Chapter 762 598: A Foreboding Premonition

Wan Jinrong turned his head to look at the pavilion beside him, his eyebrows knit together as he smiled wryly:

"Since Fellow Daoist Ji arrived at the fortress, I can only see him once during fixed times, the rest of the time the doors are tightly closed."

He slowly exhaled, "Before, I thought my cultivation was considered diligent, but comparing to him, I'm far behind."

Wan Jinru lowered her voice, "Eighth Brother, do you happen to know Fellow Daoist Xuanqing's age?"

After pondering for a moment, Wan Jinrong replied:

"I don't know the exact age, but based on usual conversations and information gleaned, he is over two hundred and sixty, but less than three hundred.

He's around the same age as me. When we first met, I was already at the Five Qi Chaoyuan stage, while he was just beginning to seek insights into the Mutual Generation of Five Elements.

Later when we met again, we were both at the Second-layer Golden Core.

A few years passed, he broke through to the Third-layer Golden Core, I was seven years behind him."

He scratched his head and grinned:

"I have a bad feeling."

"What kind of premonition?" Wan Jinru asked curiously.

Wan Jinrong quickly shook his head, "Forget it, I won't say, it would make me seem awkward."

His premonition was that his cultivation would never surpass the other party, something he was unwilling to face.

Wan Jinru glanced at him sideways, showing the whites of her eyes:

"Most annoying are people like you, speaking half the story and then stopping.

I'm going back to rest, I have to patrol tomorrow, don't forget to take your pill."

"Thank you, dear sister, for reminding me, I won't forget. Tomorrow at 7:00 AM, I'll be waiting at Fellow Daoist Ji's pavilion door.

By the way, since settling here I've been very busy, and haven't had the chance to join the patrols.

Starting these past few months I've had some free time, so why not someday I join your team for patrol!"

Wan Jinrong smiled, having stayed at the forefront resisting the True Demon Tribulation, hidden in the fortress for three years without a fight seems unreasonable.

"Sure, as long as you can promise not to drag down the team."

"Hah, I'm a Golden Core Daoist Master, even if my magical combat skills are weak, I'm much stronger than a Chao Origin Stage cultivator.

I'll ask Fellow Daoist Ji if he'd like to join, if he's willing, your team will have two strong fighters!"

Wan Jinrong hands on hips, "Just worried the formation will be too strong, scaring off the True Demons and Yin Demons."

Wan Jinru scoffed, "Whether demons will flee I don't know, but I know with such an attitude you'll suffer losses in patrol missions.

Outside the fortress isn't safe, negligence will lead to disastrous consequences.

Since taking charge of the team, twelve have died, forty-eight heavily injured, core team members replaced by half."

Chastised by his sister, Wan Jinrong felt embarrassed and impatiently waved his hand:

"Go rest quickly, don't delay your task for tomorrow."

...

Cloud Sea Immortal City, over forty miles northwest of Black Stone Mountain is a small valley, where there's a Tier Two top-quality spiritual vein node, with a grotto mansion for lease.

Lin Jiuxiao walked out of the grotto mansion, riding the Sword Light in flying escape.

Having been at Cloud Sea Immortal City for about half a year, he didn't expect the situation in the Central Continent to change so drastically, with the sect's Daoist Masters thinking there would be over a century of peaceful times, now that seems impossible.

Upon returning to the Western Continent, he must inform the sect to prepare early.

When the True Demon Tribulation fully erupts, the Western Continent will also be shrouded in demon fog, before leaving he must obtain the purification array construction blueprints.

In the last True Demon Tribulation, the Western Continent was still the domain of Demon Beasts, most of them low in intelligence, not needing consideration for such complex matters, the woes of human cultivators increased.

Not long thereafter, Lin Jiuxiao arrived at the peak of Black Stone Mountain.

Seeing the lush Azure Dragon Wood within the magic array, he smiled knowingly.

Judging by the light emitted from the trees, planted here were spirit woods reaching Tier Three spiritual materials level.

The information he received was that Senior Brother Ji planted them after leasing the grotto mansion, meaning the opposite claimed to be able to cultivate Tier Three spiritual materials in only thirty years.

In this half-year mixing in the Immortal City, Lin Jiuxiao realized its prosperity, such strong planting skills from his senior brother assured no future resource shortages.

"Have to wait another year, so long."

Lin Jiuxiao sighed, feeling bad from having no means for livelihood, the experience of squandering while idling.

Carrying too many resources, he dared not take adventurous actions, only staying in the grotto mansion.

Aside from daily cultivation, he would come to hover above this patch of forest, feeling inner peace here.

...

Gourd World.

Ji An sat cross-legged under the Gathering Essence Tree, the spiritual energy vortex containing five-colored specks poured downwards.

Dreamlike colors attracted 'many' eyes, Dahuang, Golden Fur, Cyan Deer, Earth Qilin, and others watched their master cultivate this scene.

Although it was seen once daily, the strong spiritual pressure released from the spiritual energy vortex was irresistible to 'people'.

Moments later, as the vortex gradually dissipated, the scrutinizing gazes shifted elsewhere.

Ji An slowly finished his cultivation, opening his eyes, in which brilliance flickered.

"Truly good," a smile emerged on his face, during his cultivation he perceived the mid-stage Golden Core bottleneck slightly loosen.

This was the first time feeling the loosening phenomenon of bottleneck, years of persistence paying off, showing he is on the correct path forward.

Ji An stood up, stretched his body for a while, then sat on a nearby vine chair.

His mind sank into his dantian, connecting with the Upper Stone Turtle, lines of text unfolded in his sea of consciousness resembling the elegance of ink painting landscapes.

