Chapter 69: The Divine Water Palace

Upon seeing it was a Golden Core Divine Soul Card, everyone except for Qin Shu’s family—his uncles and their families—were left utterly astounded.

Naturally, Qin Wushang also couldn’t help but rub his eyes in disbelief.

Qin Yue suddenly playfully smacked Qin Shu. “Well, well, well, look at you, getting secretly rich!”

“How could I just use my little Shu’s money?” Qin Wushang felt embarrassed. As the grandfather, having no money to give his grandson and needing to rely on his grandson’s resources made him feel quite guilty.

He hadn’t provided much assistance to Qin Shu’s family before this.

“It’s all one big family; what’s wrong with using your grandson’s money?” Qin Shu moved forward with a smile. “Let’s go together. When the time comes, Grandpa, if you like the city, you can stay in the city, and if you prefer here, you can stay here. With the token, you can travel back and forth at any time, the same goes for our uncles.”

Unconsciously, he had become the pillar of strength for the entire clan.

After all, as a Golden Core awakened being, the strongest member of the family, who else could they look to if not him?

The key point was that even the old patriarch accepted his words, nodding and saying, “We’ll do as little Shu suggests.”

No one objected.

A white light flashed, and more than a hundred members of the Qin family were teleported to Divine Water City, materializing in a square within a vast estate.

The estate boasted over a hundred courtyards—each family member received one, including the youngest, Qin Hao, who was given an independent courtyard covering over ten thousand square meters.

Land, it seemed, was the most abundant resource here.

Like Heavenly River No. 9, the estate was equipped with powerful formations, brimming with spiritual energy. The result was an immaculate expanse, free from even a mote of dust.

Once everyone had arrived, numerous housekeeping puppets came online—lifelike automatons that performed every chore with ease. Among them, a prime steward puppet, possessing a Primordial Spirit-level power, took the form of a genial old man and addressed Qin Shu with utmost reverence:

“Resident of Estates Tactical Group 908, at your service. Please grant me a name.”

Qin Shu deferentially turned to his grandfather, “Grandfather, if you would like to choose the name.”

Qin Wushang did not demur at this show of filial respect from Qin Shu. He considered briefly before saying, “Since you bear the Qin name as well, let’s call you Qin Wujiu.”

“Many thanks for the name, my lord.” With his identity established, Qin Wujiu swiftly fell into overseeing the estate.

Qin Wushang took time to inspect their new home. The estate stood atop a high mountain, its grounds sprawling across hundreds of square kilometers—a fitting foundation for their ambitious endeavor.

The grounds were lush with various spirit trees and plants, some blossoming with flowers, others laden with fruit.

In comparison, the Qin family’s farm felt like a mere shack.

Qin Wushang said, “Go ahead without us. The old folks will stay here.”

Xie Feifei also found this place charming and, following her husband’s lead, didn’t wish to leave either.

Since the two elders were unwilling to depart, the other uncles and elders naturally didn’t want to leave behind their children attending school on the mainland.

Thus, except for Qin Shu, everyone—including Qin Wei and Wang Yurou—remained at the estate.

Seeing their decision, Qin Shu provided them with one million spiritual soul coins for daily expenses. He also instructed Qin Wujiu to open a medicinal pill shop within the city, selling various pills.

They need some way to earn a living; idleness isn’t good for anyone.

He then visited the God of Fortune Shopping Mall, where he purchased several tier-four and tier-five spirit medicines along with their seeds. Upon returning to the island, he began concocting pills and planting these spirit plants.

After all, even the vital Five Elements Qi required for the Nine Revolutions Golden Core Formation cost money.

The island’s spiritual energy was so abundant that he had to transplant the spirit plants from his Microscopic Heavenly Cave elsewhere.

From now on, the cave would serve solely as an enormous storage space, akin to an immense inventory.

The island’s landmass spanned a hundred thousand square kilometers, but there was no need to cover every inch with spirit medicine crops.

By unfurling the Apricot-yellow Flag, a mere thought could ready thousands of square miles for planting. All that remained was to sow the seeds.

The seeds transplanted from the micro Heavenly Cave required tender care, while others could be left to grow wild, occasionally nourished by the Spirit Rain Technique imbued with the power of destiny, which served as a catalyst for maturity.

A single casting could accelerate growth equivalent to a year, so with frequent applications, the spirit medicines would soon ripen.

