Going into the opportunity of Yanyo Hanying it was the same as before as I watched from Yanyo Hanying's POV.
As she went on a small journey to the back end of the Wood Branch of the Sect near the Herb Graveyard, where all the dead herbs that couldn't reach maturity were thrown to feed the Yin and Death-aligned herbs and treasures.
There she began working, tending to the feeds of the deathly herbs with her already somewhat pale skin turning an unhealthy pale tone as the deathly aura clung to her life force from all the herbs in the area.
She worked thrice as long as any other disciple, with her working from sun up to sun down with her taking a deep breath as the moon began glowing overhead and she prepared to leave after a hard day's work.
Then as purest moonlight came down upon the deathly field's she saw from within one of nearby small mountains, a glow hitting her eye directly from some tiny hole in the mountain.
She swiftly investigated the hole curiously in the mountain that was glowing with purest moonlight, only to find a great Natural Treasure within! A pool of Yin and Yang Mountain Milk swirling together in perfect harmony!
From endless death being fed to the Yin attributed herbs came life that bloomed in violent opposition that fed from the death and yin in a Scarlet Toad Lingzhi that grew within the pool of Yin/Yang Mountain Milk.
With that pool of Yin/Yang Mountain Milk, Yanyo Hanying's future as a Foundation Establishment cultivator would be cleared of all bottlenecks with her being able to form an upper-grade Golden Core whose only issue preventing her from making a Perfect grade core.
Was the fact that she was ignorant of the two extra foundation levels she skipped due to that ignorance.
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Coming out of the trance from that vision, I knew that Yanyo Hanying would only find the treasure in the next week so I had some time to get settled before I could 'find' that treasure and with it I could easily use my acupuncture technique to clean out the rest of my Meridans!
This means I would be able to ram road through the rest of filling my Meridans and getting to Foundation Establishment stage with the help of the Yin/Yang Mountain Milk. The only issue I would have, would be properly in filling my Meridians with Qi over a bit of time.
"Hello, senior sister. My name is Jake Bariss" I spoke bowing my head slightly to Yanyo Hanying who gave a small smile with her hand gently landing on my shoulders with her saying as she guided me back up out of the bow.
"I see my newest younger martial brother has good manners at least. Come, we have quite a walk to Wood Mountain, and I have much to explain." Yanyo Hanying said with that same smile.
I silently followed behind her and we left the large hall with her asking gently. "I see you have gone through the Sword Trial, do you have any wounds or any other troubles, little brother?"
I shook my head and said respectfully and humbly. "I am unharmed, I treated each monster within the dungeon as a foe needing prep time and slayed them without putting myself in too much risk via sword and spell."
Yanyo Hanying gave a soft hum before she spoke in a lighter tone. "That is good to hear. The martial style of the Wood Branch is one of patience. Like a tree burrowing it's roots into a mountain, it will shatter it's foes over time and safety while devouring the foe's strength."
"So forgive me if this is impertinent. But is there any alchemists looking for assistants, or are there any rules for working in the herb fields?" I asked curiously.
"Oh? A good honest young man who is willing to get straight to the fields? You haven't even looked into the Wood Branch's Nascent Soul cultivation manual which will help you grow herbs and get a feedback of spiritual energy." Yanyo Hanying spoke with a slightly teasing voice.
And that teasing voice was enhanced with her beauty and the strong caring big sister energy she carried in her every step.
I coughed as I was in a bit of a hurry to get to the Yin/Yang Mountain Milk pool to say nothing of the Scarlet Toad Lingzhi which was a high-grade herb that would help refine my body a good deal even if I just consumed it raw.
"Apologizes senior sister. I just... I came from the mortal world, and this is just so new. And after seeing a powerful demon, I just want to get as strong as I can now." I said honestly and Yanyo Hanying went quiet for a moment.
Until she broke the silence with her saying quietly and with empathy. "I understand Jake Bariss, now see how the Wood Mountain is covered in tree's even up to the peak? The tree's are all treasure tree's all of them. With the sea of treasure tree's providing the sect with treasure fruit's herbs, and wood to be used in all sorts of professions." She explained.
And she continued explaining about the wonder of the Wood branch of the Sect saying how it fed the Sect's endless need for lower and medium-quality materials, herbs, and treasures without fail for the past thirty-seven thousand years.
"The Branch Master however is a bit of... A funny man, his name is Yao Ghingzhi and he is the Sect's only Saint tier Alchemist, Artifact Refiner, and Blacksmith. But he is noted for very much being a fan of good wine with him liking to take a disguise to join the branch's elders and disciples in various inn's and restaurants." Yanyo Hanying spoke with amusement.
"Have you met him?" I asked curiously as I knew tangentially that Saint's had a lifespan well above a Nascent Soul's in having a lifespan in the range's of a few thousand years without taking any special pills or treasures.
A snicker of amusement rang out from Yanyo Hanying with her covering her mouth with her long sleeves from her green robe as she answered. "Oh yes I have. I have met him twice in fact. The first time, I was working in the herb fields and he gave me some very impactful advice for my cultivation."
