Chapter 074
Chapter 74: Silver Radiance Art
Wang Jie tried once again, but to no avail. Then, an idea suddenly struck him. “You bought these sword tassels for me, yet you never asked me for any money?”
Cheng Qian respectfully replied, “The Accompanying Lake residence is funded by the Empire, it’s more than enough.”
Wang Jie nodded. That’s quite the perk. One could truly enjoy such privileges.
“Lord seems troubled?” Cheng Qian observed.
Wang Jie sat down, sipping an unfamiliar drink. It was cold, with a hint of sweetness, tinged with sourness, and surprisingly pleasant. “I’m looking up some information, but I haven’t found anything.”
“What information does Lord wish to find? Subordinate can assist.”
“I’m searching for information about the shallow black seal mark.”
Cheng Qian paused, his face showing a hint of surprise. “Lord wants to know how to deepen a Ten Seal mark to shallow black?”
Wang Jie looked at him. “That’s right.”
Cheng Qian responded, “I see. In that case, you don’t need to search further. It’s not something that can be found. To deepen the mark to shallow black, one needs a powerful technique or method—things that are almost impossible to obtain outside of certain powerful factions. Only major forces like the Frost Radiance Sect possess such knowledge.”
Wang Jie furrowed his brow. “Are you saying even the Silver Radiance Empire doesn’t have this?”
Cheng Qian nodded.
Wang Jie felt frustrated. “It’s just Ten Seal cultivation, how does it involve these major powers?”
Cheng Qian sighed. “In the cultivation world, every step must be earned. The lower the realm, the more important it is to lay a solid foundation. This is common knowledge in the cultivation world. So sometimes, even if a technique can only be used within the Ten Seal realm, its effects are so remarkable that it’s valued far above techniques for higher realms. This is very normal.”
Wang Jie was curious. “How do you know so much?”
“Subordinate once served the former emperor in the Imperial Palace. I’ve learned quite a bit over time.”
“So only the Frost Radiance Sect in the Frost Radiance star chain has such a technique?”
Cheng Qian sighed again. “Actually, the Silver Radiance Empire once had a technique called Silver Radiance Art. In the Star Breaking and Full Star realms, it was useless. The higher the realm, the less effective it was. But within Ten Seals, it was extremely powerful—it could deepen a seal to shallow black.”
“Throughout the Eighth Star Chain, or rather, the Frost Radiance Star Chain, the only comparable technique is Frost Radiance Moon.”
“This was the foundation upon which our Silver Radiance Empire was founded. Unfortunately, it was lost. After that, our empire fell to its current state.”
“At its peak, our territory was ten times larger than it is now.”
Wang Jie was puzzled. “How did it get lost?”
Cheng Qian’s expression became bitter. “It’s said that someone tried to steal it. The last emperor had a fiery temper and burned the Silver Radiance Art in front of the thief.”
Wang Jie was taken aback. That’s quite a temper.
“No backups?”
“If there had been backups, how could we have been deceived? The Silver Radiance Art was truly lost.”
Wang Jie was speechless. This was a case of hurting both sides.
Did he need a powerful technique? It made sense. Otherwise, anyone with a few Slaughter Stones could deepen their seals to shallow black. Such a shallow black would be too insignificant.
Especially someone like Insect Xuan. With so many Cataclysm Materials from an insect tide, what couldn’t he do?
Just as Wang Jie was about to inquire further, his personal terminal suddenly rang.
Looking at the terminal, he saw it was a task.
Cheng Qian respectfully stepped out, not daring to look.
Wang Jie stared at the terminal. The task was issued directly from the contribution system.
Task: Meet at the specified coordinates and follow the captain’s instructions.
Wang Jie had no idea who had assigned the task, but he didn’t want to go. There was no particular reason—since he suspected war was coming, whether it was the Frost Radiance Sect or the Silver Radiance Empire, it had nothing to do with him. He didn’t want to risk his life for others.
Going to the battlefield now would be no different from being a battle slave.
With that thought, he immediately contacted Jun Hua.
“Did they send you a task?” Jun Hua didn’t know either. After Wang Jie explained, she told him to wait.
Meanwhile, Jun Hua turned to Yu Dong. “Senior Sister Jin Chu went straight over our heads and assigned a task to Wang Jie.”
Yu Dong’s eyes flickered. “Is it to send him to the Ninth Star Chain?”
Jun Hua nodded.
“What do you think?”
“Wang Jie doesn’t want to go.”
“Then ask Senior Sister about it.”
Jun Hua contacted Jin Chu and was told that Wang Jie was more suitable for the task. They needed a Ten Seal expert to infiltrate the Ninth Star Chain, someone who had never been part of the Frost Radiance Sect or had too much contact with its disciples.
Jun Hua, citing Wang Jie’s frequent interactions with them, politely declined the task for him.
Jin Chu didn’t mind. After all, a mere Ten Seal was not that significant. There were many others, and she agreed.
At the Accompanying Lake residence, Wang Jie breathed a sigh of relief. For those lords, war was an opportunity for merit, but for him, it was a fight to the death. If he could avoid it, he would.
“Thank you, Emperor.”
Jun Hua replied, “It’s nothing. Just focus on helping the Formation Daoist. That’s all.”
“Wait.”
“Is there something else?”
“I wanted to ask—if I want to deepen the Ten Seal to shallow black, do I need to join the Frost Radiance Sect to learn Frost Radiance Moon?”
Jun Hua pondered for a moment. “Even if you join the Frost Radiance Sect, you can’t obtain Frost Radiance Moon. That is a technique reserved for Star Force cultivators, and even most Star Force cultivators, especially those in the inner sect, don’t have access to it. I don’t either.”