[Master: Ji An]

[Dao Rhyme: Metal 46.8, Water 39.6, Wood 41.3, Fire 42.4, Earth 41.5]

[Spiritual Mechanism: Kan Spirit 5785.5, Gen Spirit 10285.6, Zhen Spirit 51836.7, Xun Spirit 3156.4, Kun Spirit 46893.5, Qian Spirit 42036.4, Dui Spirit 37126.8, Li Spirit 16.3]

[Magic Technique: Spirit Sealing Technique (Perfection 66%)

Spirit Roar (Perfection 9%)

Silk Thread Spell (Perfection 1%)

Bing Fire Divine Thunder (Perfection 95%)

Gui Water God Thunder (Great Success 74%)

Yi Wood Spirit Stealing Skill (Great Success 68%)]

In the past two years, apart from training and completing tasks, Ji An focused on enhancing the Bing Fire Divine Thunder. The Fire Thunder Technique was close to being perfected.

He shouted to the puppet busy nearby:

"Little Bai, brew a pot of Phoenix Dance Danxia Tea."

The puppet was diligent and increasingly capable, so he gave it a common name.

Little Bai stopped its task and immediately executed the command, showing its obedience.

A moment later, the hot tea was served, and Ji An drank it straight from the pot without using a cup.

For Golden Core Daoist Masters, freshly brewed hot tea was merely a bit warm to the throat and posed no harm.

The higher a cultivator's cultivation, the greater the difference from ordinary people.

After putting down the teapot, Ji An took out a Tier Three Middle Grade Li Fire Immortal Apricot and quickly ate it.

He once again focused his mind onto the Dantian to connect with the Upper Stone Turtle, "Refine the Spirit Mechanism, enhance the Bing Fire Divine Thunder."

With the command issued, his Divine Sense entered the mysterious space opened by the Stone Turtle and landed at the Li Position.

The region where his left foot stepped turned golden red, extending outward. The area on his right turned bright red.

Left for Yang, right for Yin, clearly defined.

The shadow of his Divine Sense made a spell gesture, casting the spell, and the Bing Fire Divine Thunder roared in the void.

The Spiritual Mechanism quickly decreased, while Ji An's experience in casting the Bing Fire Divine Thunder and his comprehension of the Thunder Technique significantly increased.

When the Spiritual Mechanism was no longer sufficient to support further enhancement, his Divine Sense returned to his body.

[Magic Technique: Bing Fire Divine Thunder (Perfection 95%→98%)]

Ji An snapped his fingers joyfully, laughing heartily, saving about five hundred more points of Spiritual Mechanism—equivalent to more than three months of the Stone Turtle's absorption.

After calming his laughter, Ji An continued to issue commands for further enhancement, as holding onto the Spiritual Mechanism wouldn't create greater value, at least not in the current situation.

"Refine the Spirit Mechanism, enhance the Gui Water God Thunder."

Divine Sense once again entered the Stone Turtle's space, standing at the Kan Position.

The area where the shadow's left foot stepped surged with waves, yet visually, all the waves seemed to be underfoot.

The right foot's area remained calm, without a single ripple. Once the Kan Spirit was depleted, the script in the Sea of Consciousness changed.

[Magic Technique: Gui Water God Thunder (Great Success 74%→Perfection 3%)]

"Refine the Spirit Mechanism, enhance the Yi Wood Spirit Stealing Skill."

[Magic Technique: Yi Wood Spirit Stealing Skill (Great Success 68%→Perfection 1%)]

Before leaving Wulan Mountain, Ji An's Bing Fire Divine Thunder would certainly reach the Great Perfection Level. The next priority for enhancement was the Gui Water God Thunder.

While feeling joyful, he also sighed deeply. If he had stayed in Cloud Sea Immortal City over the past three years, he could have gained at least two to three hundred Dao Ryhme points.

...

The next day, several stacks of talismans and two jade bottles were placed on the attic's living room table.

Zhang Haoyang set the storage bag filled with materials on the table and began counting the talismans and pills.

"Senior, this time you submitted one hundred and ten Purifying Talismans, ninety of which are Top-grade Talismans, the rest are Middle Grade;

Seven Spirit Stabilizing Talismans, five Top-grade;

Fifteen Vajra Pills, twelve high-quality pills."

Each time he came to deliver materials, Zhang Haoyang always did so with reverence, as the Daoist Master's skills were so exquisite, it left him in awe.

The other party, unlike other cultivators who experienced state fluctuations, consistently displayed great strength with stable performance.

"The numbers are correct," Ji An checked the materials in the storage bag, "The quantity and quality of the materials are fine."

Knowing it was time to leave, Zhang Haoyang bowed and saluted, saying:

"Farewell for now, I will return tomorrow."

After he left, Wan Jinrong walked in, smiling and saying:

"It's really hard to meet you, Fellow Daoist."

Ji An stood up, "What are you saying, Fellow Daoist? I always said you could come to me if there's anything, please sit."

After chatting briefly, Wan Jinrong spoke of his current physical condition and asked:

"Have you experienced this symptom?"

Ji An nodded slightly, then shook his head, saying:

"Yes, but the symptoms are extremely mild. I thought it was a minor emotional fluctuation."

He did not give an entirely truthful response because he spends most of his time in the Little World, and the Demon Fog's influence could not penetrate the spatial barrier to enter the Little World.

"You must possess greater resistance, enviable!"

Wan Jinrong's tone shifted, asking:

"I need to buy some Vajra Pills for treatment, and also need to purchase a batch for future needs. How much can you sell me, Fellow Daoist?"