Chapter 692 - 546: Arrival at the Central Continent

A night passed without a word.

Ji An left at dawn, flying to Yingri Peak, and silently activated the teleportation array, saying in a barely audible voice:

"Goodbye."

At this moment of parting, who knows when we’ll meet again.

The light and shadows on the teleportation array twisted; his vision blurred and then quickly cleared. By this time, he had already arrived at the Cyan Cloud Immortal City.

Stepping out of the teleportation array, he flew to the merchant flying ship, found the room specified by his ticket purchase, and entered.

The spiritual energy within the flying ship was exceedingly sparse, so cultivating could only rely on the Spirit Capturing Array within the room.

This kind of magic array shared the same principle as the Spirit Capturing Array used during the Qi Refining Stage, except powered by top-grade spirit stones.

He purchased the ticket at the Golden Core Cultivator level standard, and the Spirit Capturing Array could create a spiritual energy concentration of a Tier Three Lower Grade spiritual vein.

Each time, three top-grade spirit stones were loaded, allowing for cultivation over thirty-six double hours, which means each top-grade spirit stone could only sustain a day’s worth of cultivation, something undeniably expensive.

However, for Ji An, the spirit stones used to activate the array could be saved; having the Little World in hand meant he could hide in the Gourd World to cultivate with great peace of mind.

For now, Ji An had no intention to cultivate; he took out the bracelet given by his sect leader senior brother and wore it.

The stone set into the bracelet was a Grotto Void Stone; he extended his Divine Sense to observe it.

The space inside was even larger than his original Grotto Void Stone, with stacks of top-grade spirit stones neatly piled in rectangular shape at the center.

He counted the quantity, totaling one thousand six hundred top-grade spirit stones. He wondered how much of the sect’s spirit stone reserve this had used.

Including his original stockpile, his wealth was approaching three thousand top-grade spirit stones.

In recent years, the sect was not affluent, as a large amount of resources were spent on purchasing various knowledge inheritances. It takes a relatively long process to convert knowledge into wealth.

Apart from spirit stones, there were also many gift boxes sealed with Sealing Spirit Talismans. He opened each one, finding all to be Tier Three resources.

Currently, he couldn’t make use of them, but in the Central Continent, he could exchange them with other cultivators.

One gift box contained a Jade Slip, which Ji An placed on his forehead to view its contents; it was about the study of medicinal properties and pharmacology.

He carefully examined it, discovering it to be truly richer and more detailed than the contents he had obtained half a year ago.

"Truly not bad; the sect’s decades of investment were not in vain.

I can use Tier Three Red Cloud Pine Seeds as the main material to experiment and see if it’s possible to refine a pill similar to the Purple Flame Heart Protection Pill."

The Purple Flame Heart Protection Pill is a pill formula created by Han Yan, serving as an alternative to the Fire Dragon Heart Refining Pill.

If he could create a pill formula using Tier Three Red Cloud Pine Seeds as the main material, his cultivation speed would greatly increase.

The only way he obtains pills currently is through auctions, where pills to enhance cultivation are bound to stir intense competition among cultivators.

Though he’s relatively wealthy, endless extravagance is unsustainable.

Moreover, frequently standing out at auctions isn’t a good thing.

Displaying wealth inevitably draws covetous eyes, and encountering a Tribulation Cultivator is quite common; the cultivator’s level and moral character are unrelated.

In the Central Continent, he’s a lone soul and must be careful and cautious.

After inventorying all resources, Ji An walked out of the room to find a familiar acquaintance.

...

Golden Puppet Pavilion VIP Room.

Profound Wood Daoist Master wore a bitter smile. "I cannot understand why you, Daoist friend, chose to leave the Golden Spirit Sect."

He had confirmed the other was an extremely excellent Spirit Farmer, but without a Spirit Field, a Spirit Farmer was like a tiger without claws and fangs.

The other chose to head to the Central Continent; where could he find a Spirit Farmer for long-term stable collaboration?!

Ji An was puzzled, "What’s there not to understand? Resources in the Western Continent are relatively scarce. To quickly enhance cultivation, pills are indispensable; how many pills could be available while staying in the Western Continent?"

Enhancing cultivation is faster with the aid of external objects. Otherwise, slowly grinding to the late Golden Core level would be very difficult.

Western Continent sects lack Golden Core level pill formulas and cannot self-refine pills, mainly relying on supplies from the Central Continent Merchant Flying Ship.

But the pills provided by Middle Continent Cultivators aren’t enough for the Western Continent Golden Core Daoist Masters to share.

The situation in the Golden Spirit Sect is somewhat better; occasionally, a few pills can be obtained from the Southern Continent or the Far North.

It’s been over sixty years since breaking through to the Golden Core Stage, but Ji An himself has only consumed ten pills, equivalent to one pill every six years.

This greatly hinders the speed of his cultivation progress. If he continued to stay in the Western Continent, he would be surely wasting years, which he refuses to accept.

Profound Wood Daoist Master’s mouth twisted as he shifted the topic:

"After arriving in the Central Continent, what means does Daoist friend plan to make a living?"

If the other party hadn’t decided yet, he’d encourage leasing Spirit Field; even in the Central Continent, farming is feasible!

"In humble terms, I’m somewhat adept in alchemy and talisman making.

Currently, I can draw a Tier Three Upper Grade Spirit Stabilizing Talisman."

Profound Wood Daoist Master bore a skeptical expression. "What sort of talisman is a Spirit Stabilizing Talisman? I’ve never heard of it."

"It’s a type of magic talisman for defending against spirit soul attacks, likely a talisman created by Buddhist Cultivators."

