each month, an Elder will give a lecture in the family's Inheritance Hall. If you encounter any difficult bottlenecks while practicing your Cultivation Technique, you can go and listen!"
Lingyun Peak explained patiently.
"Yes, I understand."
Ling Changqing replied. He knew he could also ask the Elder questions during the lecture. Of course, it wasn't free. Each session would cost at least ten Spirit Stones.
Beside them, Tang Qiu Yao said with a sweet smile, "You're now an official member of the Ling Family. In the future, should the family face external conflicts, you, like all other Ling Family members, must accept the commands and deployments of the family's upper echelons and fight for the family's interests!"
Contributing to the family during wartime was an additional condition for borrowing resources. Of course, if one made great contributions, the family's upper echelons wouldn't be stingy with rewards.
"Alright, I understand."
Ling Changqing said, "I plan to enter Cultivation in Seclusion here for a month. Is that permissible?"
According to the rules, he couldn't possibly be allowed to take the Profound Truth Black Water Scripture with him, so his only choice was to stay here to practice it.
Lingyun Peak nodded. "The small courtyards here for Cultivation in Seclusion have a good environment. There are Arrays to supplement Spiritual Qi, and free meals are provided. Since you're new here, I'll give you a discount. Three hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones for a month."
'The price is indeed a bit outrageous.' Still, Ling Changqing gritted his teeth and agreed. 'This is already the best Cultivation Method Scripture I can get my hands on right now.'
'For the sake of a smooth path in the future, now is not the time to be stingy.'
Beside them, Tang Qiu Yao's eyes flickered, and she seemed to want to speak but held her tongue.
'Forget it. This is a promising talent that Ling Zifeng discovered. It would be a bit unkind to poach him right now.'
'Besides, it's still unclear how this young man will perform in the future or how far he'll actually go. It's better to wait and see.'
With that thought, Tang Qiu Yao didn't say anything more.
Immediately, a Maid came to lead Ling Changqing from the quiet room. After passing through several corridors and making many turns, they entered a small, private courtyard.
The Maid used the Jade Token in her hand to open the gate, letting Ling Changqing enter. Then, she activated the numerous Array Restrictions within, including those for Gathering Spirit, Defense, Early Warning, and Shielding.
"Please keep this Jade Token safe, Young Master. You can use it to enter and exit the courtyard. Your daily meals will be delivered to your door..."
The Maid handed the Jade Token to Ling Changqing and softly explained how to use it. She found herself unconsciously fond of this uncommonly handsome, blue-robed youth with his striking brows, and thus couldn't help but give him a few extra reminders.
"Thank you for your trouble."
Ling Changqing nodded, casually handing her two stalks of Yunzhu Grass as a reward. 'Anyway, there are plenty of these at the bottom of the sea. They aren't hard for me to come by.'
Completely satisfied, the Maid took her leave. Ling Changqing then sealed the courtyard and walked into the inner room.
The place was not only exquisitely and neatly arranged, but it also had everything one could need: a bedroom, a study, a bathroom, and a Cultivation Chamber. Most importantly, the Spiritual Qi in the air was exceptionally abundant.
Inside the Cultivation Chamber, a White Jade Cloud Bed sat in the center of the room. In a corner, precious incense burned within a Purple Copper Furnace.
A faint fragrance filled the room, making one feel refreshed and clearing away all fatigue.
Ling Changqing didn't delay. He immediately sat down on the Cloud Bed and took out an exquisite Jade Box from his Storage Pouch.
Inside the Jade Box were ten neatly arranged Azure Jade Pill Bottles. Each bottle contained ten fingertip-sized, fragrant, pale-azure Elixirs.
These were the Profound Yin Blood Essence Pills.
Ling Changqing picked up a Pill Bottle, poured out one Profound Yin Blood Essence Pill, and consumed it. Then, he took out the Jade Scroll that recorded the Profound Truth Black Water Scripture and began to study it.
In just a few moments, Ling Changqing had memorized the cultivation technique's incantations, which were several thousand characters long. He immediately began to circulate his energy, his qi and blood flowing through the meridians and organs of his entire body as he gradually refined the medicinal power of the Elixir.
Soon, Ling Changqing entered a deep state of enlightenment, forgetting both himself and the world around him.
After a day and a night, when Ling Changqing opened his eyes again, he found that he had already achieved initial mastery of the Profound Truth Black Water Scripture.
'An eidetic memory and the ability to enter a deep state of enlightenment at will—these were some of the benefits of possessing the Era Star Palace.'
