However, because the "Spring Rain Transformation" skill was considered low-tier and likely consumed lifespan to upgrade, with the lifespan cost unlikely to exceed one year, Ding Yun specifically recalled a decent, yet never-practiced skill from her memory—a Water Condensation Technique with an extremely low floor and an incredibly high ceiling.
The lower limit of this technique was only to condense clear water.
The upper limit, however, was to condense the divine water of the three lights.
The limitations lay in one's own cultivation and proficiency.
Given the low threshold of the Water Condensation Technique, Ding Yun encountered no difficulty in practicing it. Within a short time, she achieved basic proficiency and could condense clear water. A while later, she even managed to condense spirit water imbued with spiritual energy.
[Host: Liu Yan (Ding Yun)
Lifespan: 81 (Deviated from Qi Deviation, Origin Damaged)
Cultivation Technique: Water-Wood Art, Twelfth Layer
Skill: Spring Rain Transformation, Minor Accomplishment (+)
Water Condensation Technique, First Layer (+)]
Seeing the "Lifespan Consumption" skill appear on her status page, Ding Yun naturally proceeded to invest more points.
As her lifespan continued to dwindle, the Water Condensation Technique also leveled up. Ding Yun then discovered that her guess was indeed correct; this lifespan-consuming immortal artifact did have a minimum cost.
The first nine layers of the Water Condensation Technique each consumed only one year of lifespan. However, from the tenth and eleventh layers onwards, each level cost two years of lifespan. This undeniably proved that the lifespan consumed during the improvement of cultivation techniques or skills was not fixed. It further indicated that this artifact operated on a "round-up" system and completely disregarded the rounding rules.
Regardless of whether it was 0.1 or 0.9 years.
It charged one year of lifespan.
[Host: Liu Yan (Ding Yun)
Lifespan: 69 (Deviated from Qi Deviation, Origin Damaged)
Cultivation Technique: Water-Wood Art, Twelfth Layer
Skill: Spring Rain Transformation, Minor Accomplishment (+)
Water Condensation Technique, Twelfth Layer (+)]
"This lifespan-consuming method feels like a complete rip-off. Some shopping websites can cut prices with seventeen or eighteen decimal places, yet this immortal cultivation artifact can't even display one decimal place.
It's clear that it's not technically difficult to implement.
It's just that the designer is unwilling!"
Although Ding Yun was frustrated, she was also helpless. After all, this golden finger was a monopoly. It didn't fear that you wouldn't use it. Who would choose hardship if ease was an option?
At most, she would just consume less lifespan for simple skills in the future.
She would only use it occasionally when facing insurmountable breakthroughs.
Having clarified the specifics of the lifespan-consuming immortal artifact, Ding Yun quickly made the decision to be cautious with its future use. After using her spiritual power to conceal most of her true essence, revealing only the true essence of a fourth-level Qi Condensation cultivator, she left seclusion to register her cultivation.
The registration process went without a hitch. However, after the registration, the elder responsible for it, who was at the ninth level of Qi Condensation, specifically reported the matter to the family head.
He also requested a small-scale elder meeting.
Since their elders were all local and had no need for long journeys, holding meetings was relatively easy. With a single communication talisman, everyone quickly returned.
"It's just a junior at seventeen breaking through to the mid-Qi Condensation stage, what's such a big deal that requires a special meeting? If she had broken through at thirteen or fourteen, then a meeting would have been appropriate, as breaking through to mid-Qi Condensation at that age is considered quite good for our family.
But she's almost an adult and only now breaking through.
Without any unforeseen circumstances, there's virtually no hope of reaching Core Formation. She'll merely be another female elder in a few decades."
Although they weren't particularly busy, being summoned frequently for minor matters was still quite displeasing, especially since the meeting wasn't convened by the family head, but by an elder.
Therefore, an elder immediately expressed his dissatisfaction and complained.
"Yes, Third Brother, what's the issue with Liu Yan breaking through at her current age? Is it worth you specifically using your elder privilege to gather us all here?
Speak quickly, I have things to do!"
Soon, another elder impatiently urged.
"Oh dear, why are you all so uninterested in external matters? Think about it, what kind of spiritual root does Liu Yan have? She has Water-Wood spiritual roots.
Six months ago, when True Lord Yang Xiao of the Rising Sun Sect broke through to the Golden Core realm, an accident occurred. Although he eventually succeeded, he only condensed a low-grade Golden Core, with no hope of reaching the Nascent Soul stage. Have you forgotten?
Since then, he hasn't been in seclusion as often.
Instead, he's been marrying wives and taking concubines to enjoy himself.
And he wants to have more offspring with good aptitudes to cultivate. Do you remember the criteria he announced for taking concubines? They must have Water spiritual roots, or Wood spiritual roots, or Water-Wood spiritual roots, and be female cultivators at the Qi Condensation stage.
They must also have broken through to mid-Qi Condensation before adulthood.
Furthermore, their age must not exceed thirty.
Previously, we thought that children who broke through to mid-Qi Condensation before adulthood were good seedlings for the family's future. Those who hadn't broken through were looked down upon by us, and even more so by Golden Core True Lords. But Liu Yan will be an adult in less than six months. Breaking through at this age, I don't think her aptitude can be that great.
Coupled with the success of the few female cultivators who became True Lord Yang Xiao's concubines, and the current glory of their families.
I don't think we can dismiss this lightly, can we?
Liu Yan's appearance is no less than anyone else's.
Moreover, Water-Wood spiritual roots are more conducive to conception than ordinary pure Water or pure Wood spiritual roots, and it's well-known that their offspring have better aptitudes. If Liu Yan can successfully become True Lord Yang Xiao's concubine, and by luck have a child, then our family can at least have the protection of half a Golden Core True Lord!"
Clearly, Elder Liu Jun felt that the junior Liu Yan's aptitude was too ordinary. She might have eaten some divine pills or elixirs to grudgingly break through before adulthood.
It was unlikely she would break through to the Core Formation stage while remaining in the family.
Marrying into another minor family would be a waste.
It was better to take a gamble and see if she could catch the eye of a Golden Core True Lord and become a concubine, which would be a leap for her.
This was the current option that maximized benefits.
"This..."
"It's not good, after all, our family has never allowed a daughter with spiritual roots to be given away as a concubine."
"But who is it being given to? If a Soul Transformation Ancestor were to take a concubine, even sending our most talented female child would be worthwhile. Let alone a female child, if they wanted a male, sending one would also be worthwhile!"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Just say whether you agree or not. Six months ago, when True Lord Yang Xiao first announced his intention to take concubines, our family couldn't participate because we had no eligible female children of the right age. Now, we finally have one who barely meets the criteria, and her aptitude level is such that we wouldn't regret letting her go.
If we miss this chance again, there won't be another.
Haven't you seen how arrogant the Wang family has been lately? Isn't it just because they sent a daughter to be True Lord Yang Xiao's concubine? This is a golden opportunity that comes once in a millennium.
If we miss it, who knows how long we'll have to wait!"