Chapter 271: A Small Favor

Liu Ruhua's competition was also proceeding quite smoothly.

But the finals were postponed until tomorrow, so the Lianqi disciples of the Qingshan Sect finally learned that the Accumulation Device Peak also has an old man named Huang Hao who is very formidable.

"That Huang Hao... a newly inducted disciple, actually made it to the finals?"

"Seems this year's Lianqi Grand Competition isn't that great; maybe the Disciple Hall people rigged it again?"

"Can't say that exactly; although many strong dark horses fell, Huang Hao and Liu Ruhua really have skill."

Either way, tomorrow's finals will be a sea of people.

Yan Buji was meditating in his quarters, adjusting his state, when someone suddenly arrived at the gate.

"Junior brother Huang, are you there?"

"Senior brother Nan Gong Ping? Please come in, what's the matter?" Yan Buji stepped down from the bed, opened the door and said.

Nan Gong Ping entered, glanced at the spotless room, then at the simple furniture, and laughed: "Junior brother, why did you hide from me that you entered the Lianqi Grand Competition? If you'd told me, I would definitely have helped you."

"Well... Senior brother, aren't you busy all day? I thought this small matter didn't need to disturb you," Yan Buji chuckled.

Nan Gong Ping waved his hand, sat at the table and said: "Hey, you can't put it that way. By the way, you don't have a handy Accumulation Device, right? I happen to have some unused ones here; you can take one for now."

Hmm?

Yan Buji oddly poured him a cup of tea, then sat down and looked at the Accumulation Device on the table.

Two First-Tier Accumulation Devices, a sword and a blade, are of little use to Yan Buji.

"Senior brother, I appreciate your kindness, but you know the arena duel; I might not even need this Accumulation Device," Yan Buji said with a smile, politely declining.

Usually I don't see him so proactively approach me, let alone give me a benefit; even as fellow disciples within a peak, after such a long time he still offers me his insight.

Now dealing with all this, it's hard for Yan Buji to accept it with a clear conscience.

Nan Gong Ping frowned: "What? Junior brother doesn't like it?"

"Senior brother, where does that come from? This Accumulation Device needs a period of acclimation; I can't just pick it up and use it flawlessly, can I?" Yan Buji explained.

Nan Gong Ping nodded: "I actually forgot that this was an issue... but since you declined, actually... I have a matter I'd like you to help with a small favor."

"Senior brother, go ahead, no problem."

"You know, tomorrow those True Sect senior brothers and sisters will come to watch the competition, so I..."

"Huh?" Yan Buji was startled, puzzled: "I've heard that True Sect members come to watch the Lianqi Grand Competition, but after all these days I haven't seen any. The point is... do those True Sect members really have that much time to join the fun? Could some people be saying this on purpose?"

Yan Buji thought Nan Gong Ping had heard the wind inside the gate, but actually the one who said the True Sect would come to watch the competition was him, and he still doesn't know whether they have arrived.

Nan Gong Ping waved his hand: "Your information is a bit outdated; tomorrow those True Sect senior brothers and sisters will indeed come, because the champion represents the overall Lianqi disciple strength of the Qingshan Sect, and after a while the True Sect will be traveling, so they'll naturally select a few attendants."

"Ah?!"

"I guess behind the scenes people have already started reaching out... Oops, didn't I ask you?"

Yan Buji shook his head.

Nan Gong Ping thought for a moment, then said brightly: "Oh right, you're from my Accumulation Device Peak, and I'm also a True Sect member, so they implicitly consider you and I as together."

Yan Buji: "......"

You really can pretend!

"Ah, that matter isn't that troublesome. After you win on the arena, Senior sister Feng will most likely come to watch, so just make the fight look good."

Just for that?

Yan Buji nodded: "Of course, Senior brother, after finally reaching the finals I definitely want to win. But Liu Ruhua is indeed hard to deal with, so I've been pondering how to counter their painting art."

Nan Gong Ping thought for a while, then suddenly noticed the square stone hanging on Yan Buji's waist and said: "Hey, isn't this a Soul-Restraining Stone?"

"Oh? Senior brother, are you familiar with this material?"

Yan Buji picked up the waist's square stone; the thing was a bit dirty, and he felt somewhat disgusted.

However, Nan Gong Ping didn't know its origin; after examining it closely, he nodded: "It really is a Soul-Restraining Stone. This item is said to come from the Youming Jie, and it's rare to see such material in the Nan Ting Mountain Region. Perfect, I'll forge you an Accumulation Device that protects the spirit consciousness!"

As he spoke, Nan Gong Ping took out some materials from his body and began forging on the spot.

Yan Buji could only see Spiritual Fire igniting in Nan Gong Ping's hands, Spiritual Materials tossed in, rolling in the flames, and after a short while they transformed into clumps of Accumulation!

This is Qi refining?!

Yan Buji widened his eyes, not wanting to miss any detail.

He also saw Nan Gong Ping place the Accumulation in his palm, then with a pinch of both hands, refined it into Accumulation, and that step ended directly.

Yan Buji stared dumbfounded, before he could react, Nan Gong Ping combined the Soul-Restraining Jade with the forged Accumulation Device components, and began the sealing refinement.

Similarly, using a sealing method Yan Buji couldn't comprehend, in no time a First-Tier Accumulation Device appeared before his eyes.

"Here, this Accumulation Device stabilizes the mind and protects the spirit consciousness. It doesn't have an active trigger, but it'll be useful if you encounter Illusion Art," Nan Gong Ping said with a smile.

Yan Buji opened his mouth wide, took the Accumulation Device, examined it up and down, and couldn't help asking: "Senior brother, is forging an Accumulation Device that simple for you?"

"First-Tier Accumulation Devices are indeed not too troublesome; I can now forge up to Fourfold Transformation Accumulation Devices, but I'm still no match for the Master. The Master is the real deal; if he has materials, he could even forge Sixfold Immortal Accumulation Artifacts! Many Elders of Xuan Gan Dao are begging my Master to forge Accumulation Devices," Nan Gong Ping boasted.

"The Peak Master is so formidable, and so are you, Senior brother. It seems you'll eventually be able to forge Immortal Accumulation Artifacts yourself!" Yan Buji flattered.

"Hahaha."

Nan Gong Ping laughed heartily, then said: "Liu Ruhua uses painting art, right?"

"It should be, the..." Yan Buji recounted what he had seen, and Nan Gong Ping thought carefully for a while.

"Painting art is indeed not simple; either you forcefully break through, or you can only find their true form within the painting art. You seem to have also cultivated Eye Technique, can you perceive it?"

Yan Buji shook his head: "Outside the arena it's fine, but in combat it would be hard to detect."

Nan Gong Ping waved his hand: "Painting art isn't as terrifying as you think; although it's a type of literary Dao technique with many variations, all changes still follow the same principle. Breaking through or finding the true form—those two methods are the most effective and feasible."

Yan Buji thought for a moment, then clasped his hands and said: "Thank you for your teachings, Senior brother."

"Hehe, looking forward to your finals tomorrow."