Chapter 624: with translation of chapter title

In front of the Treasure Vault.

The Outer Gate's Treasure Vault is built atop a mountain; ahead lies a heavily guarded manor, and nearby are the Transmitting Skills Hall and the Law Enforcement Hall, with countless disciples coming and going.

When Yan Buji arrived, He Caifei followed him into the manor, and Yan Buji was taken to a small courtyard within the manor.

"Elder Yao," Yan Buji bowed and said.

"Hall Master, after a few days apart, you look well," Yao Wen bowed with a smile.

Yan Buji smiled, "I thank Elder Yao that day; otherwise I wouldn't know when I could officially become a part of the Paolong Sacred Land."

"Our Paolong Sacred Land embraces all rivers and is inclusive; attracting a talent like Hall Master is widely expected. I've heard that lately the elixirs from the Lian Dan Tang are all top grade, with many disciples praising them—it's all thanks to Hall Master,"

"No need for courtesy; it's all for the sect. Elder Yao, you guard such a massive Treasure Vault, with daily tasks countless as cattle hair, and you've been doing it for centuries—truly a great labor," Yan Buji laughed.

The two praised each other for a while, and Yao Wen began to feel he had met a worthy opponent.

This fellow's flattery skill is not inferior to my own!

Yan Buji thought the same.

He adopts a "speak to humans as humans, speak to ghosts as ghosts" approach; after five hundred years of wind and rain, though much of that time was spent in seclusion cultivation, the many people and events he encountered shaped this temperament.

Yao Wen, having worked for many years in both the Inner and Outer Gates of the Paolong Sacred Land, has long honed his eloquence.

Seeing this, Yao Wen took the initiative and said, "I invited Brother Yan this time mainly to ask you, are you truly a Martial Cultivator?"

"Indeed."

This matter had previously been named by Elder Ximen, and Yan Buji knew it was almost impossible to hide from them.

"That's truly impressive; Brother Yan can dual cultivate Martial and Law, and your Martial Dao cultivation can evade us—perhaps your strength is not below ours," Yao Wen exclaimed.

"Naturally incomparable; to be honest, my Martial Dao cultivation has just entered the early Nascent Soul stage," Yan Buji smiled.

No wonder this fellow remains composed before numerous Nascent Soul Cultivators, as if never pressured by them—he truly has hidden much!

Yao Wen thought of this and suddenly said, "So it seems Brother Yan has traveled the West Sand River Basin?"

"Oh?" Yan Buji raised an eyebrow, "How did Elder Yao know that?"

"Hehe, did you forget the Spiritual Materials needed to refine the Delicious Pill?"

"Oh, I see."

Yan Buji smiled; most of the Spiritual Materials for the Delicious Pill come from the West Sand River Basin, and with Yao Wen's status and insight, even without knowing their exact functions, tracing their origins is not difficult.

However, he hadn't inferred that he himself was a cultivator of the West Sand River Basin, so his true background remained unclear.

"Indeed, I did travel the West Sand River Basin back then. But Elder Yao also knows I was a Martial Cultivator, unwelcome there and even chased for a time," Yan Buji gave a wry smile.

Yao Wen said, "That was unavoidable; the Buddhist sects of the West Sand River Basin deeply despise Martial Cultivators. Back then, two great beings fought there, turning the area into a desert world."

"Huh?" Yan Buji was startled, "Is that so?"

"I heard that in ancient times two Tribulation Crossing Stage Martial Cultivator greats clashed in the West Sand River Basin. Back then it rivaled the Dongxing Sea Region in abundance, but you've already seen how it looks now," Yao Wen shook his head and laughed.

All the misdeeds were done by Martial Cultivators, right?

That has nothing to do with me.

Although I am a Martial Cultivator, I am also a Magical Cultivator.

You can't blame a Magical Cultivator like me for the sins of ancient Martial Cultivators.

Yao Wen looked at Yan Buji and said, "Speaking of it, there are a few Nascent Soul Martial Cultivators within the Sacred Land, only breaking through in recent years."

"Oh?"

"I was originally puzzled; they say the Martial Dao path was severed by saints, yet in recent years capable Martial Cultivators have surfaced everywhere, so it's not surprising. If Hall Master were to invite me to spar and exchange with others, I could recommend you a few."

"If such an opportunity arises, I truly thank Elder Yao," Yan Buji smiled.

Yan Buji currently does not focus on Martial Dao cultivation, as he intends to first break through the Magical Nascent Soul stage. Moreover, he lacks any formidable Martial Dao profound skill and cannot constantly be in life‑or‑death battles, so his Martial Dao progress is no longer as rapid as before.

Conversely, his Magical Cultivation has stalled too long, so Yan Buji must break through the Nascent Soul stage before he can improve further.

Yan Buji does not think progressing in parallel is problematic; even if he cannot match the rapid advancement of prodigy cultivators, he has walked the path step by step, with a solid foundation.

Of course, the issue of techniques cannot be solved in a day or two; Yan Buji must return to long‑term contemplation of the method.

Yao Wen smiled, "Since that's the case, I have a favor to ask Hall Master."

"Oh?"

"Hall Master, take a look at this,"

Yao Wen suddenly slapped his storage bag, and a peculiar weapon appeared in his hand.

Yan Buji glanced and saw it resembled a Sea‑Kun hammer, yet it was a short rod with a nail head.

"What is this?"

Yan Buji took the nail‑head short rod, sensed it carefully, and discovered it resonated with his Immortal Essence, indicating it is an Accumulation Device used by Martial Cultivators!

"Hall Master, feel free to examine it closely," Yao Wen smiled.

Yan Buji nodded; he meant he could disassemble it.

Yan Buji's palm ignited, and he began to split the nail‑head short rod.

"Heavenly Fire?" Yao Wen watched Yan Buji's icy‑blue flame with interest.

"I obtained it by chance before; it's not something formidable."

"This should be Shocking Wave Fire, right?"

"Indeed."

Although Yan Buji possesses two kinds of Heavenly Fire, his fire techniques are not strong enough, so he rarely uses Heavenly Fire against opponents.

Moreover, whether it's Shocking Wave Fire or Great Primordial Earth Fire, both are special‑property Heavenly Fires, and ordinary fire‑control techniques struggle to reveal their true power.

After disassembling the nail‑head short rod, Yan Buji picked up a component and examined it closely.

"What is this?" A cylindrical roller bearing appeared in Yan Buji's hand, a connector between the head and the rod; it seemed specially crafted.

"Could it be a pre‑assembly component of some weaponry?" Yan Buji asked curiously.

"Hall Master is indeed formidable; this truly is a prototype that a Martial Cultivation practitioner wants to forge into a Beast‑Accumulating Armament," Yao Wen said with a smile.

Armament of Martial Cultivation?