The Great Song State, Ning Prefecture,
This land was known for its rivers and lakes-dotted territory, with marshy lands and sparsely populated areas.
The prefecture that governed over seventy-two counties was vast in its reach, and among them was Lin'an County, located in the northernmost region. Lin'an County was known for being the smallest and least prosperous among the seventy-two counties, with limited resources and development compared to its counterparts.
In this county, there were only two mortal towns that could be found along the river coast. These towns were humble and simple, providing for the needs of the mortal population. However, there was one exception to the norm - the immortal city of Shangxing.
Shangxing was a city that had been founded long before the Great Song era, and it boasted a population of approximately four hundred thousand cultivators. It was known for its prosperity, thriving on trade and commerce. Shangxing was a bustling hub of activity, with cultivators from all over the region flocking to the town to trade, exchange knowledge, and further their cultivation paths.
Shangxing stood as a beacon of success and opportunity for cultivators, drawing them with its reputation and bustling atmosphere.
It was a famous trading center for goods and services from the West, particularly spiritual silk and cloth that were sold throughout the lands of the Northern plains.
Although The bustling city of Shangxing faced a daunting challenge. All the land trade routes and roads through the northern plains were blocked by a group of fearsome monsters and treacherous flooded waterways. As a result, riverboats became the only viable option for merchants to transport their valuable goods to and from the city port.
However, this mode of transportation was not without its risks. The riverboats were frequented by the aquatic monsters that plagued them, making traveling by riverboats a perilous venture. Despite the dangers, merchants braved the treacherous waters in hopes of securing lucrative trade deals.
One such merchant was returning from a successful expedition, his boat laden with precious merchandise. In a secluded room of the merchant's boat, a young man of sixteen years sat cross-legged on a blue futon, dressed in a blue shirt. His features were striking, with sword-like eyebrows and sharp facial contours. His curly black hair seemed to flicker like flames dancing across his forehead.
With his eyes closed, the young man breathed in a rhythmic pattern, holding a rock in his hand. As he inhaled, a white mist emanated from the rock, enveloping his body in a hazy aura. Within the mist, dots of blue light sparkled and grew brighter, casting an otherworldly glow around the young man.
Time passed, and the white mist gradually transformed into a piercing blue hue. The mist then condensed into razor-thin threads of streaming mist, which the young man inhaled through his nose. As he exhaled, a breath that was black and pungent, resembling inky smoke, escaped his lips.
The young man in the blue shirt possessed sword-like eyebrows, sharp features, and a mane of curly black hair that resembled flames dancing across his forehead. His body was both muscular and slim, exuding an aura of strength, his skin, oozed a black, sticky liquid that poured out of his body like boiling lava.
Sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, the young man breathed in a strange rhythm. As he inhaled and exhaled, a white mist emanated from a rock held in his hand, enveloping his body in a hazy aura. After a while, the mist was disrupted and within the mist, dots of blue light emerged, each growing larger until they resembled the moon shining brilliantly in a starless night sky.
With the passage of time, the white mist gradually transformed into a vivid blue hue. The mist condensed into razor-thin threads of streaming mist, which the young man inhaled through his nose. In turn, he exhaled a breath that was black and pungent, akin to inky smoke.
The young man's mysterious ritual continued, as the blue mist entered his body in thin streams with each breath. His body seemed to absorb the mist as if drawing power from it. The transformation was mesmerizing, as the mist and the dots of blue light danced around him in a captivating display of otherworldly energy.
After a while, the blue mist around the young man dissipated, and he tightly closed his eyes before opening them again with a feral smile on his rather plain face.
"Finally reached the First layer of Qi refinement," he spoke to himself, stretching his hands as he stood up. However, his face scrunched up as an overwhelming smell hit him. His entire body was covered in black goo that emitted a pungent odor worse than anything he had ever encountered.
Quickly making his way to an open window, the young man jumped out, falling from a great height to land in the river below, taking no damage. As he entered the water, the surroundings changed dramatically. The once-dark water turned greenish-yellow, resembling the color of rotten eggs. Then, it became murky with a hint of purple, resembling a pool of muddy water that had been disturbed by some unseen force.
The young man resurfaced after splashing himself a few times, and to his surprise, he noticed that the boat was now about five yards away from him. With a wave of his hand, the water around him bent and changed shape, forming a small wave that began to carry him towards the ship, as if the water was obediently following his will. As soon as he neared the boat, someone threw a wooden ladder, allowing him to climb aboard with ease.