Ji An handed over a Tier Three Upper Grade Spirit Stabilizing Talisman, saying:

"Fellow Daoist, you can have a look."

The surface of the Spirit Stabilizing Talisman flickered with a silver light. Even without activating it, holding it in hand, one could feel a peaceful aura.

"Not bad, judging by the degree of the talisman’s spirit light, it is indeed Tier Three Middle Grade.

However, this type of talisman isn’t very useful currently. It might be difficult to sell. Can you draw other types of talismans?"

Ji An showed a bitter smile, "I have no other talisman inheritances, I can only draw this type of Tier Three talisman. Do you know where I can buy others?"

It’s not that he didn’t want to learn to draw other kinds of Tier Three talismans, it’s that he couldn’t learn them.

To copy a gourd, one must have a gourd to refer to, and he didn’t have one.

Profound Wood Daoist Master shook his head, "I’ve come across very few Talisman Makers, I’m afraid I can’t help. Do you have any other skills?"

"I am also proficient in Alchemy, but I don’t have any Tier Three Pill Formulas to use, at present, I can only refine pills of Tier Two level.

May I ask, Fellow Daoist, if I want to purchase Golden Core level pill formulas, is there a way?"

Profound Wood Daoist Master scratched his head, "I know some Pill Medicine Shops sign agreements with Alchemists to start collaborations. If Alchemists can serve for a certain number of years and complete refining tasks on time, they can obtain a Tier Three Pill Formula."

"How many years of service are required? Can you specify which Tier Three Pill Formula to receive?"

"The service years usually span about two 60-year cycles. During this time, the alchemy tasks are quite heavy, but the rewards should not be lacking.

You can specify which pill formula to obtain. However, doing so would either require extending the service period or increasing the refining tasks."

Ji An slightly frowned, such conditions were rather harsh, but if there was no better way, he could only accept it reluctantly.

Before that, he had to work harder to see if he could experiment and come up with a Tier Three Pill Formula.

The two began to chat casually, and Profound Wood Daoist Master began to talk about the Merchant Flying Ship’s route.

"During flight, the ship consumes a large number of Top-grade Spirit Stones. To save Spirit Stones, the flight path is mostly straight, with very little detour.

Along the way, it will pass through many dangerous areas, or through Lands of Absolute Spiritlessness.

Generally speaking, the cultivators responsible for the ship’s security can resolve the dangers encountered. If they can’t solve them, they will issue a call to arms, and we can provide paid assistance in battles.

However, the ship’s safety is great. I haven’t heard of any robbery incidents in decades."

The Land of Absolute Spiritlessness is a place where various reasons have caused the area to desertify in terms of spiritual energy, where cultivators cannot replenish magical power through cultivation, only through taking pills or absorbing the spiritual energy from Spirit Stones.

The Land of Absolute Spiritlessness has always been vast, and if battles occur in such a place, it would be extremely disadvantageous for cultivators.

What’s even more frightening is that such Lands of Absolute Spiritlessness can actually give birth to a particular kind of Demon Beast: Desolate Beasts.

These creatures cannot cast any magic techniques but possess very strong physiques. If one is not careful, one might capsize in a ditch.

...

In the days that followed, Ji An would stroll around in the Merchant Flying Ship during his leisure time, meeting new friends and inquiring about news from the Central Continent.

Half a year flew by, and the Merchant Flying Ship officially entered the Central Continent’s region.

During this time, it encountered a few dangerous situations, but all were successfully resolved.

Another half month passed, and the ship landed in the Immortal City where the Cloud Sea Business Alliance Headquarters was located.

The terrain here is extremely high, and the Immortal City is shrouded in a light mist, which is the manifestation of spiritual energy reaching a certain density.

Profound Wood Daoist Master flew up riding the clouds, turned his head to look at the cultivators beside him, and proudly said:

"Fellow Daoist, welcome to Cloud Sea Immortal City! Isn’t the area here much larger than Cyan Cloud Immortal City?"

Ji An felt the surging tide of spiritual energy and nodded affirmatively:

"This Immortal City is actually situated on a Tier Three Middle Grade spiritual vein, opening my eyes!"

The sect’s main spiritual vein was only Tier Three Lower Grade, surprisingly not comparable to an Immortal City. The area of this Immortal City was roughly five times that of Cyan Cloud Immortal City.

But then again, this also fully proved the prosperity of the Cultivation Realm in the Central Continent.

"Haha," Profound Wood Daoist Master laughed heartily, feeling proud as he nodded, continuing to say:

"In the northern region of the Immortal City, grotto mansions can be rented, and Fellow Daoist can temporarily reside there.

If you rent long-term, there will be discounts."

"The eastern region of the Immortal City mainly consists of Pill Medicine Shops; they purchase materials and sell pills.

You can discuss about Tier Three Pill Formulas with them directly, just talk to those big shops."

"There are mainly two types of shops in the southern region of the Immortal City, namely inns and Artifact Refining Shops, some of which can refine Magical Treasures.

Their connections are extensive, and the masters have their own tempers. It’s best not to offend them..."

Profound Wood Daoist Master briefly introduced each area of the Immortal City, then said:

"I have to return to report to my elders, if you need anything, you can find me in the western region by mentioning Golden Puppet Sect’s name, and you’ll easily find us."

"Thank you for your explanation, Fellow Daoist."

Ji An switched the topic, inquiring about the matter he was most concerned about:

"Fellow Daoist, can the rented grotto mansions be used for breakthroughs to higher Great Realms?"

"Yes, but it needs to be stated in advance."

Hearing the definite answer, Ji An was immediately relieved, the Stone Turtle would like it here!