Chapter 97: Spirit-Link Jade Pendant, The Cultivation World's Mobile Phone

Cao Xuan chuckled, just as he had expected!

In fact, he had always found the spiritual message talisman inconvenient; earlier, because he hadn’t checked it in time, he nearly ended up in an awkward situation. This only made him appreciate the convenience of the mobile phone from his previous life even more.

After some research, he finally developed the first generation spiritual message jade pendant, and with upgrades through gifts, its functions became increasingly refined. For familiar people like Master Yu Wan, who received eighty times cashback, and Li Yao, Cao Xuan used the pendant to gift cultivation resources and receive cashback. As for “strangers” like Bai Tianxiang, he simply gifted resources—whether she accepted them or not was another matter. In the world of cultivation, unsolicited gifts were viewed with suspicion, just as in mundane society. Giving a jade pendant, a small item, wouldn’t arouse much suspicion, but gifting cultivation resources would be far too strange.

Thus, Cao Xuan used the jade pendant to improve their relationship and, at the same time, took the opportunity to upgrade the spiritual message jade pendant. Now, he had received cashback in the form of the Spirit-Link Jade Pendant; later, by analyzing its array patterns, he could realize mass production. It was akin to the difference between “first-generation” and “second-generation” mobile phones.

Cao Xuan discovered that gifting and cashback followed a certain mechanism. As long as he created the first generation with basic functions, subsequent cashback would naturally upgrade along these lines. Of course, sometimes it was like drawing cards—there could be unexpected results. Earlier, he had prepared to gift one spiritual message jade pendant and get eighty in return, but fortunately, luck was on his side this time, and the eightyfold return was based on quality improvement.

[Spirit-Link Jade Pendant: Upgraded from the spiritual message jade pendant developed by the host!]

[Currently features: video calls, voice calls, item transmission, twenty cubic meters of storage space, and more!]

Reading the introduction, Cao Xuan’s eyes lit up. “Finally, it has video call functionality!”

“There’s also item transmission, and the storage space has increased by ten cubic meters. This upgrade is excellent!”

It had started as a sudden inspiration; even if he had failed, he would continue researching the “mobile phone” in his spare time, since he intended to become—not a sycophant, but a battle wolf. Without a “mobile phone,” how could he have hundreds of fairy friends in his messaging app?

Fortunately, the system was reliable and the direction feasible, so he didn’t have to waste time researching it.

After all, the mobile phone from his previous life was a technological miracle built from numerous components; replicating it through cultivation and artifact refining would require extensive research. In the cultivation world, despite many communication methods, most were variations on the spiritual message talisman—whether flying sword messages or spirit beast couriers, all were fundamentally similar.

Now, he could slowly upgrade and replace spiritual message jade pendants through the system. If only he had finished researching the Spirit-Link Jade Pendant, and if gifting identical pendants consecutively wasn’t improper—plus, the system’s cashback items couldn’t be regifted—Cao Xuan would have immediately gifted the Spirit-Link Jade Pendant in his hand.

Bai Tianxiang led them into a pavilion, “Reception Pavilion—this is where Zhongzhou Azure Cloud Sect assigns disciple identities.”

“You’ll stay here and complete your information registration!”

Smiling, Bai Tianxiang explained, “Once your identity is registered, you’ll have dual identities.”

“One is from your Yunzhou Azure Cloud Sect; the other is from Zhongzhou Azure Cloud Sect!”

Cao Xuan and the others were slightly moved. Zhongzhou Azure Cloud Sect might appear to be a second-tier power, but this was Zhongzhou. Even second-tier powers were dominant—few ordinary people possessed such an identity.

They had always believed that, as members of Yunzhou Azure Cloud Sect—the branch of Zhongzhou Azure Cloud Sect—they automatically held Zhongzhou Azure Cloud Sect identities. In truth, they had nothing to do with Zhongzhou Azure Cloud Sect, much like the relationship between Azure Cloud Sect and Xuanhua Dao Sect. Being a subsect of Xuanhua Holy Land didn’t mean one belonged to Xuanhua Holy Land.

Fearing they didn’t grasp the importance of the identity token, Bai Tianxiang explained, “After registering your information and obtaining your identity token, not only can you participate in the Azure Cloud Grand Gathering, but you’ll also possess a token of peace—most powers will respect Azure Cloud Sect’s reputation!”

Cao Xuan nodded. It was like a small Middle Eastern country suddenly acquiring a national ID from Huaguo.

The registration was simple—a basic test covering age, cultivation, spiritual root aptitude, and so forth.

With admiration, Bai Tianxiang said, “Back then, Immortal Elder caused a sensation here in the Reception Pavilion by testing for a Heavenly Spiritual Root!”

To ensure everyone understood, Bai Tianxiang nodded to a Reception Elder in the pavilion, then led Cao Xuan and the others into a grand hall.

Seeing four white jade pillars at the center, Bai Tianxiang explained, “These four testing pillars represent aptitude, talent, physique, and cultivation!”

At this moment, not only Cao Xuan but even the peak masters like Yu Wan were surprised. Liu Yu couldn’t help but ask, “Senior Sister Bai, aren’t aptitude and talent overlapping?”

Seeing Liu Yu also address her as senior sister, Bai Tianxiang didn’t mind. Because of Immortal Xiangqiu, her tolerance for the Yunzhou group was high; addressing each other as senior siblings was a way to foster closeness and facilitate future dealings. In reality, whether one was recognized as a junior sibling depended on relationships. An outer disciple might call Li Yao senior sister just as Cao Xuan did, but the difference between the two was vast.

Seeing Bai Tianxiang continue explaining without rebuttal, Liu Yu’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction, casting a glance at Cao Xuan, who paid it no mind. Did a Golden Core cultivator’s lack of objection to your senior sibling status make you smug? In Cao Xuan’s view, strength was paramount; with enough cultivation, even if you called Xiangqiu junior sister, she wouldn’t refuse.

Bai Tianxiang explained, “Cultivation is self-explanatory—your current realm.”

“Aptitude refers to the quality of your spiritual roots: from one to nine refinements, supreme spiritual roots (or variant attribute roots), earth spiritual roots, heavenly spiritual roots, flawless spiritual roots—all are aptitude.”

“Talent is your aptitude for cultivating the Dao, also rated from one to nine. But unlike spiritual roots, talent is lowest at ninth grade and highest at first grade!”

“Physique refers to special constitutions, such as Water Spirit Body, Fire Spirit Body, and so on.”

“Of course, these are rare—usually it’s just used to determine bone age.”

After Bai Tianxiang’s explanation, everyone had to admit that Zhongzhou’s heritage far surpassed Yunzhou’s. Though she didn’t elaborate, all present understood the importance of these four qualities.

Just then, Chief Li Zhiyun of the Demon Dispelling Peak suddenly spoke, “Our junior uncle Xiangqiu…what were her test results?”

As the peak master, fiercely competitive by nature, she was naturally curious about the gap between herself and Xiangqiu. Though everyone called Xiangqiu junior uncle, the four peak masters were actually of similar age. When a peer was a whole generation above, curiosity was inevitable.

Bai Tianxiang’s gaze burned as she responded, “It’s no secret—everyone in Zhongzhou knows!”