Chapter 6

Yancheng, one of the 108 cities in the southern part of Dongxuan Kingdom, differs from other cities. Due to the abundance of mountains and rocks around Yancheng, the city is not square but flat and elongated, resembling a large goose spreading its wings when viewed from the sky.

Crossing the entire Silent Ridge, Jiang Chen arrived at this ancient city.

Upon entering the city, Jiang Chen asked for directions and came to a well-known material shop.

"May I ask what materials you need, young hero?"

The shopkeeper, seeing a customer, quickly put down his work.

"Do you have Xuan Yuan Grass?"

"Of course, but it's not cheap. If you want it, you can go to the negotiation room to discuss the details."

Xuan Yuan Grass is a low-grade three-star herb, worth about 2,000 low-quality spirit stones, which is not a small amount.

In the negotiation room, the shopkeeper cleared his throat and said, "If you really want it, I can sell it to you for 1,800 low-quality spirit stones. I can't go any lower."

Jiang Chen thought for a moment. This price was about the same as what Yiqi Sect would charge. He nodded and said, "Alright, but I don't have that many low-quality spirit stones. Can you calculate how much these are worth?" Jiang Chen took off the leather bag on his back and placed it on the table in front of the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper opened it and smiled. "You've had a good harvest, young hero."

He began to count.

After a while, the shopkeeper looked up and said, "Eight one-star mid-grade beast crystals, at 40 low-quality spirit stones each, total 320 low-quality spirit stones. Five one-star high-grade beast crystals, at 100 low-quality spirit stones each, total 500. Three two-star mid-grade herbs, Blue Snake Grass, worth 300 low-quality spirit stones. Two two-star low-grade herbs, Blood Spirit Grass, worth 100 low-quality spirit stones. Twelve one-star high-grade herbs, One Yuan Grass, worth 80 low-quality spirit stones. Five one-star high-grade herbs, Tianxing Grass, worth 40 low-quality spirit stones. Three pounds of Xuan Iron Ore, worth 200 low-quality spirit stones. In total, 1,540 low-quality spirit stones. To exchange for Xuan Yuan Grass, you still need 260 more low-quality spirit stones."

"Alright."

Jiang Chen took out three low-grade spirit stones from his pocket and handed them to the shopkeeper, one of which was used.

Holding the Xuan Yuan Grass, Jiang Chen left the material shop.

...

In the inn room in Yancheng, Jiang Chen took out the Xuan Yuan Grass.

Xuan Yuan Grass is a low-grade three-star herb, effective in nourishing the Qi Sea. Above it, there is a Yuan Grass, which is said to restore a severely damaged Qi Sea, but unfortunately, Yuan Grass is a six-star herb, which Jiang Chen cannot obtain at his current level.

Swallowing the Xuan Yuan Grass, which emitted a faint glow, Jiang Chen circulated the Guiyuan Technique. The seven Qi Seas in his body lit up one by one, with the seventh Qi Sea being just a faint light point.

"The Qi Sea is recovering!"

After a long time, Jiang Chen's face showed a hint of joy. He could feel that the seventh Qi Sea was slowly recovering, though the effect was weak, at least he saw hope.

By midnight, the effects of the Xuan Yuan Grass had worn off, and Jiang Chen's seventh Qi Sea had recovered to about half.

Unfortunately, Jiang Chen knew that the same herb, when taken a second time, would have half the effect, and a third time, half of that. Even if he took more Xuan Yuan Grass, it could only restore the seventh Qi Sea to about 10%. To fully recover, relying solely on Xuan Yuan Grass was impossible.

"Recovered to half, I wonder when it can withstand the flow of true qi."

Jiang Chen had never thought about fully recovering the seventh Qi Sea. He knew it was unlikely in the near future, but he hoped that the seventh Qi Sea could gradually withstand the flow of true qi. This way, he could use the seventh Qi Sea to channel true qi to the eighth Qi Sea.

Yancheng was bustling and full of vitality in the morning.

In the inn's main hall, by a window, Jiang Chen ordered a few breakfast items and ate quietly by himself.

"Have you heard? Yiqi Sect's genius disciple, Gu Qingsheng, recently advanced to the Flying Heaven Realm. From now on, his future is boundless!"

"Gu Qingsheng, the sword genius that Yiqi Sect hasn't seen in decades? He's only sixteen this year, and he's already advanced to the Flying Heaven Realm. Indeed, his future is boundless."

The main hall of the inn was filled with travelers, who were always the first to get news.

Although Gu Qingsheng was only an outer sect disciple of Yiqi Sect, his fame was greater than most inner sect disciples. After all, there were too many inner sect disciples, and many were unknown. Moreover, Gu Qingsheng was hailed as the most outstanding genius in Yiqi Sect in the past ten years, a rarity in a hundred years.

"Advanced to the Flying Heaven Realm?"

Jiang Chen lowered his head, thinking to himself.

"It seems I can't return until my cultivation breaks through."

Gu Qingsheng was cunning and wouldn't let him rise without a fight. When Gu Qingsheng framed him, it wasn't just for dozens of Seven-Heart Grass. Gu Qingsheng had the backing of the Gu family, an old two-star family. In contrast, Jiang Chen had no significant background. If he did, he wouldn't have been framed so easily.

"I also heard that when Gu Qingsheng advanced to the Flying Heaven Realm, he activated a medium-grade Ice Qi Pulse."

"What? Activated a medium-grade Ice Qi Pulse?"