Meanwhile, Qin Qing, having been brought to the Water God Palace, underwent the formal apprentice initiation ceremony.

Afterward, Ye Ruoshui shared the history of the Water God Palace with her.

Water God Palace stood at the source of the Heavenly River, sprawled across a vast terrain of hundreds of millions of square kilometers.

Yet within the Heavenly River, it was but one island among many.

Ye Ruoshui pointed towards the river, asking, “Qing’er, do you know the origin of this Heavenly River?”

“Qing’er does not know. Please enlighten me, Master.”

Pleased with Qin Qing’s demeanor, he explained, “This river was born from the passing of our Divine Water Palace’s first Palace Master—the Water Spirit Origin Venerable, our founding ancestor.”

“At that time, she was a boundless golden immortal sage. Tragically, she met her demise in the Abyss beyond the heavens, along with countless beings. Her essence returned to the God Soul Continent, transforming into this vast Heavenly River, which now protects our Divine Water Palace.

However, our ancestral master has not been completely extinguished. If someday one of us should ascend to the realm of a Great Luo Golden Immortal, they might traverse the river of space-time to capture her residual spirit, thus bringing her back to life. Therefore, Qing’er, we must all strive diligently.”

In that moment, Qin Qing felt the weight of responsibility. Without a hint of hesitation, she declared, “This disciple will surely work hard at cultivation, seeking to assist Shifu as soon as possible.”

“Excellent! Your shizu, the Sixth Palace Mistress, who is also my master, is currently in secluded meditation, attempting to break through to the boundless golden immortal realm. That’s why I didn’t arrange for you to meet her.

Above her, my own shizun and the other palace mistresses, including the Second Palace Mistress, reside beyond the heavens. All of them are at the boundless golden immortal stage, so you needn’t feel undue pressure. When you have free time, engage in conversation with your fourth brother; he is no ordinary individual.”

Qin Qing did not deny this, simply stating, “Fourth Brother is indeed very formidable.”

“Golden Core will be your first significant milestone,” Ye Ruoshui began. “By the time you reach it, I expect you to obtain the Five Dragons Jade Decree, just like your fourth elder brother.”

“Understood, Master,” Qin Qing responded without hesitation.

With that, Ye Ruoshui proceeded to outline the specific cultivation realms and some of the world’s hidden mysteries.

The specifics of the cultivation realms below the Nine Revolutions Golden Core were assumed knowledge. After breaking through to Primordial Infant, one could achieve nine transformations, evolving into either a Pure Yin Primordial Spirit or, for martial cultivators, a Dharma idol.

While the names differed, the essence of both the Primordial Spirit and Dharma idol remained the same.

At this stage, the awakened beings’ battle prowess would significantly diverge.

Beyond the Primordial Spirit’s Nine Transformations lay the Void Realm, where the spirit body could fully comprehend the grand laws of nature. Through the process of “refining the void and merging with the Dao,” one could transform from pure yin to pure yang, allowing the spirit to leave the body and travel thousands of miles without losing its connection to the self.

Every movement at this level could harness the vast forces of heaven and earth, giving rise to two distinct stages: the “void division” and the “void transformation.”

Next came the realm of Earth Immortals, where yin and yang combined to comprehend the laws governing the cosmos, learning to abide by and harness these principles.

As one’s cultivation progressed, they could discern more rules, becoming increasingly adept at their manipulation. This realm was thus known as the Rule Righteousness Stage, divided into five major realms—Earth Immortal, Heavenly Immortal, True Immortal, Profound Immortal, and Nine Heavens Profound Immortal—with each realm comprised of nine levels, totaling forty-five minor realms.

With this explanation complete, Ye Ruoshui concluded, “Let’s discuss the rest once you reach Void Transformation. For now, focus on preparing for the Qi Refinement Abyss Tribulation in two days.”

“Yes, Master,” Qin Qing replied respectfully, bowing to Ye Ruoshui before taking her leave.

Three days later, she emerged successfully from the abyss, rewarded by the World Will of the God Soul Continent with a breakthrough to the third level of Qi Refinement.

Qin Qing’s spiritual soul inherently possessed a unique cultivation technique perfectly suited to her constitution. Consequently, Ye Ruoshui saw no need to impart a fundamental cultivation method. Instead, he unlocked access to the Pool of Wisdom, the Divine Water Palace’s repository of knowledge, allowing her to study various water-based spells at her leisure.