Moving with astonishing nimbleness and speed, the young man blurred into the boat, almost as if he had teleported, and landed gracefully on the deck. It was clear that he possessed exceptional control over the elements, bending them to his will with ease.
As the young man approached the boat, a wooden ladder was thrown at him, allowing him to climb aboard. With astonishing nimbleness and speed, he moved, almost blurring into the boat, as if he had teleported, and landed with perfect precision on the deck. His movements were fluid and graceful, a testament to his exceptional agility and control over his body.
"Greetings, Master Li Jun," the young man spoke in a deep voice, offering a respectful greeting to the middle-aged man standing on the stern. Li Jun appeared to be in his late twenties, but his weathered face and prematurely white hair made him seem much older. He was dressed in the same dark grey robe as the young man, and his hair was neatly styled behind him.
"Welcome back onboard Master Lin, I must say the crew has gotten used to your antics," Li Jun said casually, waving his hand towards the men and women who were diligently working on the boat, seemingly unfazed by the soaking-wet youth who had just jumped overboard.
The young man's face turned red with embarrassment as he realized that his impulsive act had caused a delay. He quickly climbed up onto the deck and pulled himself to his feet.
"Thank you, Master Li Jun. I'm afraid I was careless and caused a delay," the young man replied politely, his voice filled with contrition. Li Jun turned towards the young man and gave him a once-over, his piercing gaze taking in every detail of the young man's appearance.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"Master Lin, we shall reach our destination tomorrow morning at dawn," Li Jun said, stepping forward with a commanding presence that made the air tremble. His voice was loud and strong, carrying a tone of authority. "And I would prefer to have a quiet journey, so please refrain from jumping into the river or catching any monsters."
Li Jun's voice sounded calm, but there was an underlying tone of threat that sent a shiver down the young man's spine. He quickly nodded in agreement, bowing slightly to his host. Li Jun acknowledged the gesture with a nod before dismissing the young man to prepare for the journey.
As the young man walked away, a familiar sensation stirred in his stomach, a rumble of protest. With a determined stride, he made his way below deck to his room. The morning had been long and eventful, and he was eager to satisfy his appetite. The thought of the hot meal that awaited him made his mouth water, and the anticipation only fueled his resolve to ignore the persistent growling of hunger that gnawed at his belly. He knew that he couldn't afford to weaken his resolve, especially considering the challenges he would be facing.
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With a skip and a hop, I made my way to the cabin, my feet barely touching the ground. Lately, I found myself feeling happy and content without any specific purpose in mind. I couldn't quite explain why, but perhaps it was because I felt free from the pressures of success, the worries of tomorrow, and the burdens of bills and responsibilities. For the first time in my life, I felt a sense of joy and wonder at what each new day would bring.
Arriving at the cabin door, I pushed it open and stepped inside, shutting it behind me with a soft sigh of relief. I took a moment to survey the familiar surroundings of the cabin - a desk, a bookshelf, and a bed. Without hesitation, I discarded my soaked clothes and moved toward my writing desk.
The desk in my cabin was made of rich, dark wood and was large enough to accommodate two people with three arms and two legs. It looked incredibly comfortable, with its plush cushioning and inviting design. The wood had a deep hue that bordered on black, adding a touch of elegance to the simple yet functional furniture. In fact, aside from the furniture, there wasn't much else in my small cabin - just a single-sized bed that was clean and unadorned.
Despite its simplicity, the cabin felt like home, and I cherished the solitude it offered. No one could enter without my permission, which meant I could work, think, and dream undisturbed. Although I wouldn't mind the occasional company, I found solace in the quiet moments of introspection.
As I stared blankly at the wooden floorboards of the cabin, my thoughts wandered to my future. I couldn't help but glance at the black obsidian ring on my right forefinger one of the two things left to me by Xiao wan The Vampire,
My spiritual consciousness sank into the ring, and I was immediately greeted by a familiar presence. A soft smile spread across my face as I surveyed the contents of the ring through my spiritual sense.
The spacious area within the ring spanned around two hectares of land, and it was filled with an impressive collection of spiritual resources. I could sense the energy radiating from the 298,654 low-grade spirit stones, the 25,000 mid-grade spirit stones, with each mid-grade stone equivalent to Ten thousand low-grade stones, and the 3,000 high-grade middle stones, with each high-grade stone roughly equivalent to 10,000 Mid-grade stones.