"And the second time, I was presenting a tithe of pills to an elder for the resources I took for my alchemy. And he was wearing this... Most unflattering tiger costume of some sort, and I couldn't even take him seriously as he pointed out the faults in my alchemy haha." She giggled.
I shook my head and said with amusement. "Well, I am glad the Mountain Master has a sense of humor at least. Anyway, so as a newcomer with only a single filled Meridan. What do you suggest I do?"
She gave a soft hum before saying frankly. "You were obviously recruited for your innate potential and rather forcibly I imagine due to the fact you weren't recruited during the normal Sect Recruitment drives. So you just need to gather information, power, and resources without making any waves young man."
I could feel Yanyo Hanying's brown eye's peirce me from the side as she said calmly. "You just keep your head down, and don't cause any waves in the Wood Branch and it will be smooth sailing for you."
Brushing a hand across my hair I said a bit sheepishly. "I mean that goes without saying. But I meant more especially, are there rules to getting into the library or limits?"
Yanyo Hanying helpfully explained that as a Wood Branch outer-sect disciple. The first two layer's of the Library including the Branch's Nascent Soul cultivation technique was open to me. However, there was the caveat that in taking the cultivation technique. I would need to swear a Dao Oath not to share or discuss it outside of the Branch.
Which for a stable path to Nascent Soul that gave a human being almost a thousand years of lifespan at least. That was a fair demand to make especially with the technique being a very gentle technique that could be altered with high understanding of it.
I especially wanted the Cultivation Manual which was called the Manifesting World Tree Technique for the express purpose of it being a cheat for me as it would allow me to heavily boost the speed of the herbs growing in my internal soul space!
Besides that, she also explained that with how the Wood Branch was so focused on herb care, growth, and production. That the first couple of levels of the Wood Branch's Library had plenty of books on getting started in Alchemy itself.
After a good half an hour of walking, we entered the territory of the offical Wood Mountain's territory and I could literally feel the spiritual energy in the air ever so slightly change in both depth and 'taste' with Yanyo Hanying helpfully saying.
"With all the natural treasures within the Wood Branch. We, wood path cultivators cultivate with three times the reward for the same amount of effort while within the Treasure Tree Sea's range of influence!" She said proudly.
Then she said more firmly. "Now, come with me Jake Bariss. With you being a new disciple from the mortal world. I will take you to the newer apartments in the Outer Sect."
So she did so and now I was seeing more people with the green lined robes of the Wood Branch of the Five Elements Sword Sect, with several Outer Sect disciples bowing towards Yanyo Hanying respectfully before nodding to me.
"The Wood Branch especially prides itself on it's unity Jake. The Mountain Master says that 'A forest of intertwined roots and tree's can withstand any storm whereas a single tree that can withstand any storm will only attract the heavens punishment."
I nodded in understanding before I asked with a wry smile. "So if I run into a treasure when I am on an adventure with fellow Branch members. What happens then?"
Yanyo Hanying stepped into my path making me stop with her looking me dead in the eye as she spoke. "If your efforts alone found it. Then you may claim it without shame, if you as a group found it. Then return the treasure to the Sect and split the Sect points evenly with your team."
There was a pause before she said quietly. "Is what I would like to say. But the best treasures can make monsters out of even saints and bhudda's."
We were both quiet for a moment as she led me through the roads that crisscrossed through the Treasure Forest that she said was almost alive and could possibly become sentient itself in the next couple ten thousand years if it's upkeep was maintained.
But as we reached the living area of the Outer Sect disciple's my lips twitched as I saw literal typical apartment buildings having been created out of giant still living tree's.
"Now here is your warded key Jake. The rules for Outer Sect disciples are simple. No alchemy inside your apartment, and if you still manage to burn down an apartment block you will be whipped from a willow wand unless someone dies in the resulting fire." Yanyo Hanying spoke with humor.
I nodded taking the key from her and going to my apartment, I unlocked it and then put down my stuff on the nearby table next to the door and headed back to Yanyo Hanying who was patiently waiting for me.
"Come along Jake, let us go to the library and then I will show you to the Wood Branch's market so you can at least make sure you don't starve haha." She joked with a small giggle escaping her.
"I am not so hopeless senior sister." I said with a wry smile as I followed the beauty and it seems the other disciples who waved at her and bowed to her, also knew she was escorting me around so we weren't truly bothered.
After... Another half an hour of damned walking, we reached the Wood Branch's library which was a fucking massive tree that was seemingly hollowed out with several smaller tree's that hosted other buildings within them branching off at levels above us.
"So... How many floor's is the library?" I asked looking up at the giant tree that was actually a library in disguise.
Yanyo Hanying hummed and said honestly. "As a Foundation Establishment cultivator and alchemist, I only have been allowed to the fifth floor due to my status as an alchemist. I have no idea how many floor's it has though Jake."
"Now that we are here at the library now Jake. I am to give you this identity tablet. It will bind to your bloodline, and thus even if someone steals it off your corpse. They can't use the credit's within it." She explained calmly as she handed me a small wooden circular plate me.
