Chapter 64: A Belated Reward
The Manipulate Object Technique allowed one to use spiritual energy to manipulate objects at a distance.
Under He Song’s control, whether it was tables, chairs, or teacups, as long as they were enveloped by his spiritual energy, they could move within a ten-zhang radius as if an extension of his own body.
In the future, when manipulating artifacts, this range would likely remain the same.
For cultivators in the mid-stage of Qi Refinement Realm, spiritual energy could typically extend up to ten zhang beyond the body. Naturally, this was also their basic attack range. Only with the advancement of cultivation would the distance increase significantly.
Therefore, He Song’s ability to manipulate objects within a ten-zhang range was considered standard.
While ten zhang wasn’t a particularly far distance, it wasn’t especially short either.
This range would increase slightly upon reaching the late stage of Qi Refinement Realm, likely reaching around twenty zhang.
When breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, however, control shifted from relying on spiritual energy to using spiritual sense. At the early Foundation Establishment Realm, spiritual sense could extend approximately two li in radius.
This vast disparity meant that late-stage Qi Refinement Realm cultivators held a significant advantage over mid-stage cultivators, whether in ambush or pursuit, due to their extended reach.
As for Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, when confronted by a group of Qi Refinement Realm cultivators—even if all of them were at the late stage—they stood no chance.
Through spiritual sense, Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators could control artifacts to attack with unparalleled precision. Slaying a late-stage Qi Refinement Realm cultivator was no more challenging than squashing a chicken.
For Qi Refinement Realm cultivators, Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators within a two-li radius were essentially untouchable.
This was also why most Immortal Markets were guarded by a single Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. Their presence alone deterred evil cultivators, who dared not cause trouble within the Immortal Market and instead resorted to petty schemes outside its bounds.
The cost of deploying defensive formations was simply too high.
Patrolling teams were sufficient for areas beyond the range of the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator’s spiritual sense.
With a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator in residence, an Immortal Market remained secure, as any disturbance would invite their wrath.
Only Immortal Cities had defensive formations, though even those weren’t always activated.
That said, these ranges were merely the maximum attack distances.
In practice, even Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators rarely engaged from a distance of two li. Likewise, late-stage Qi Refinement Realm cultivators wouldn’t strike from afar, as combat required accuracy.
Apart from the Manipulate Object Technique, the second spell He Song began practicing was Stone-Splitting Finger.
Both were mid-tier spells.
Having mastered the Manipulate Object Technique in just a month, He Song anticipated a similar timeline for the Stone-Splitting Finger.
As expected, one month later:
He Song circulated his energy and pointed a finger forward.
A golden light shot out from his fingertip, striking the ground of his room directly.
The golden light vanished into the earth almost instantly, leaving only a charred hole in the floor.
He Song was certain the hole was deeper than those created by the Spirit Arrow Technique.
After all, the Spirit Arrow Technique was a minor spell meant for pest control in spirit farmlands.
The Stone-Splitting Finger, in contrast, was a mid-tier offensive spell, costing He Song a hundred spirit stones in the Spirit Techniques Pavilion.
The disparity in power was evident.
Unfortunately, living within the Immortal Market, He Song couldn’t properly test the spell’s true might.
Once he had mastered the Stone-Splitting Finger, performing it effortlessly without diminishing its power, He Song spent the rest of his time practicing his remaining high-tier spell: Earth Burrowing Technique.
The Earth Burrowing Technique was the only high-tier spell He Song had purchased.
When performed, it allowed him to traverse underground at incredible speeds, making it a crucial spell for his planned spirit farmland expansion.
However, as soon as He Song began studying the spell, he realized its profound complexity. It wasn’t something he could learn quickly.
Even so, He Song remained committed to daily practice, determined to master it as soon as possible.
Just as He Song was deeply engrossed in the Earth Burrowing Technique, an unexpected visit disrupted his peaceful routine.
Three months after He Song had returned home with the three new spells from the Spirit Techniques Pavilion, a voice called out one day:
“Daoist He, open the door! I’ve come to deliver your reward!”
The voice belonged to Zhao Lin, someone Meng Guan had introduced to He Song when he went to the Crimson Spirit Gold Mine.
Zhao Lin had been instrumental in helping He Song handle the paperwork for his new spirit farmlands, saving him considerable time each day.
However, this favor had also caused Chen Zhou to hold a grudge against He Song. As a result, He Song had sent Chen Zhou to meet his end.
Now, Zhao Lin was here claiming to bring a reward.
What reward?
Curious, He Song opened the door and welcomed Zhao Lin inside.
Over the past three years, their relationship had grown closer. Both worked in the same Spirit Herb Pavilion and had become good friends.
With his Maze Formation concealing the two formations in his home, He Song had no qualms about letting Zhao Lin in.
As He Song welcomed him, a sudden realization struck:
He remembered!
Before sending Chen Zhou to his demise, He Song had instructed Zhao Lin to remove Chen Zhou’s name from the Spirit Planter registry. At that time, Zhao Lin had remarked that Chen Zhou’s misdeeds deserved punishment and had promised to request a reward for He Song.
Three years had passed without word, and He Song had all but forgotten about it.
He assumed Zhao Lin had failed to follow through.
Yet here Zhao Lin was today, bringing a long-overdue reward.
A pleasant surprise indeed!
With this realization, He Song’s interest in Zhao Lin grew.
A reward delayed by three years had finally arrived.
What could it be?
Though curious, He Song didn’t ask immediately. Instead, he calmly welcomed Zhao Lin into his home and brewed him a pot of fine tea.
As the room filled with the fragrance of tea, He Song finally broke the silence:
“Daoist friend, about this reward—what is it all about? As a mere Spirit Planter, I don’t recall contributing anything noteworthy to the Immortal Market. How could I deserve a reward?”
Feigning ignorance came naturally to He Song.
Though he had already recalled the source of the reward, he pretended otherwise.