Wang Jie had anticipated this, but it was more troublesome than expected.
“Has your Ten Seal already reached deep grey?”
“Yes.” Wang Jie didn’t hide it.
Jun Hua praised, “That’s impressive. You’ve already surpassed most cultivators. To reach deep grey isn’t just about having enough seal power. Otherwise, the empire could cultivate many deep grey seal cultivators.”
“Most cultivators reach a bottleneck at shallow grey. To reach deep grey requires enough talent and physical condition. Don’t seek too much. Senior Sister Yu Dong and I only cultivated to Star Breaking Realm with shallow grey seals.”
Wang Jie was surprised. “Even the Emperor only has a shallow grey seal?”
Jun Hua smiled. “Shallow grey and deep grey aren’t all that different. Most people would rather break through with a shallow grey seal. That way, the Star Breaking stage is easier. Only those who are certain they can reach shallow black would spend the time to reach deep grey.”
“You’ve already surpassed most people.”
She didn’t say it aloud, but Lock Force cultivators are more likely to deepen their seals because they don’t have a future to worry about. For them, Ten Seals are often the limit. Star Force cultivators, on the other hand, look further ahead, which makes them more cautious with their time. That’s why Jun Hua wasn’t surprised by Wang Jie reaching deep grey.
Wang Jie hadn’t expected this. His goal wasn’t Frost Radiance Moon. “I understand now. Thank you, Emperor. By the way, does the Silver Radiance Empire have a technique?”
“Have you heard of Silver Radiance Art?”
“I’ve heard of it.”
“Silver Radiance Art was lost. The last emperor, my father, painstakingly created a technique based on it. Unfortunately, its effects can’t compare to Silver Radiance Art. If you want, you can check it out directly. It’s called Silver Radiance Force. You have enough privileges at Accompanying Lake Residence.”
Wang Jie was grateful. “Thank you, Emperor.”
Wait, Silver Radiance Force? That name seemed familiar. He opened his storage ring and checked, finding it—Silver Radiance Force.
This was the technique contributed by the only Star Force cultivator from the group he had killed on Slaughter Stone Planet. At the time, he hadn’t paid much attention to it, thinking it was just a combat technique. But it turned out to be this?
Wang Jie examined Silver Radiance Force. The person who contributed it was likely tied to Jun Tang.
So, that person must have worked for Jun Tang? The technique would help him better absorb the star force of the planet.
Wang Jie thought for a moment. He’d almost started cultivating it right away, but then hesitated. He knew Jun Tang’s character—cunning and treacherous. That group had clearly been used, so the authenticity of the technique was something to consider.
It was possible Jun Tang had given them a fake Silver Radiance Force.
He stood up and walked out. Since he had the access, it was only right to check for the real version.
Cheng Qian had mentioned the Royal Library before, and now he had the perfect excuse to use his privileges.
The Royal Library was impressive, and Wang Jie made his way to the top, thinking he’d find no one there. But to his surprise, he encountered a familiar face—the Old General.
The Old General looked at Wang Jie with surprise.
Wang Jie greeted him respectfully. “Greetings, Senior.”
The Old General sized him up. “I’ve seen you before. If I’m not mistaken, you’re Jun Tang’s man. Looks like Jun Hua already had plans for you.”
He assumed Wang Jie was a spy placed in Jun Tang’s warship by Jun Hua.
Wang Jie didn’t offer an explanation. The Old General was one of the few powerful figures in the Silver Radiance Empire who could intervene in the imperial power struggle. He knew the more he explained, the more mistakes he could make.
Instead, he bowed to the Old General, then quietly searched for the technique.
Silver Radiance Force.
Wang Jie searched for a while and, to his surprise, found it in the hands of the Old General.
He had no choice but to wait.
After an unknown amount of time, the Old General set down the Silver Radiance Force and looked at him. “Are you looking for this?”
Wang Jie respectfully replied, “Yes.”
The Old General tossed him the Silver Radiance Force. Wang Jie caught it. “Thank you, Senior.”
“Deep grey, few would pursue it. Only Lock Force cultivators, who can’t see the future, would deepen their seals,” the Old General remarked. “But if you want to use this Silver Radiance Force to reach shallow black, that’s impossible.”
Wang Jie sighed. “I want to try, and also to experience the Empire’s most precious force.”
The Old General gave him a complex look. “Silver Radiance Art was lost. This Silver Radiance Force doesn’t even resemble it. What’s precious about it?” He shook his head and left.
Once the Old General was gone, Wang Jie carefully examined the Silver Radiance Force.
Recalling the version he had in his storage ring, they were identical—both authentic. So, it was time to cultivate.
This would be his first time practicing a technique.
The Armor One Sect trial allowed the cultivation of combat techniques, but as far as actual techniques went, they were merely for reference—not something one could truly master. Techniques were all about the method of circulating Lock Force and Star Force.
Silver Radiance Force was not difficult to cultivate. It involved using a special method to circulate seal power within the body, accelerating absorption like a pump when absorbing Cataclysm Materials.
The better the technique, the more effective it was at extracting the seal power.
Therefore, deepening the seal color was likely a special operation method within the technique.
At the Accompanying Lake residence, Wang Jie opened his eyes. The surroundings were blurry, and he found himself standing in a field.
Sitting in the field, he began cultivating Silver Radiance Force.
Soon, three green sprouts appeared in the field.
Wang Jie sighed in relief. It really worked. Techniques could be grown.
He reached out to touch the first sprout, then the second and third.
Three sprouts in total—just like the Heaven and Earth Luo Xuan Finger.
And the technique he grew was—Silver Radiance Art.