130: Chapter 130 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (Seventy-Eight)

Seeing the last line of text, the white-haired deacon's pupils constricted sharply, and the token in his hand nearly fell to the ground.

He raised his head, his gaze toward Chu Shi having completely changed, now carrying a trace of incredulous shock.

"Senior... Senior Brother Chu." The white-haired deacon's voice was trembling slightly.

"These one thousand low-grade Origin Stones are fine; although precious, I can gather them for you right here. It is just that this Profound-grade high-tier treasure, stored in the Internal Affairs Hall's treasury, requires the rotating elder's personal signature to be opened."

He paused, then asked cautiously, "Would you like me to go report this to the rotating elder right now?"

Chu Shi was also slightly surprised looking at the rewards on the light screen. Is this thing so precious? It even requires a Silver Marrow Realm elder's signature.

He had originally thought that Lieyang Peak, with its core of artifact refining heritage, would find various magical artifacts and treasures to be the least valuable items. After all, the old geezer had casually given him two at the Apprenticeship Ceremony.

However, after a moment of contemplation, Chu Shi shook his head. "No need." He said indifferently, "I won't claim the treasure for now; we can talk about it later. Just give me the Origin Stones and the Scripture Pavilion access for now."

"Okay, okay." The white-haired deacon nodded hurriedly. He picked up the token and operated the formation.

He saw the two items on the light screen, "One Thousand Low-Grade Origin Stones" and "Permanent Access to the Second Floor of the Sect's Scripture Pavilion," slowly turn gray and get crossed out.

After finishing all this, the white-haired deacon took a sky-blue jade tablet from under the counter and handed it to Chu Shi.

"Senior Brother Chu, this is the access jade tablet for the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion." The white-haired deacon explained. "When the time comes, you can take this jade tablet and go directly to our Lieyang Peak's Scripture Pavilion without needing to go to the sect's main peak. Inheritances below the Earth-grade are common to all peaks; the first floor contains Yellow-grade inheritances, and the second floor contains Profound-grade inheritances."

Chu Shi nodded and took the jade tablet. It felt warm and smooth in his hand, with the words "Scripture Pavilion Second Floor" engraved on it in seal script.

Afterward, the white-haired deacon picked up a message transmission jade talisman and whispered a few words into it. About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn later...

A young deacon dressed in white martial attire walked over, carrying a heavy wooden box. "Deacon Wu, the Origin Stones you requested." The young deacon placed the wooden box on the counter and said respectfully.

The white-haired deacon nodded, signaling the young deacon to withdraw. Afterward, he opened the wooden box and pushed it in front of Chu Shi. "Senior Brother Chu, please count them. There are one thousand low-grade Origin Stones in total, not a single one missing."

Chu Shi looked down. The wooden box was lined with red brocade, and on it were neatly arranged one thousand thumb-sized, diamond-shaped crystals.

The crystals were pale gold throughout, crystal clear, with what seemed to be faint golden mist slowly circulating inside. A pure aura of metal emanated from the crystals, refreshing both body and mind.

Chu Shi casually picked one up and weighed it in his hand. It had good weight, and the metal aura was very pure. He closed the wooden box and stored it in his storage bag. "Many thanks."

Chu Shi nodded at the white-haired deacon and turned to walk out of the Internal Affairs Hall. The morning sun had fully risen, and golden sunlight pierced through the morning mist, spilling onto the earth.

Chu Shi continued walking down the mountain path, intending to visit a few friends. He first crossed the Chaoyang Bridge and went to Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan's residence on Zhengyang Peak.

However, the gate of Yuanlan Courtyard was tightly shut, and a note reading "In seclusion, do not disturb" was pasted on the door, the ink still fresh. Chu Shi raised an eyebrow and turned to visit Princess Xiao Xiao on Luoxia Peak.

However, Luoxia Peak, being composed entirely of female disciples, was not easy to enter. Fortunately, Chu Shi now had some face, and he easily found an Inner Sect Disciple to help him relay the message.

