Astonished, Yu Ci then laughed, "You're really going to bleed for this!"

In the hunting team, every Cultivator knew that Elder Fan possessed a large-capacity Storage Ring, which was his most valuable possession. Serving as the "shelf" of a peddler, goods constantly flowed in and out, yet it was never filled to the brim. Even if there were no large items inside, it was still quite impressive.

The most basic standard for a storage container was its capacity and space stability. The latter aside, the larger the former, the higher its value. Such a treasure was hard for Elder Fan to protect with his current strength. So, he gritted his teeth and used a Life-Binding Blood Curse, linking his life force with the ring. If anyone threatened his life, the Storage Ring would be damaged instantly, thwarting any ill intentions.

However, times change. For the matter weighing on his heart, if Yu Ci agreed at this moment, he would risk a significant loss of Primordial Qi, dissolve the blood curse, and take the risk of removing the ring.

After stating his price, Elder Fan stared at Yu Ci, his heart filled with apprehension.

Yu Ci shook his head. The Storage Ring was not a rare item. After returning to his Sect, he could obtain one by simply reporting it. Yu Ci always felt that there was no need for it to be too large, as long as it was sufficient. The terms offered by Elder Fan held no appeal for him. Even if Elder Fan truly offered a treasure that could move his heart, considering the "troublemaker" who had carried him and Gan Shi Zhen thousands of miles, he would not change his previous decision.

Just as he was about to refuse, Yu Ci suddenly sensed something.

Fifty li away in the forest, a "bright" world suddenly opened up, perceived by him. The feeling was all too familiar to Yu Ci, being the state of his Soul Sending observing living beings from a different perspective. However, this time, the target of his Soul Sending was not a Fish-Dragon or a large bird, but a creature he had almost forgotten.

The forest branches were growing wildly, rapidly approaching and then receding, indicating that the target of Soul Sending was moving at high speed. Accompanying him were seven or eight people, who had quickly closed the distance to within forty li, finally stopping under a cliff.

"This deal is as good as done, with our careful planning."

The hoarse voice came from the target of the Soul Sending, and someone nearby responded, "The most important thing is to contact our inside man and prepare. After all, You Gongquan is at the Golden Elixir Cultivation Level. If he decides to run, we won't be able to stop him."

Yu Ci was slightly taken aback, not expecting to stumble upon such a situation.

He remembered now, the target of his Soul Sending was the Lake Sea Wanderer who had descended from the Mountain Moving Cloud Boat that day, accompanied by a beautiful woman. He had impulsively driven his Divine consciousness starlight into the man's Brain Palace that day and had forgotten about it afterwards. Unexpectedly, after many days, they "reunited" thousands of miles away from the dock.

The inscrutable red-robed female cultivator was nowhere to be seen.

Just as he wanted to listen more closely, his heart skipped a beat as he remembered something. His method of Soul Sending could only touch a single sensory level. Just like when he used the Fish-Dragon to spy on Master Bi Chao, he could either listen but not see, or see but not hear, the limitations were quite significant.

Yet at this moment, he could not only hear human voices clearly, but the surrounding scenery and the figures nearby were also vaguely visible. As he focused his intention, the outlines and colors became increasingly vivid.

Comparing the past and the present, Yu Ci had a clearer sense of his own progress. At present, he could only see and perceive, but he had a vague feeling that if he were to further refine his skills in the future, his goal should be to exhaust all six senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and thought. However, he did not know when that would be.

Lake Sea Wanderer held a high status among these people and was still the one to speak: "There are quite a few strong hands in the hunting group. Although not many are willing to risk their lives for You Gongquan, we still have to be cautious. Have you figured out the details of the person who joined us a few days ago?"

When the topic shifted to him, Yu Ci paid more attention and heard someone say, "We only know his name is Yu Ci..."

"Yu Ci? Does anyone know where this man comes from?"

Everyone shook their heads: "Never heard of him."

"We are all outsiders and are unfamiliar with the Broken Realm Mountain area."

"He doesn't seem to be a well-known figure."

It was still the first person who spoke: "They say that You Gongquan often talks to him, but has never asked about his background."

Lake Sea Wanderer, who had seen all corners of rivers and lakes, laughed at these words: "This is both trying to curry favor and keeping a respectful distance, wanting to make friends but not wanting to cause trouble. Such small tricks show a lack of courage. No need to say, this man will not risk his life for You Gongquan. But I heard that the woman he brought with him is a stunning beauty?"

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"We've heard, we've heard!"

Once this topic was brought up, everyone became excited:

"Yes, when that lad first brought the beauty out, everyone was stunned."

"They say she's enchantingly beautiful, but it's a pity that her health is not good. She's always lying in the Cloud Floating Carriage, and that boy is always by her side, guarding her very closely. Tsk, he's so clingy, how can she get better?"

At these words, everyone laughed heartily. Seeing the lively atmosphere, Lake Sea Wanderer praised them and laughed, "Once we're done here, let's go see this sick beauty and rescue this poor soul from that uncompassionate boy. Then we brothers can comfort her properly!"

The crowd cheered loudly, and someone jokingly said, "Ah, now I understand. The rare occasion that Hu Hai Taoist Leader is separated from Beauty Chu today is because of this."

Underneath this cliff, there was another uproar. Lake Sea Wanderer was not annoyed at all, but laughed, "You guys just lack experience. When I comfort a beauty, I never hide it from others. Besides, for some ungrateful ones who need a bit of twisting and turning, I always have Miss Chu do it for me!"

As his words fell, there was a burst of laughter and strange shouts. Dozens of miles away, Yu Ci also laughed, his smile cold as ice.

