Chapter 19: Unsparing Investment in Cultivation Resources

It takes six months for Lin Heng to advance one level in the Grandmaster realm. At this rate, it would take him approximately thirteen and a half years to reach the twenty-seventh level, the pinnacle of the Grandmaster realm.

However, in reality, it would not take nearly that long. This six-month-per-level pace reflects his current speed of tempering and transforming his physique; he is also accumulating internal energy, which will significantly reduce the time required to advance through the stages beyond the ninth level of the Grandmaster realm. Furthermore, once he reaches the ninth level, his attainment of the "Indestructible Vajra Body" will allow him to absorb and refine the essence of heaven and earth to replenish his own blood and energy much faster, further accelerating his cultivation.

Theoretically, within ten years at most, Lin Heng will be qualified to attempt a breakthrough to the Great Grandmaster realm. Including the actual time required for the breakthrough, Lin Heng will likely attain the rank of Great Grandmaster before the age of twenty-five. While over a decade to advance from Grandmaster to Great Grandmaster may seem long, in reality, this speed is quite remarkable. It is well known in the martial arts world that many Great Grandmasters require a full cycle of sixty years just to begin their journey. Lin Heng’s master, Xiao Rang, possessed excellent natural talent and, with the support of the sect, still spent fifty years of accumulated cultivation before finally achieving the Great Grandmaster realm at the age of fifty-eight. With Lin Heng’s current rate of progress, he is already considered unprecedented across the entire martial arts landscape of Lanzhou.

Lin Heng was satisfied with this pace, though his master, Xiao Rang, felt it could be even faster. Having just finished his daily practice and returned to the Kongming Hall from the cold pond, Lin Heng was preparing to wash, eat, and rest when he was called over by Xiao Rang. Upon arriving at the main hall of the Cloud Sword Palace, where Xiao Rang resided, Lin Heng saw his master pull out a large assortment of bottles and jars.

Xiao Rang began to explain: "This is Vajra Fragrant Oil. If you rub it over your entire body during practice, it will not only temper your skin, flesh, tendons, and bones to accelerate the growth of your physique, but also strengthen the Indestructible Vajra Body you will attain at the ninth level. I have prepared one hundred catties for you; it should be enough to last until you reach the ninth level and your physique is fully tempered."

Following this, Xiao Rang produced a jade bottle and continued: "These are Snow Heart Pills, refined from various spiritual herbs that clear the mind and stabilize the spirit. They nourish the psyche and reduce the influence of inner demons. Although it is still early for you to become a Great Grandmaster, preparing now should ensure that when you reach the pinnacle of the Grandmaster realm, you will be ready to soar directly into the Great Grandmaster state."

"There are ten pills in this bottle, Heng'er. Keep them safe; I will give you more once I have finished refining them." He paused and pointed to three jade boxes nearby: "These are the Clearing Heart Lotus, the Five-Element Ganoderma, and the Blood Pear. All are rare heavenly treasures that can temper the physique and increase blood energy. Consume them now, and the sect will provide you with more as we collect them."

"Besides these, I am currently collecting materials to refine Essence Pills for you, which can directly increase your internal power. By the time you reach the ninth level of the Grandmaster realm, they should be ready, allowing for a seamless transition."

It was clear that Xiao Rang had spent the day preparing these resources for Lin Heng—or perhaps he had been planning this for a long time to have so much available at once.

"While faster cultivation is a good thing, Master, I still feel this is a bit extravagant," Lin Heng remarked objectively as he gazed at the resources.

Vajra Fragrant Oil was a specialty product developed by an ancient martial arts sanctuary known as the Vajra Temple; it was the finest secret medicine for assisting in Grandmaster-level cultivation. After that ancient sanctuary was destroyed by an evil faction, many of its secret techniques and medicines were scattered throughout the world, and the recipe for this oil was among them. To Lin Heng's knowledge, the cost of producing one catty of Vajra Fragrant Oil was fifty thousand taels of silver; one hundred catties amounted to five million taels. He had not expected the Cloud Sword Palace to possess the secret recipe, let alone for his master to have prepared such a vast quantity for him.

The Snow Heart Pills were meant for Grandmaster-level martial artists to help accumulate spiritual strength for the breakthrough to the Great Grandmaster level. While not astronomically priced, the cost of a single pill was thirty-five hundred taels of silver. Xiao Rang intended for Lin Heng to take one every day throughout his entire Grandmaster journey. At one pill per day, the cost by the time he reached the Great Grandmaster level could easily reach millions, if not tens of millions, of taels.

As for the three heavenly treasures, they were worth even more. Unlike ordinary spiritual herbs, these treasures not only provided standard benefits but also improved an artist's affinity with the essence of heaven and earth, permanently increasing the speed of cultivation. Each piece was worth no less than five hundred thousand taels of silver. Xiao Rang had given him three at once and promised priority for any future ones collected. Finally, there were the Essence Pills, each costing at least five hundred thousand taels to produce.

All these expenses combined represented a total disregard for cost. Xiao Rang, however, was unfazed by Lin Heng’s observation. "The Great Grandmaster realm involves cultivating one's state of mind. Because it touches upon the profound and mysterious realm of the spirit, progress depends entirely on one's own insight and talent. That is why it takes an unknown amount of time to ascend each level within the Great Grandmaster realm."

"For you, Heng'er, to achieve the multiple sublimations of mind required to reach the Heavenly Human realm—even with your talent—is no simple task. No amount of preparation is too much for this."

"Completing your Grandmaster-level cultivation as soon as possible will grant you more time to strive for the Heavenly Human realm."

In the past, if Xiao Rang had bestowed such resources upon Lin Heng, not only would the sect elders have disagreed, but he himself would have hesitated, wondering if Lin Heng could live up to such expectations. But now, with Lin Heng having broken through to the Grandmaster realm at under ten years of age, he was destined to reach the Heavenly Human realm. Every investment was worth it. Once Lin Heng attained that realm—a level of power that was a legend in the martial arts world—the Cloud Sword Palace would earn back every cent of this investment many times over.

"Then I thank you, Master, and the sect for your cultivation. This disciple will practice diligently and will not fail your expectations." Lin Heng did not feign modesty; he accepted the resources provided by Xiao Rang. Reaching the Heavenly Human realm as quickly as possible was the best way he could repay the sect.

"Keep the Vajra Fragrant Oil and the Snow Heart Pills for your daily practice, but refine these three heavenly treasures now," Xiao Rang said with a smile as he watched Lin Heng accept the offering.