The abundance of spirit stones alone was enough to make my heart race with excitement.
In addition to the spirit stones, there were also two top-grade second-order spiritual trees, which would serve as first-order spiritual veins. These trees released free spiritual Qi and were considered the lowest-grade spiritual veins in existence.
It was a rare and precious resource, as spiritual veins were not something that could be cultivated and nurtured with great care but rather originated from Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
Spirit stones and spirit plants were not the only things of value in the ring there were rows of shelves that housed various pills, plants, and herbs. It was a treasure trove of valuable resources, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the wealth of spiritual treasures.
The Right, Row consisted of shelves, that were small glass bottles filled with pills. These pills were made by alchemists and were used for various purposes such as enhancing cultivation, healing injuries, and increasing strength. I had a variety of pills, ranging from low-grade to high-grade pills, There were Qi gathering pills, Qi restoring pills, energy replenishing pills, blood replenishing pills, spiritual healing pills, Foundation establishment pills, food replacement pills, Golden Void spirit pills, and many others. Each pill was sealed in a small glass container, which had the pill name and description engraved into them.
In the middle row of shelves, I had different plants and herbs. These plants and herbs were also used for cultivation and had different properties. Some plants were used for increasing spiritual energy, while others were used for purifying spiritual energy.
On the left row of shelves, was a meticulously arranged array of materials and tools specifically for crafting talismans, artifacts, and arrays, which were powerful and versatile magical tools used for a myriad of purposes such as protection, attack, and utility.
The assortment of materials and tools on the shelves represented a significant investment, one that I knew would provide me with a substantial fortune to support my cultivation journey. With these resources at my disposal, I had no doubt that I would be well-equipped to advance to the coveted Gold Core realm, a level of cultivation that was revered and respected in the cultivation world.
In addition to the materials and tools, my cabin also boasted a bookshelf that was brimming with knowledge. It contained a treasure trove of four dozen books covering a wide range of topics related to the cultivation world. These books delved into various subjects, including medicine, herbs, artificing, smithcraft, formations, alchemy, culinary arts, basic cultivation techniques, spiritual beasts, talisman crafting, weapons and spirit spells, and much more.
Each book was meticulously chosen to provide me with comprehensive knowledge and insights into every conceivable aspect of the cultivation world. The abundance of information at my fingertips was truly awe-inspiring, and I was grateful for the opportunity to expand my understanding and expertise in this mystical realm.
As I looked at the wealth of resources that I had gained, I felt a renewed sense of determination and excitement for my cultivation journey.
The ring was a veritable treasure trove, brimming with a vast and invaluable collection of knowledge that was almost overwhelming to comprehend. The shelves were lined with books, and one particular shelf stood out with its seven rows of large, leather-bound tomes, each adorned with a metal cover. These books detailed various cultivation techniques, ranging from different forms to diverse styles of cultivators, providing a wealth of information for anyone who sought to cultivate and harness their spiritual energy.
I marveled at the sheer magnitude of knowledge before me. Despite my months of diligent study since embarking on my cultivation journey, I hadn't even scratched the surface of what these books had to offer.
The depth and breadth of the information contained within were astounding, and I realized that I had a wealth of resources at my disposal that could rival even a top-grade sect.
However, I was acutely aware of my own limitations. I knew that I was still too weak to adequately protect this treasure. It would be reckless and foolhardy to attempt to establish a sect or draw undue attention to myself at this stage of my cultivation journey.
However, alongside the excitement, I also felt a sense of trepidation. I was acutely aware that with great power comes great responsibility, and I knew that I had to exercise caution and wisdom in how I used my newfound gifts. Recklessness or carelessness could result in losing everything I had worked so hard to obtain.
In this world, wealth without strength was a cardinal sin, and I was determined to avoid such a fate. So, at that moment, I made a promise to myself to grow strong and establish roots. Frankly, I had no intentions of wandering aimlessly or embarking on grand adventures. I had my fill of roaming during my past experiences, and now I longed for stability and growth in a single place.
With that resolve in mind, I sat down at my writing desk and began to meticulously plan my next steps. I reflected on the various techniques and skills I wanted to cultivate, the places I wanted to explore, and the tasks I needed to accomplish. As I inked my thoughts and ideas onto a piece of parchment, I felt a sense of purpose and clarity descend upon me. I knew that I had a long and arduous journey ahead of me, but I was ready to face whatever challenges lay in my path.