'Moreover, the efficiency of cultivating in this environment so rich with Spiritual Qi is truly incredible. A single day here is equivalent to six or seven days of Cultivation on the Sea Boat.'
In his sea of consciousness, a message carrying a profound Dao Rhyme silently appeared:
[Master of the Era Star Palace: Ling Changqing]
[Bone Age: 14]
[Cultivation: Qi Cultivation 3rd Layer]
[Destiny: 15+87]
[Blessed Fortune: 15+64]
[Physique: 11]
[Root Bone: 10]
[Comprehension: 11]
[Divine Soul: 15]
[Primary Cultivation Technique: Profound Truth Black Water Scripture (1st Floor) 113/5000]
[Spirit Root: Bottom Rank Character, Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth]
[Noble: Ling Zifeng / Tang Qiu Yao]
Compared to the last time he checked, none of his physical attributes had changed, and his Spirit Root Level was no exception.
However, thanks to his new Primary Cultivation Technique, the total amount and purity of the Spiritual Power within Ling Changqing's body had slightly increased.
'As expected. I knew that even at the same Cultivation Level, the strength of those from the Ling Family's Direct Lineage is significantly greater than that of the struggling Loose Cultivators outside...'
Ling Changqing mused silently. 'The gap in Cultivation Technique Grade creates a ridiculously large gap in strength. It's truly the difference between heaven and earth.'
According to the "Records of All Heavens," the Cultivation Method Scriptures of this world are divided into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Each grade is further divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower Ranks.
Although the Profound Truth Black Water Scripture was the Ling Family's Clan's Foundation Technique and was said to allow one to cultivate to the Golden Core Great Perfection realm, it was still only considered a Middle Grade Yellow Level technique.
As for higher-grade Cultivation Method Scriptures, especially the legendary Celestial-level Techniques, those could only be found within more powerful organizations, such as super-sects or Immortal Sacred Lands.
The first volume of the Profound Truth Black Water Scripture that Ling Changqing now possessed could guarantee his smooth Cultivation up to the Qi Cultivation Great Perfection realm, provided that his Cultivation Resources could keep up.
'Forget it. I shouldn't think about things that are too far off. I need to focus on the path directly before me...'
Ling Changqing thought to himself. 'Although the Ling Family can't be considered a powerful force in the context of this vast and magnificent world, to my current self, it's an insurmountable mountain.'
'So, I must eat my meal one bite at a time and walk my path one step at a time. I have to avoid being overly ambitious.'
His mind made up, Ling Changqing slowly withdrew his technique, got off the bed, and walked out of the Cultivation Chamber.
Outside in the courtyard, the meal had already been placed in its designated spot by a Maid. It was held within an exquisite, properly sealed Golden Silk Cloud Sandalwood food box.
Ling Changqing picked up the three large food boxes, walked back into the room, and placed them on the table. As he opened them, an enticing aroma immediately wafted out.
The food boxes were enchanted with minor Magic for heat preservation, dust-repelling, and freshness, ensuring that the taste and texture of the Spirit Rice and Demon Beast Meat inside wouldn't be affected by being left out for too long.
A small bucket of Spirit Rice, plus a basin of Silver-Whiskered Snowflake Fish Meat—the portions were generous. There was also a basin of Jade Mushroom Soup meticulously prepared from various Spirit Medicines and Spiritual Herbs, as well as a pot of Spirit Wine.
The food boxes came with gold-inlaid, jade-encrusted utensils. Ling Changqing unhurriedly served himself a bowl of Spirit Rice, took a bite, and nodded to himself in approval.
'Compared to the low-quality Spirit Rice I ate on the Sea Boat, the flavor of this rice is clearly much better.'
And the Silver-Whiskered Snowflake Fish was a genuine Rank One Demon Beast; ordinary low-level Cultivators would normally never have the chance to enjoy such a delicacy.
"It's as easy to go from frugal to lavish as it is to enter water, but as hard to go from lavish to frugal as it is to ascend to the heavens..."
Ling Changqing muttered to himself as he picked up his utensils and began to feast. The benefits to a Cultivator of eating such high-quality ingredients for every meal were self-evident.
Of course, the best choice would be to eat various Elixirs like meals, as one's Cultivation would increase even faster that way. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Cultivators could not afford such a luxury.
A quarter of an hour later, Ling Changqing had finished all the food. He placed the utensils and food boxes back in their original spot, where a Maid would naturally come to collect them later.
After wandering around the courtyard for a moment, Ling Changqing returned to the Cultivation Chamber and resumed his training.
'This month is precious. I can't afford to waste a single moment of it.'