On the Nebula Continent, where sects abound, cultivators who lack the aid of medicinal pills will ruin themselves and still manage only the most meager progress.
For any sect desiring prosperity and revitalization, having an alchemist is of the utmost importance.
I eagerly opened the storage bag my father had given me. Inside were two cultivation techniques: 《Seven-Wounding Anti-Quake Fist》 and 《Dragon-Suppressing Eight-Stage Collapse》. Just hearing their names made them sound overwhelmingly domineering. Before studying the techniques, however, I needed to raise my cultivation level.
The path of true cultivation has nine stages in total:
Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Deity Transformation, Void Refinement, Integration, Mahayana, and Tribulation Transcendence.
It is not hard to imagine that once one's cultivation reaches Tribulation Transcendence, one ascends to become an immortal. The path of immortality is further divided into three great realms: Immortal Venerable, Immortal Sage, and Immortal Emperor. Across the entire vast cosmos, within both the mortal cultivation world and the Immortal Realm, those who have successfully transcended the Tribulation and become true immortals over the span of millions of years are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. In any given universe, having even a few Void Refinement stage masters is already considered a blessing.
In the cultivation world, the strong are supreme. Since I hadn't even broken through the Qi Condensation stage yet, I had better spend tonight in seclusion and practice.
Earlier, I had vaguely noticed that besides the cultivation techniques, the Storage Ring also contained a middle-grade Earth-tier magical tool—the Divine Thunder Spear—along with a few bottles of Qi Condensation pills and nourishing fluid. My plan was to take a Recovery Pill first, then draw a large tub of water for a bath, pouring in some of the nourishing fluid meant for Qi Condensation. The thick green liquid slowly poured into the tub. This was truly a divine existence; it would be a waste not to use it. Who knows, once I finish it, father might give me a few more bottles of Qi Condensation pills in a few days.
Bathing naked in the nourishing fluid, the meridians throughout my body began to circulate. Waves of spiritual qi surged from the inside out, and the water in the tub shifted from deep green to light green, showing that it had been absorbed by my body. I felt refreshed, my meridians cleared, and a current of energy flowed freely through my dantian. This also meant my ruined spiritual roots had been repaired.
Now that my spiritual roots were mended, I finally let out a sigh of relief. I used to be a genius, only to become good for nothing after being struck by lightning. Ah, there's no need to be discouraged! In the cultivation continent, the things least lacking are cultivation techniques, miraculous elixirs, and secret manuals left behind by powerful figures. How wonderful it would be if I could stumble upon some.
Yesterday, I watched my father take some refined pills and present them to the grand sect leader. The grand elder was overjoyed upon seeing the pills and gave my father five hundred Spirit Stones. Yesterday, father called me over and comforted me, saying, "Son, take these five hundred Spirit Stones and use them. Father has food and drink, so I don't need them." I hurriedly thanked my father and then said, "Tomorrow, senior sister and I are heading down the mountain. I want to look around the Lingyun Market." Father didn't speak further, which seemed to mean he permitted it.
The next afternoon, senior sister wore a pink outfit, looking every bit like Jiutian Xuanü—exceptionally lovely. She held a sword in her hand, saying she would protect me if there was any danger. Her sword was named the Snow-Sealed Plain Ice Sword; its hilt was green, and its red blade emitted an icy sword qi, wreathed in faint spiritual qi. The entire sword flashed with an eerie light in the sunlight. It seemed senior sister practiced an ice-attribute cultivation technique.
Channeling spiritual qi, senior sister condensed formless sword qi into powerful ice energy, freezing the small stream in front of the door three feet deep with a single strike. I exclaimed in surprise, "How formidable!"
Senior sister and I smiled at each other. Actually, I had also made progress recently and was about to break through the bottleneck of the Qi Condensation stage. I had read through the cultivation techniques father gave me once and remembered most of them. If I were to encounter loose cultivators at the Qi Condensation stage or the like, I could easily handle them.
As soon as I finished speaking, senior sister Ye Hong said, "If we walk, it will probably take more than an hour. Flying on a sword is the fastest way." I spoke up, "Senior sister, carry me. I'm not afraid." Senior sister circulated her qi and told me to sit tight. I placed both my hands on her shoulders, and with a whoosh, we shot up into midair. Many disciples on the ground cast gazes of envy and jealousy. If senior brother Feng Qing saw this, wouldn't he fall right into a vinegar jar? Thinking of this, I chuckled heartily.
"Senior sister, look, wow, there's a bustling market over there!" This was the Lingyun Market. From morning till evening every day, it was exceptionally crowded. On the cultivation continent, regardless of whether you were a loose cultivator or a disciple of some sect, you had to use Spirit Stones for transactions when buying things here. "Senior sister, how much money did you bring this time?" Senior sister shook her head and said, "I can't tell you. You'll know when we get there."
Before long—perhaps only the time it takes to burn half an incense stick—we arrived at the Lingyun Market. Here, the conversations of people, the sounds of bargaining, and the roaring displays of spellcraft intertwined to form a bustling, fantastically colorful scroll of a market.
What came into view were three large stone pillars. These pillars were not much worse than the stone pillars of our Zixiao Sect's mountain gate, and they were quite thick. Resembling a long dragon embedded in the earth, the huge stone gate was carved with ancient and mysterious runes that emitted a faint glow, as if guarding this bustling place.
Walking through the stone gate, a broad bluestone avenue unfolded before our eyes. Stalls lined both sides of the road, dazzling the eye with all sorts of cultivation technique books. The secret manuals were wreathed in faint wisps of spiritual qi. An old man sat before us on a rustic stool, and I stepped forward to ask the price. Damn it, even this pirated book cost twenty Spirit Stones! I wasn't interested, so I walked around to look further—maybe there would be something more suitable for me.
The hawking cries around us were simply too loud. Seeing that I was handsome and debonair, they must have taken me for some wealthy young master, while senior sister looked like some noble young lady from a prominent family. The bosses at many stalls rushed to pitch their wares, making my head spin. What a pity! I didn't bring many Spirit Stones! Haha...