The dragon, a mountain of scales and ancient power, dipped its colossal head. With a flick of a claw that could crush boulders, a small, yellowish talisman materialized, suspended in mid-air. Crimson runes, like tiny, frozen flames, adorned its surface. It drifted towards Riu Xian, carried on a gentle current of the dragon's Qi, like a leaf on a summer breeze.
Riu Xian plucked it from the air, the talisman feeling strangely warm against his palm. The runes pulsed faintly, as if alive. "Senior," he began, his voice still a little shaky, "how do I use it?"
"Just inject some of your spiritual energy into the talisman," the dragon rumbled, the sound vibrating deep within Riu Xian's chest. It sounded simple enough, yet the power emanating from the small piece of paper was anything but.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and focused. He pictured his destination: the base of Azure Radiance Peak, a familiar place far from this fiery abyss. Then, he carefully channeled a thin stream of his spiritual energy into the talisman.
The effect was immediate. The crimson runes flared, and the world twisted. It felt like his insides were being wrung out like a wet cloth, his body stretched and compressed like a piece of string being pulled taut. Nausea clawed at his throat. He clenched his jaw, fighting back a wave of bile that threatened to empty his stomach. His mind screamed, fighting to hold onto the image of his destination amidst the swirling chaos. A dizzying, swirling sensation overwhelmed him, and then, just as suddenly, it stopped.
He stumbled, his legs weak and shaky. Gone was the oppressive heat of the cave, replaced by the cool, crisp air of the mountain. He was standing at the foot of Azure Radiance Peak, the towering peak casting a long, comforting shadow over him. The scent of pine needles and damp earth filled his nostrils, a welcome change from the sulfurous air of the dragon's lair.
He leaned against a nearby tree, his stomach churning, his head throbbing. The world spun for a few agonizing minutes before finally settling. He took several deep breaths, willing his body to regain its equilibrium. Teleportation, it seemed, was not a pleasant experience.
Once the dizziness subsided, he straightened up and surveyed his surroundings. He was close enough. With a thought, his crimson sword materialized, humming softly as it floated beside him. He mounted it, the familiar surge of power a small comfort in the wake of his recent ordeal.
The ascent to his chambers was swift. He navigated the familiar path, his mind still reeling from the teleportation and the encounter with the dragon. He landed softly on the balcony outside his chambers and dismissed the sword with a flick of his wrist.
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Inside, the scent of incense and old parchment greeted him. He walked to his meditation mat, sat down, crossed his legs, and let out a long, shaky breath. His chambers weren't exactly home, not like the hidden cave beneath them felt, but they were a safe haven for now, a place to think.
The first order of business was to inform his master. He retrieved a blank transmission talisman from his spatial ring and channeled his spiritual energy into it, forming the words in his mind.
"Master," the message began, his voice echoing faintly in the quiet room, "I have emerged from seclusion. I have made a breakthrough to the later stage of Foundation Establishment."
He sent the message soaring, a tiny spark of light disappearing into the vast expanse of the sect. Now, he had to deal with the aftermath of his encounter with the dragon. And the looming problem of spirit stones.
His gaze drifted to his spatial ring, where the jade slip containing the Azure Dragon Mental Defense Technique rested. He would have to master it, and the terrifying sword technique, as soon as possible. But training required resources, and resources required spirit stones. And he was dangerously low.
His mind raced, weighing his options. He could sell the jade stone he had taken from the Supreme Elder's cave. It was valuable, no doubt, but who on this resource-poor continent would buy such a thing? Who would want a luxury item when they needed resources to cultivate? And besides, who could he even trust to sell it to? He scoffed internally. Perhaps I will use it to decorate my chamber or cave abode in the future, he thought sarcastically.
"Perhaps I could auction off some of the techniques, pills, or weapons left by supreme elder in the boat," he muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. But a wave of frustration washed over him as he remembered the seals placed on them. Only a cultivator of significantly higher cultivation could break them, and he certainly wasn't there yet. Selling them in their current state was impossible. He channeled a surge of his spiritual energy into the seal on one of the weapon scrolls, only to feel it bounce back harmlessly, a mocking reminder of his limitations.
He could take on sect missions, of course. But the rewards were meager, barely enough to cover his daily expenses, let alone fuel the boat. "The missions will give fewer spirit stones," he sighed, rubbing his temples. "And I need more... a lot more." The boat, like all powerful artifacts, demanded a significant investment of energy. He needed spirit stones, not just for the boat, but for his own cultivation. Stronger cultivation meant a better chance of survival, a greater ability to protect himself. It was a vicious cycle, and right now, he felt like he was starting from scratch. He stared at his practically empty spatial ring, the faint scent of the last high-quality spirit stone he'd used lingering within, a knot of anxiety tightening in his chest. He needed to find a way to acquire spirit stones, and fast. His growth, his very survival in this cutthroat world of cultivation, depended on it.
He was deep in thought, racking his brain for a solution to his spirit stone problem, when a new transmission talisman suddenly materialized before him, shimmering with a familiar energy. He recognized the aura instantly - his master's. He reached out, his heart pounding with a sudden premonition, and the talisman pulsed in his hand as his master's voice, tight with urgency, echoed in his mind: "Riu Xian, come to my chambers immediately. It's an emergency! It concerns your junior sister!"