"These geniuses are too outrageous. Recently, Li Ruohai of the Bi Xue Sect and Wang Yutong of the Yunhai Sect, when they advanced to the Flying Heaven Realm, activated medium-grade Fire Qi Pulse and medium-grade Wind Qi Pulse, respectively. It's already a big deal, and now Yiqi Sect has a genius like this. The three major sects haven't seen such a grand scene in many years."

The travelers in the main hall looked at each other, stunned.

"Medium-grade Ice Qi Pulse?"

Jiang Chen was also surprised.

Qi Pulses are divided into three types: ordinary, attribute, and special. Each type has three grades: low, medium, and high.

Theoretically, the three types of Qi Pulses are equal in terms of assisting cultivation, but in terms of rarity, ordinary Qi Pulses are the worst, attribute Qi Pulses are better, and special Qi Pulses are the best.

However, regardless, Qi Pulses are still Qi Pulses. Out of a hundred cultivators who advance to the Flying Heaven Realm, only one can activate a Qi Pulse, and most are low-grade.

To put it bluntly, a Flying Heaven Realm cultivator who activates a low-grade Qi Pulse can cultivate several times faster than an ordinary cultivator. A cultivator who activates a medium-grade Qi Pulse can cultivate ten times faster, and it's said that a cultivator with a high-grade Qi Pulse can cultivate dozens of times faster. Such people are always the pride of heaven, the dragons among men, and will shine brightly on a larger stage.

"Medium-grade Ice Qi Pulse, tsk tsk, I think Gu Qingsheng will become a true disciple of Yiqi Sect in a few years. Only true disciples can receive genuine cultivation from Yiqi Sect."

"True disciples are not hard to achieve. In less than ten years, he will surely become a Vajra Realm cultivator. In this vast land, only Vajra Realm cultivators can roam freely."

...

Pressure can turn into motivation. Under normal circumstances, Jiang Chen's cultivation would never catch up to Gu Qingsheng. The other's cultivation speed was not much lower than his, and now with his seventh Qi Sea damaged, the gap would only grow larger without a significant encounter.

As the saying goes, great wealth comes with great risk. Sometimes, great encounters also come with great risk.

Lingyun Mountain Range, one of the two-star forbidden zones.

For Qi Sea Realm cultivators, a two-star forbidden zone is extremely dangerous, but it is usually several times larger than a one-star forbidden zone. As long as you don't venture deep into it, the survival rate is still quite high.

Lingyun Mountain Range has many legends. It is said that there is a great treasure in Lingyun Mountain Range. A thousand years ago, countless experts rushed to it, and most of them died inside, leaving behind countless powerful techniques and treasures. Over the years, many people have obtained powerful techniques in Lingyun Mountain Range and became great experts, dominating the martial world.

After resting in Yancheng for two days, on the third day, Jiang Chen headed for the Lingyun Mountain Range.

Upon arriving at the Lingyun Mountain Range, Jiang Chen found that it was different from what he had imagined. Although it is called a mountain range, the environment is much more complex than an ordinary mountain range. There are forests, basins, swamps, valleys, deep gorges, and countless interconnected water bodies.

Correspondingly, the types of beasts in the Lingyun Mountain Range are extremely diverse, including those that run on the ground, swim in the water, and fly in the sky.

"Indeed, a two-star forbidden zone is ten times more dangerous than a one-star forbidden zone."

Despite using the Qi Concealment Technique, Jiang Chen encountered danger several times in the past few days.

Once, he encountered a one-star high-grade mutated beast. Another time, he saw a two-star low-grade beast from a distance. And once, he was surrounded by over a hundred one-star mid-grade beasts, the saber-toothed beasts.

In the Lingyun Mountain Range, Jiang Chen deeply felt the inadequacy of his own strength.

Of course, no matter what, Jiang Chen would persist. He was in dire need of spirit stones. Without spirit stones, he couldn't buy herbs to restore his Qi Sea. His goal was not high; he only needed the seventh Qi Sea to recover enough to allow the flow of true qi.

"That's a Lamp Flower!"

In the distance, Jiang Chen saw three flowers that resembled lamps, emitting light and heat.

Lamp Flower, a two-star high-grade herb, worth 200 low-quality spirit stones. Lamp Flowers have many uses, the simplest being for lighting, but that's a waste. The main use of Lamp Flowers is to refine the Rejuvenation Elixir, a holy medicine for healing. As long as there is a breath left, it can save a life. However, Lamp Flower is just one of the auxiliary ingredients in the Rejuvenation Elixir. To refine the Rejuvenation Elixir, three main ingredients and six auxiliary ingredients are needed.

"Indeed, a two-star forbidden zone."

Harvesting three Lamp Flowers, Jiang Chen felt a sense of accomplishment. This was still the outer part of the Lingyun Mountain Range. If he went deeper, three-star herbs, though not common, would not be too rare. A single three-star herb is worth at least 1,000 to 2,000 low-quality spirit stones, enough to keep Jiang Chen busy for a month.

Awo!

Roar!

Suddenly, a wolf howl and a tiger roar came from ahead, powerful qi fluctuations spreading, causing sand and stones to fly.

"Beast battle?"

Curiosity flashed across Jiang Chen's face. Powerful beasts usually have their own territories. If another beast enters their territory, it can trigger a battle. These battles are extremely brutal, and if both sides are evenly matched, the result is often mutual death.

"Let's go see."

Circulating the Qi Concealment Technique, Jiang Chen concealed his aura and cautiously approached.

In no time, Jiang Chen arrived at a clearing surrounded by forests.

In the center of the clearing, a wolf-like beast and a tiger-like beast were facing off.

A two-star mid-grade beast, the Green Fire Wolf.

A two-star mid-grade beast, the Blood Stripe Tiger.