Ninth In the World

When Ji Ming realized that Di Jiu’s attention was fixed on the wooden cauldron, he repeated, “Even though this cauldron has been handed down for generations, it has only a symbolic meaning. This cauldron has an extremely low success rate for elixir-refining, and it rarely successfully refines an elixir at or above grade-seven. The real cauldron that I use for refining elixirs is a Dharma treasure beyond the supreme-grade level called the Yun Cauldron. That cauldron has been stolen by Wei Lun.”

“Do you know what the greatest treasure on the Cauldron Elixir Mountain is, Di Jiu?” asked Ji Ming.

“Isn’t it the Creation Cauldron?” Di Jiu asked instinctively, He had heard this long ago.

Ji Ming laughed self-derisively again. “The Creation Cauldron is a wooden cauldron. It’s actually the cauldron in front of you.”

“This is the Creation Cauldron?” Di Jiu stared blankly at the wooden cauldron before him. He could not believe that this wooden cauldron was the chief culprit behind the destruction of a large sect like the Cauldron Elixir Mountain.

“That’s right, this is the real Creation Cauldron. The reason the Cauldron Elixir Mountain is so famous is because there’s an imitation of the Creation Cauldron. Ironically, the imitation is of a much higher grade than the real Creation Cauldron, even though it is only a half-immortal tool. Many people think that the reason the Cauldron Elixir Mountain can produce so many top-notch Elixir Kings is the Creation Cauldron, but that’s not it. The real reason is that the inheritance of the alchemy Dao on the Cauldron Elixir Mountain is second to none. It’s a pity that those ignorant people attacked the Cauldron Elixir Mountain from all sides just for an imitation of this cauldron.” Even though his Principal Spirit was about to fall, Ji Ming still sounded proud as he talked about the alchemy dao inheritance of the Cauldron Elixir Mountain.

“Do you want me to pass down the Cauldron Elixir Mountain’s inheritance to someone else and hand down this Creation Cauldron to the heir, Elder?” Di Jiu asked. He would be able to help if he was asked to. In the past, Dong Youjian had also asked the same thing. However, he did not know if Dong Youjian was still around.

“No need for that,” Ji Ming said with a melancholy voice. “I’m the last disciple who wanted to restore the Cauldron Elixir Mountain to its former glory. Now that I’ve fallen, let this be the end of the Cauldron Elixir Mountain. All these things are yours now. Just help bury me on the Cauldron Elixir Mountain after I’ve fallen.”

…

Reed Island was just one of the many small islands in the Vast Tinted Ocean. The island was filled with reeds and had absolutely no trace of Spirit Qi. Surrounding it were only sea waves. There was not even a grass root with any Spirit Qi.

Not many people would be able to find this island in the vast Vast Tinted Ocean, even if they were told about it beforehand.

A flying boat arrived rapidly and landed in the middle of the island. As soon as it did, three people disembarked. Huan Mingzi from the Prophecy Pavilion was walking ahead, followed by Di Di and Tian Ku.

After more than a year, Di Di was already a Golden Core Level-Five Cultivator and Tian Ku was a Foundation Establishment Level-Three Cultivator.

“Are we going to enter reclusive cultivation here, Elder Ming?” Di Di’s Spiritual Force scanned the island once but did not find any place suitable for reclusive cultivation. There seemed to be nothing on this island other than reeds. The Spirit Qi around was so thin that it was not enough for cultivation.

“Follow me.” Huan Mingzi took out an array flag and activated it. A doorway that was only big enough for one person appeared in front of them. Traces of Spirit Qi flowed out of it.

When Di Di and Tian Ku followed Huan Mingzi inside, they immediately realized that this was a cultivation cave abode of considerable size. There were three cultivation rooms, one on either side and a bigger one in the middle.

Huan Mingzi passed the array flag in his hand to Di Di and said, “Di Di, you can cultivate here with Tian Ku. There’s a Spirit-Binding Array around. This is where I cultivated in seclusion last time. Try not to go out, even though no one should be able to find this place.”

“Yes, Elder Ming.” Di Jiu accepted the array flag, yet she hesitated for a while before saying, “Will Ah Jiu be okay?”

Huan Mingzi waved his hand. “I still understand Di Jiu a little. Normal people don’t have the ability to do anything to him. Therefore, you and Tian Ku have to stay here and improve your cultivation levels. After the True Dominion Genius Competition, more people will be looking for him. If your cultivation levels do not improve, you will put him at a disadvantageous position. It would have been best for you to stay and cultivate on the Prophecy Island. However, even I did not expect that such a huge change would occur there. I might have a hard time saving myself now. That’s why I could only bring you here for your reclusive cultivation.”

“Would they do anything to you, Elder Ming?” asked Di Di, who was still very concerned for Huan Mingzi. Without him, she and Uncle Tian would have had nowhere to go in this area.

Someone else could have joined a sect, but Ah Jiu had told her that she could not.

