For a month, Heifeng Jiansui relentless trained his alchemy by taking on various missions from the Ten Thousand Sword Paradise. From the lowest E-Rank missions, he rose to complete D, C, B and finally A rank missions. Of course, he would also take A rank forging and refining missions when they were available. At other times, he fought on the Virtual Arena to refine his battle spirit devouring technique. With frequent battles, he created the rudimentary Soulcatcher Sword technique, capable of swallowing 10% of his opponent’s spiritual energy.

Finally, he reached the realm where he could refine nine pillars of nine elements and combine them to form a dominating Black Phoenix aura! After forging eight more pillars and piercing them into his body, he realized that while the energy from the pillars was mightier, it did not resonate with his body like before.

“It seems that I need to increase my understanding of formations to replicate that resonance…” Saying this, he once again dove into comprehending formations.

It required another month to become a master who could refine top-grade Mortal Rank formations! With this understanding, he still could not replicate the resonance. At this time, a suddenly sent gift unexpectedly resolved his problem.

This gift was a manual sent by Elder Shenhai, ‘Tri-Essence Swallowing Sword’.

Seeing the name, Heifeng Jiansui realized that the Elder must have known his decision of majoring in Bloodline and Battle Spirit Arts and known the lack of techniques of that category.

As expected, the book’s foundation layer could even be trained by mortal who had yet to cultivate. What was unexpected was that the complete, original book was sent; Heifeng Jiansui expected being sent only the foundation pages or at least a copy of the book.

The book had four parts: Spirit Swallowing, Essence Swallowing, Qi Devouring and Tri-Essence Swallowing and could be practiced until the 9th Stage of the Life Desolation realm. Life Desolation was the second boundary of cultivation, coming after Body Transformation.

While reading the manual, a single sentence on beastcores gave him an insight into the problem with the Black Phoenix Allbeast Rule Formation. It seemed like he needed beastcores to create the pillars. Fortunately, he had piled up a sizeable amount of merit points.

The path of cultivation was divided into large ‘boundaries’, intermediate ‘layers’ and smaller ‘stages’. For example, the first boundary of cultivation was the Body Transformation. Body Transformation had nine layers in total, with the first layer- ‘Physique’ consisting of three stages- Body Tempering, Innate Awakening and Blood-drop Refining.

Such an excessively precious manual being sent to a mortal junior was a huge favor. Getting a manual of this level would take him at least a decade with his amount of merit points and clearance. Heifeng Jiansui marked this gratitude in his heart, and vowed to repay it when he had the capability.

After entering the Illusory Swordworld, he was immediately greeted by a message.

[You have reached the realm of a top-grade Mortal Rank refiner, alchemist and formation master.]

[You have completed A-Rank missions in the above fields of auxiliary arts.]

[You are awarded the Rank of a Mortal Auxiliary Master.]

[You can now accept S-Rank missions. The merit points you can gain from B-Rank and below missions have been halved.]

[You can apply for a Platinum-level/ True Disciple Status after completing 1,000 S-Rank missions.]

[You are allowed unrestricted access to the 2nd Floor of the Scripture Pavilion.]

[You are allowed access to the 3rd Floor of the Scripture Pavilion, access restricted to Auxiliary Arts.]

“…How unexpected.” While he knew that the title of a Mortal Auxiliary Master existed, it wasn’t that easy to attain. It needed the verification of an Elder along with the requisite skill and mission completion.

It seemed Elder Shenhai held high influence in the sect.

Before looking at the 2nd Floor of the Scripture Hall, it would be wiser to have a glance at the S-Rank missions in the Mission Hall. Thinking this, Heifeng Jiansui immediately went to the Mission Hall and checked the S-Rank missions.

S-Rank Mission: Refine low-grade Spiritual Tool ‘Swipefang Blade’

Reward: 50,000 merit points

Materials Provided: Grade 1 Fire Beastcore, 10 top-grade Mortal Rank Fire attribute materials…

Seeing the mission involved refining a Spiritual Tool, I wasn’t surprised anymore. While Refined Weapons required continuous infusion of qi to keep their strength and durability at the strongest, Spiritual Tools required only a beastcore to be bound to them.

These kinds of weapons were similar to heated weapons like guns, requiring ammunition rather than physical strength.

Other S-Rank missions involved refining Spiritual Pills, Talismans and Formations. All of them required beastcores as ingredients. Thus, the worry about buying beastcores was removed.

After browsing around the Mission Hall, Heifeng Jiansui left the Illusory Swordworld for reality. As before, it was time to inform his mother of his advancement.

+++

“So you are a Platinum-Rank disciple now, huh? You are thus eligible for higher quality resources. If you use them well, your strength will be raised without impacting your foundation. But Heifeng Xingmei isn’t lacking, either! She has actually trained the Black Phoenix Allbeast Ruler Art to the 3rd layer and can fuse with the blood essence of beasts to raise her strength!” As my mother warned me, I pretended to nod in attention while masking my indifference.

“The Black Phoenix Allbeast Ruler Art and the Five Sacred Beasts Cycle are top-level techniques that complement each other well. Heifeng Xingmei has the backing of the Five Sacred Beast Sect as well, so beast bloodlines are easy for her to obtain. That said, the influence and backing from her sect pales to you. Elder Shenhai is an existence who could sweep through the Black Phoenix Great World unhindered!” Saying this, my mother stroked my head.