Under the Cloud Floating Carriage, Elder Fan was still standing with his body bent. Earlier, he had seen Yu Ci shake his head and was initially disappointed. However, he noticed that Immortal Yu was silent with his eyes closed, his facial expression changing in a strange way. He didn't know why, but he thought that the actions of a wise man were always mysterious and unpredictable. He dared not disturb him and just kept his eyes on the large bird on the carriage.

Upon opening his eyes, Yu Ci beheld Elder Fan's countenance, nodded slightly, and without further ado, said, "Do me a favor, please invite Brother You Dao over, tell him I have urgent matters to discuss with him."

Caught off guard, Elder Fan dared not refuse and spun around to scurry off.

Yu Ci sat atop the chariot, a cold smile playing on his lips. No matter how meticulous their plans, they could not have predicted that a month ago, Yu Ci had already planted a "nail" in their key figures. Their schemes had become a laughing stock.

Those scoundrels, they would pay for their reckless audacity.

Amid the swirling murderous intent and looming pressure, Yu Ci's Spirit Platform was surprisingly serene, his thoughts flowing freely, without a hint of deliberate effort.

The Inner Void of the Heart opened on its own accord. With a shift of his thoughts, he merged with the Mental Image of the Fish-Dragon, forgetting his Physical Image, merging wholly with the Mental Image, roaming in the void. At this moment, he could sense the movement of the Primordial Qi of heaven and earth, but it was as if there was a veil separating him, making it somewhat unclear.

This was the barrier between the "Inner Void of the Heart" and the outside world. However, at this moment, this dense "membrane" had opened a few extremely tiny holes, and the outside Primordial Qi seeped in drop by drop.

Normally, the "Inner Void of the Heart" is a space of self-imagery, based on the Physical Image, but independent of the real world, with no connection between the inside and the outside. Yet Yu Ci's case was somewhat different. Initially, he used an "external object", the Divine Bronze Mirror, to reflect the Mental Image. The Divine Bronze Mirror was extremely unique, from the beginning, his "Inner Void of the Heart" was connected to the outside world.

It was precisely because of this and a series of fortuitous coincidences that he absorbed the Qi of the Heavenly Dragon True Form. The powerful instinct of the Qi of the Heavenly Dragon True Form had a great craving for the Primordial Qi of heaven and earth, causing changes in the "Inner Void of the Heart", reaching the preliminary stage of "Energy Introduction" as mentioned by Elder Jie Liang.

Opening the void, introducing energy, completing inner and outer, and unifying heaven and earth - these four stages are the four ascending stages of the "Primordial Root Qi Method".

In simple terms, these four realms involve opening the Inner Void of the Heart, introducing the outside Primordial Qi into it, using it to evolve various inner landscapes of Divine Power, and ultimately "connecting the inner and outer voids" to merge them into one, indistinguishable from each other. The "Mental Image" freely moves in and out of the inner and outer voids, unimpeded - a complete process.

Previously, Yu Ci had no insight into this and could not comprehend its essence. It was not until He Qing enlightened him, and he sought advice from Elder Jie Liang, that he understood that the greatest value of the "Primordial Root Qi Method" is not merely a basic Primordial Qi Method for learning the Elixir Formula, but a new pathway that integrates the essence of Lichen Sect's morality, learning, and discipline.

To discuss the effects of the "Primordial Qi Method" alone, the mere act of void creation to form a Mental Image is sufficient. Following this, it is a long process of accumulation and nourishment, until the furnace's fire is pure blue, naturally setting the Mechanism of the cauldron, and condensing into the Golden Elixir.

In other words, Yu Ci has already completed ninety percent of what should be done in the "Primordial Qi Method" stage. What remains is a lengthy process of refining and purifying. It may take three to five years, or perhaps eight to ten years, until the predetermined level is reached, and then the attempt to form the Golden Elixir can be made.

This is a path that almost all Cultivators must take. After all, in today's world, regardless of whether they belong to Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Demonism, or any other miscellaneous school, whether they seek the Golden Elixir, the Relic, the Heavenly Demon Core, or the Saint's Heart, they are all more or less influenced by the Path of Alchemy. The Path of Alchemy's ingenious methods dominate the world, and one cannot circumvent or leave it in cultivation. It is the orthodox of all sects.

However, Elder Jie Liang's "Primordial Root Qi Method" starts with the Talisman and the Storing Thoughts Technique, opens the Inner Void of the Heart, controls the Physical Image with the Mental Image, and vaguely allows one to see a path to the peak outside of the great Dao. Regardless of its practicality, it possesses unparalleled value!

Yu Ci is now at a very delicate point. Ordinary people can only nourish and cultivate their origins, accumulate years, and follow the usual path, but Yu Ci has an additional choice. That is to push the "Primordial Root Qi Method" to another realm and continue to study it.

He did not hesitate. How could he miss any opportunity to climb upwards?

At this moment, You Gongquan came over with doubts.

After a night's rest, the hunting party set off. Yu Ci still sat in the Cloud Floating Carriage, taking care of the unconscious Gan Shi Zhen. The floating car was originally prepared for the injured and was very comfortable, but driving it required a specially made crystal, which was expensive. Yu Ci used the Divine Bronze Mirror to lock onto the Golden-Eyed Poisonous Ape in the vast forest and captured it alive, shocking the entire hunting party. Most people gave him an assessment of being "unfathomably deep."

The sun rose over the mountain, and at this moment, someone outside shouted, "Brother Yu Dao, do you have a moment? My master invites you to move your carriage for a chat."

Yu Ci opened his eyes, the corners of his lips slightly hooked, his eyes cold and piercing.

...