Taking in the wooden plate, I saw a number of runes across it and for a moment I wondered if this was a trap or something... But I just shrugged and using one of my silver needles I used for acupuncture I poked a bleeding hole into my finger before tapping said finger onto the medal.
And the medal glowed briefly before Yanyo Hanying said. "Good! Now come with me, you wanted to register and use the Manifesting World Tree technique right?"
I nodded and added. "Yes I do. Again, thank you for the guidance you shared Senior Sister."
And she gave a small smile before saying calmly. "It is indeed an effort on my part. But helping my juniors also results in you helping me in the future hopefully. Now let's get to it."
She led me to the front of the library where I had to pass over my identity tablet to an old male Deacon of the Sect who was a Peak Golden Core who was in charge of watching the front of the library and then with Yanyo Hanying telling him I was taking the Branch's main technique he nodded and said.
"Very well Yanyo Hanying. You can wait outside in the waiting room. He will only need to recite the oath and memorizing the technique won't take long with the help of the Stele of course." The Deacon spoke with a deep voice.
He then looked to me and said simply. "Come with me young man."
I followed the old man who was clearly retired from the hectic cultivation life with how he was working as a guard for the library and he brought me to a side room just inside of the massive library and he said.
"The Comprehension Stele is just down those stairs behind the curtain. Go on ahead down there, and after you learn the cultivation art. I will have you recite the Dao Oath."
I nodded and without any fuss went past the curtain and down the stairs with the stair way being light up with modern lights and I raised an eyebrow as a large stone platform was in the center of the room with a painted arrow leading right to in front of the stele where I was supposed to stand I guess?
So I walked to where the large yellow painted arrow was pointing and as my eyes took in the platform I realized what he truly meant about it being a Comprehension Stele.
'So it just mentally downloads it into our minds directly with a damned glance! Now that's just overbearing!' I thought with my head hurting obviously as a fairly powerful cultivation manual/mantra and it's own resulting built in spell's entered my mind.
The, Manifesting World Tree, technique was rather similar to my Everburning Tree of Transcendence Technique but instead of using Wood to feed Fire, and the resulting ashes and life feeding the Wood in a never ending loop.
The Manifesting World Tree Technique was monofocused on growth of Wood energy within the user. With the technique forming loops with spirit herbs so that as I fed spritual energy to them to enchance their growth. The herbs and natural treasures would naturally send herbal energy back into me.
With the built in spell of the Manifesting World Tree being tge [Blade Tree Birth] nurturing Sword/Saber spell where I would grow a living tree with my blood in the shape of a sword/saber that would grow to perfectly suit me and match my bodies refinement level and my cultivation level.
I blinked spots from my eye's as I awoke from the slight stupor from the mental download... "Well that was certainly something." I groaned as I rubbed my aching head.
But inwardly I was certainly excited, as although growing heavenly herbs in bare months instead of the normal years in my farming space was going to be useful. If I could cut it down even more and enchance my cultivation speed that was perfect!
As the main cultivation aspect of the World Manifesting Tree technique was basically the same as my Everburning Tree of Transcendence Technique in turning my Wood spirit root into a powerful natural treasure inside of myself. But the technique I already had was better in the direction it went obviously.
"Jake Bariss, come up her to swear the Dao Oath." The Deacon spoke calmly with his voice ringing out directly into my ear despite him being upstairs and a good ways away from me.
I obviously headed back up to the Deacon and he spoke slowly and calmly. "It's good to see you aren't so weak minded that your brain isn't leaking out of your nose... Now a Dao Oath is you saying thus. I 'insert name here' hereby swear to the Heaven's that I shall not share the World Manifesting Tree technique to outsiders, nor discuss it's particulars outside of fellow members of the Wood Branch."
I took a deep breath and then recited the oath as he said it. " I, Jake Bariss hereby swear to the Heaven's that I shall not share the World Manifesting Tree technique to outsiders, nor discuss it's particulars outside of fellow members of the Wood Branch."
And the moment I finished speaking I shuddered as it felt like lightning went off in my own soul. And I saw across my hands were gleaming bloody red chains that appeared over my flesh before quickly fading away.
"Good, now head along young man." The Deacon said with a small smile at seeing me flexing my hand to see if those 'heavenly' chains would return.
Startled at his words I blinked and I said as I moved to do so. "Thank you for the guidance Deacon. Please excuse me then."
And I made my way out of the front of the library while giving the internal a quick glance as I hungrily looked at several people who had green Halo's and I even saw someone with a blue one!
But I was stopped from looking into the blue halo as Yanyo Hanying got my attention by pulling on my robe around my elbow and saying with some impatience. "Come on Jake, we must head to the market. And then I have to go speak to an elder after I am done escorting you."
"Ok ok Senior Sister, I am following you." I said with some humor as she pouted at my nonchalance before brightening and saying mischeviously.
"I hope you didn't bother to bring any mortal silver haha. The Market only trades in gold, spirit stones, and bartering!" She said smugly.
I shrugged and said with a small smile. "I am not in a rush to make any big purchases. I after all, still need to get my feet underneath me."
And Yanyo Hanying gave me an approving smile before we set off on another long walk to head to the Wood Branch Market.