Alas, it was the exact same situation. Princess Xiao Xiao's bamboo building was locked from the inside, the window lattices tightly shut, and it similarly hung a sign indicating seclusion.

Chu Shi felt somewhat helpless. What is going on with these siblings? After pondering for a moment, he returned to Lieyang Peak and went to Wang Teng's cave dwelling. The result was the same.

Chu Shi stood on the mountain path, gazing at the distant, mist-shrouded peaks, his brows slightly furrowed. This is too coincidental.

His Apprenticeship Ceremony had just ended, and everyone had chosen to go into seclusion simultaneously. Could it be that they all gained some insight from sparring with others at the ceremony?

He thought about it, but didn't take it too much to heart. The path of martial arts is all about racing against time; going into seclusion immediately upon gaining insight is the most normal thing in the world.

Chu Shi shook his head and turned back to his own residence, Tingyang Courtyard. For the next two days, he did not go out again.

He took out the low-grade Origin Stones he had just obtained, held them in his hands, and began to circulate the "Flaming Sun Body Casting Art" to cultivate. The pure metal aura surged into his body through his palms, fusing with his own true energy, and the true energy within his body grew at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In two days, he increased the true energy within his body from thirty-three wisps to thirty-eight wisps. His Iron Skin transformation progress also slowly increased to three percent.

Chu Shi sighed slightly; cultivation in the Iron Skin Realm is truly a slow and grinding process. On the morning of the fourth day.

Chu Shi arrived at the summit hall on time. The hall was still empty, and sunlight spilled down from the skylights in the dome, casting mottled light and shadows on the ground.

Peak Master Lieyang sat in the main seat, still wearing that same red-gold robe, toying with an ancient-looking jade pendant in his hand. Standing below him was a familiar figure. Li Hao.

When Chu Shi saw Li Hao, his footsteps suddenly stopped, and his pupils constricted slightly. He could clearly feel that the aura on Li Hao had already reached the peak of the Stone Skin Realm. That force of blood and energy, condensed to the extreme, was almost on the verge of bursting out of his body.

Three days ago, when the Apprenticeship Ceremony ended, Li Hao was only at the mid-stage of the Stone Skin Realm. In just three days, he charged directly from the mid-stage to the peak? This speed is simply inconceivable.

Chu Shi's gaze shifted between Li Hao and Peak Master Lieyang, and he roughly understood the situation. It seems that family letter really did work. This master of his, Li Hao's Great-Granduncle Li, had ultimately accepted this junior of the Li family.

"You've come." Peak Master Lieyang lifted his eyelids, his voice calm and ripple-free. "Disciple Chu Shi greets Master." Chu Shi collected his thoughts and bowed respectfully.

Li Hao also turned his head and grinned at Chu Shi, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. However, there was an undisguisable trace of fatigue in his smile; clearly, he had not had an easy time over these past three days.

"Looking at your expression, you're curious about how he made such rapid progress?" Peak Master Lieyang pointed at Li Hao, his tone carrying a hint of imperceptible amusement.

Chu Shi did not deny it and nodded. "He is the most outstanding sprout of the Li family's current generation, and his foundation was good to begin with." Peak Master Lieyang said indifferently. "I just helped him dissolve the blood and energy that had accumulated in his body."

Upon hearing this, Chu Shi rolled his eyes internally. Helping dissolve blood and energy is enough to charge from mid-stage to peak in three days? Who is he trying to fool? However, he maintained a respectful expression on his face and did not say anything more.

"I called you two here because there is something I want to tell you." Peak Master Lieyang put away his smile, his expression becoming serious. "Our Lieyang Peak's secret ground, the Iron Melting Cave, will open at noon today. You two will go participate together in a while."

"Iron Melting Cave?" Chu Shi was stunned for a moment; this was the first time he had heard this name.