Huan Mingzi lowered his voice and said, “Even if they did something to me, I would still have to go to the Small Central Star to help Di Jiu. Going there alone would definitely be more dangerous for Di Jiu. The Genesis Sect might do something to him that would prevent him from entering the Small Central Star.”

Besides the Genesis Sect, there was also another sect that Huan Mingzi did not mention: the Enduring Immortal Sect. When the Small Central Star opened, Enduring Immortal Sect Master Cheng Ji would definitely come.

Di Di knelt down hurriedly. “Elder Ming, can you give a message to Ah Jiu? Tell him not to go to the Small Central Star…”

Huan Mingzi helped Di Di up with a sigh and said, “The communication pearl that allowed me to contact Di Jiu has been destroyed. Otherwise, they could have used it to find Di Jiu’s location. Besides, Di Jiu must go to the Small Central Star. If he doesn’t, he’ll lose an opportunity and the distance between him and the other geniuses will widen. A genius that’s too far behind the other geniuses is not a real genius.”

…

Ji Ming was shocked by Di Jiu’s alchemy talent. Under his guidance, in just two months, Di Jiu had turned from a level-three elixir master to a level-six elixir master able to produce grade-six elixirs. Ji Ming just occasionally reminded Di Jiu what to do.

What shocked Ji Ming even more than Di Jiu’s talent in alchemy was his top-notch Dao fire.

Ever since the creation of the Cauldron Elixir Mountain, nobody had ever possessed such a Dao fire. It was a pity that the Sect Master of the Cauldron Elixir Mountain had fallen. Otherwise, if he had met Di Jiu, he would definitely have wanted to make Di Jiu the top alchemy sage on the Cauldron Elixir Mountain.

When the first cauldron of grade-six elixirs was produced, Di Jiu was very excited. He had spent a long time studying alchemy, yet he had only been able to barely refine grade-three elixirs.

After studying with Ji Ming for two months, he could now refine grade-six elixirs, which was a big difference. Although he had never seen Ji Ming’s alchemy process, just a passing remark from Ji Ming was able to occasionally save him a few months’ efforts.

Although he could have become a level-six elixir master even without Ji Ming, he would have needed to ponder this slowly and use a large amount of top-notch spirit herbs.

The small number of spirit herbs in his Small World would only have allowed him to dream of becoming a grade-six elixir master.

“Di Jiu, your alchemy has already taken its own shape. I cannot teach you anymore. If I continued to teach you, I’d be asking you to replicate my alchemy ways. When I became a grade-nine Elixir King, I understood one thing. Every alchemy expert who’s gone down in history has had their own individual alchemy methods. If you want to make great achievements in alchemy, you need to go your own way.”

“I’m satisfied that I was able to pass down some of my alchemy knowledge before I go.” For the first time, Ji Ming felt that he had nothing more to hold onto in this life.

Although the Cauldron Elixir Mountain could not be restored with his power, he had still managed to teach an alchemy expert like Di Jiu. He was certain that Di Jiu’s alchemy level would be far stronger than his in the future. Di Jiu would definitely be able to walk his own alchemy path.

Di Jiu knelt on the floor. “Thank you for your guidance, Teacher. Without you, I don’t know how long I would have walked before reaching this level.”

Even though Ji Ming was not a master that he had officially studied under, Di Jiu still called him his Teacher, just like he had called Qian Fenghua.

When Ji Ming did not reply, Di Jiu realized that he had passed away. As Ji Ming’s Principal Spirit dissipated, he felt no more regrets. He could even give up on restoring the Cauldron Elixir Mountain. He couldn’t care less about Wei Lun’s ambush anymore.

This was one of life’s greatest pearls of wisdom. Even though Di Jiu could not do that, he felt great respect for Ji Ming.

He immediately refined a jade coffin and buried Ji Ming at the highest point of the Cauldron Elixir Mountain. He also created a tombstone, thus marking the grave of Teacher Ji Ming as his student Di Jiu.

After Ji Ming was buried, Di Jiu did not leave. Instead, he went back to the hall where he had found Ji Ming to continue studying alchemy.

Di Jiu did not have many grade-three, grade-four, grade-five and grade-six spirit herbs, only a few that were planted in the Small World. Thanks to these spirit herbs and Ji Ming’s guidance, he had been able to become a level-six elixir master.

Now, Di Jiu had more spirit herbs at and above grade-seven, which he had acquired in the Desert River Forbidden Zone. Thanks to his current alchemy knowledge and grade-seven spirit herbs, it would not be difficult for him to produce grade-seven spirit elixirs now.

As he tried to become a level-seven Elixir King, Di Jiu chose to make an Azure Coagulate Elixir. He did not make this choice just because there were three cauldrons full of spirit herbs to refine, but also because the Azure Coagulate Elixir was an entrance elixir to grade-seven elixirs that could be used for Ekayāna Tripod Cultivation.