“Also, your birthday’s coming up in a month! Only the first birthday is a celebration open to all in the inner palace. For your second birthday, we can have a simple private ceremony. The only attendents will be me, your father, Heifeng Xingmei and her mother as well. Also, if you manage to get Master Shenhai to attend, it would be better.” Hearing his mother’s words, Heifeng Jiansui realized that his important birthday’s arrival. As expected, going into seclusion to memorize all the 2nd Floor Scripture Hall’s manuals was not possible…

+++

Since he had the time of a month to spend, Heifeng Jiansui decided to read up on all the Auxiliary manuals on the 2nd and 3rd Floor of the Scripture Hall. After all, he possessed a supreme manual for Bloodline and Battle Spirit techniques, so he was no longer desperate to find low-grade manuals and piece them together to create a passable technique.

Six hours later, when he memorized the techniques, Heifeng Jiansui read some mental cultivation arts to upgrade his Boundless Scriptures Showing Dao technique. After this, since all his preparations were done, he went to the Mission Hall and selected all the S and A Rank missions.

It would take a day for the flying sword carrying all the materials to come to the Royal Palace. During this time, Heifeng Jiansui decided to complete some minor tasks.

+++

After writing an invitation for his birthday celebration to Elder Shenhai and Ganwu Aina, Heifeng Jiansui sealed the letter in a sword talisman. The talisman flew out of the palace, flying towards the recipients. After this, Heifeng Jiansui left towards the Royal Kitchens.

After the exhausting day, a quick bite would make him more perky. He had limited time after all, so he couldn’t let his condition fall!

In the Royal Kitchen, he went near the chef and asked for a Heavenly Bull beef dish. After the chefs scrambled to fulfill the prince’s wishes, he sat alone in the private room waiting. Just then, an unexpected figure appeared near him.

“It’s been a while, brother.” Heifeng Xingmei seemed to have gone through a transformation since the last time they met. Her body and voice seemed to have been designed to tempt even the heavens!

Her jadelike figure seemed to carry the essence of erotic lust and unmolested innocence. Her qipao concealing her figure seemed to carry an invitation to tear it off. Her eyes, nose, lips, ears and skin were pure and exquisite, reaching the apex of beauty. Her hair which were previously tied in a bun, fell like a gorgeous waterfall behind her. He bust and hips proudly jutted out from under her qipao, causing the fires of lust to burn even within a monk.

To this beauty that was a heavenly treasure, Heifeng Jiansui still kept his indifference, “Xingmei, your height has increased. It seems like you have been drinking milk.”

Hearing his words, Heifeng Xingmei felt a strange amusement fill her. This unpredictable, unfathomable brother of her was someone who she felt a deep desire to conquer. “It isn’t due to drinking milk. A Black Phoenix clansman enters puberty at the age of 7. It’s been nearly a year since then, but you weren’t even willing to step out of your room, forging, forging, forging all day! So, tell me the truth, how do you feel seeing your little sister’s peerless beauty~!”

“Your chest is still flat as a washboard. Not peerless enough.”

Hearing her brother’s words, Heifeng Xingmei pressed her chest at Heifeng Jiansui’s back. “So brother’s filthy mind is focused on my chest. Ah, how shameful~.”

“I am not interested in flatboards, go bother someone with lowlier tastes.” Hearing the deadpan voice again, Heifeng Xingmei burst out in laughter.

“Brother, you are too funny. By the way, do you still remember our promise from back then? You promised…”

“…To refine you a top-grade Mortal Rank weapon. I am not that forgetful. I am now a Mortal Auxiliary Master, so forging a top-grade Mortal weapon is as easy as flipping my palm.” Almost carelessly, Heifeng Jiansui revealed his current skill to his sister.

“I need a weapon suitable for a beastmaster, a weapon that has the Black Phoenix’s attribute of Allbeast Rule… Can you refine it?” Even Heifeng Xingmei knew it was a tall order. Why would her brother expend his skills and resources in nurturing an enemy, yet…

“…With only a mortal body, you forcefully used your blood essence to cultivate the Black Phoenix Allbeast Rule to the 3rd layer and bind the bloodlines of beasts to raise your strength. And now, the forcefully fused bloodlines are trying to rebel…” Hearing Heifeng Jiansui’s words, Heifeng Xingmei’s heart froze and tears seemed to glisten in her eyes.

“Well, since it concerns your life, I’ll refine a weapon for you as fast as I can. You prefer spears, don’t you?” Expecting his refusal and finding out that he had unexpectedly acquiesced, a strange feeling filled her heart. Suddenly, she nearly pounced on him.

With her larger figure and Heifeng Jiansui’s unwariness to anything without killing intent, she immediately captured him in a hug. Soft breasts pressed on his chest.

“Are they big enough for you?~” A seductive voice whispered into his ear.

“What are you doing? What if the kitchen staff see?” Heifeng Jiansui whispered back.

Hearing this, a smug smile lit up on Xingmei’s face. “I specifically told them to leave us alone for a private meeting. What, you didn’t think that your beef is taking too long to arrive?”

“Think of this as free service, I will give you something better once you present me your spear~” With ambiguous words concealing many implications, Xingmei pulled Heifeng Jiansui closer for a kiss. Surreptitiously, a tongue pressed its way into Heifeng Jiansui’s mouth.

In a private room just outside the Royal Kitchens, two siblings partook in forbidden incestual lust.