Chapter 1006 A New Cycle
Judging from the various ores acquired from Yunmiao Sanren some time ago, the discovered ore vein is a fifth-tier high-grade ore vein with medium quality and occasionally some top-grade ore as companions.
In addition to various ores, Yunmiao Sanren also sold a batch of Hague Beast scales, bones, and hides, all of which were high-quality items of the fifth tier, indicating that they had slain a very powerful race.
The Crescent Moon Hermit examined the metal ingots, his heart filled with rage. This was an enviable haul; his years of accumulation couldn't compare to the opponent's single hunting trip.
Another thing that worried him was that Yunmiao used to return to Haixing City for help when he encountered tough problems, but now the two of them could form a hunting team and take down a group with a fifth-tier top-grade beast king.
If the two continue to cooperate like this, he and Xuan Shuang Sanren will lose a source of income.
However, as a weapon refiner, he couldn't go hunting often and could only watch others eat meat with envy.
He patted his chest, reassuring himself, 'They were lucky this time. It's impossible to have such a haul every time, otherwise everyone would be hunting monsters.'
Crescent Moon Hermit gathered up the metal he needed and pushed the rest back:
"After I have upgraded your Plain Cloud Banner, I will formulate the next upgrade plan and list the necessary materials at that time."
He no longer had the funds to purchase spiritual materials and could only helplessly turn the business away.
Ji An nodded slightly, put away the metal ingots, and then took out a batch of animal bones and scales:
"These materials are useless to me, so I will sell them all to you."
These are materials from monsters of the fifth rank or lower. He burns their flesh and blood into fertilizer for later use, while selling the beast bones is more cost-effective.
The main reason was that the materials were not of high quality (rank 5) and would not be of much help to him, so this batch of animal bones was not burned.
Crescent Moon Hermit scratched his head, revealing an awkward smile, and said:
“Fellow Daoist, Fellow Daoist Yunmiao found me earlier to sell materials, and I used all the savings I had accumulated to buy her goods.”
"To be frank, fellow Daoist, I very much want to purchase this batch of goods, but unfortunately, I'm short of funds and cannot afford the materials to exchange for them."
He can definitely make a fortune by acquiring so many materials, but the cycle for recovering his funds is very long.
Ji An chuckled, took out the materials he had just collected, and said generously:
"So that's how it is. We've been cooperating for many years. We can calculate the value of this batch of goods and leave it with you first. We can use the proceeds to purchase materials to further upgrade the Plain Cloud Banner."
To upgrade the Plain Cloud Banner to the highest grade, you can't bypass the other party no matter what. If you lack materials, you mainly rely on the other party to purchase them.
Therefore, if these materials are handed over in advance, the other party will have to pay more attention, and he can save himself some trouble.
"Since you trust me, I won't refuse. I'll offer you a discount later."
Crescent Moon Hermit felt a little smug. The closer the connection between the two, the better, so that even if they couldn't obtain materials from hunting, they could still acquire them continuously.
The profit from selling raw materials is certainly not as high as that from refining them into magical treasures. With ample supply channels for materials, his ability to earn wealth can be greatly enhanced.
At their level, a major obstacle to progress is the lack of sufficient resources.
The spiritual herbs and medicines used to refine elixirs often require tens of thousands of years of age, and various animal materials must reach the fifth rank before they can be used. No matter what kind, it all takes time.
Another crucial reason is the understanding of the path one takes. The cultivation methods of immortal cultivators are largely similar, essentially all based on the analysis and understanding of Yin and Yang forces.
The creation of a grotto-heaven is based on the small world one has refined, but if one's understanding of Yin and Yang power is not deep enough, it is impossible to generate the power of a grotto-heaven to nurture a small world.
He once heard a senior at the Cave Heaven level preach that cultivators need to use the opportunity of advancing to the sixth level of a small world to break through to the Cave Heaven realm.
Only then can the small world within a cultivator's body serve as the foundation of their inner world, thus truly constructing their own microcosm.
Ji An took out the plain-colored Cloud Realm Flag and handed it to the other party. The two talked about the major events that had happened in the cultivation world in recent years, and then began to exchange cultivation experiences until the moon was high in the sky before they dispersed.
The following day, Ji An visited Xuan Shuang Sanren, handed over the sea beast's inner core and the water-elemental spirit herb he had obtained, and said:
"Fellow Daoist, please give us an estimate. We can exchange it for pills suitable for our current level, or even for the flesh and blood of a fifth-grade or higher demon beast."
These inner cores are the main ingredients for refining elixirs, but they are quite toxic because the resentment in the hearts of demonic beasts when they die will flow into the inner cores, thus forming elixir evil.
It takes a long time to purify the evil energy before one can take the next pill.
Even so, such pills are still very popular. Pills made from spiritual herbs are even rarer, and it's good enough if you can find one.
Xuan Shuang Sanren raised her eyebrows slightly and sighed:
"I heard from Miaomiao that you have had a good trip. Fellow Daoist's cultivation will surely surpass others in the future. I hope that after you achieve the position of a Cave Heaven, you will still remember my old appearance."
She and Yunmiao Sanren had known each other for many years, and apart from certain private matters, they could talk about anything.
My friend recounted the hunting trip and marveled at how much stronger Fellow Daoist Xuanqing had become.
For cultivators at the Three Flowers Realm, there is rarely much progress in a few hundred years, but Xuanqing Sanren became an exception in their eyes.
Ji An revealed a reserved smile, "Fellow Daoist flatters me too much. The most important thing now is to hone my cultivation to the perfect level."
Besides, we have no clue how to break through this barrier, so it's too early to talk about it now.
"If one day I am able to take that step, we will still be friends, and our friendship will not change because of any improvement in our cultivation."
Because he was born on a remote planet in the star field, he had no teachers at the Cave Heaven level, nor had he encountered any seniors at this level, and knew nothing about breakthroughs.
Xuan Shuang Sanren smiled mysteriously, revealing two shallow dimples on her cheeks:
"Fellow Daoist, you don't need to know how to break through, but you will naturally know how to break through when the conditions are met."
One point to note is that before you are qualified to break through, you must comprehend the unity of Yin and Yang; the unity of Yin and Yang is the power of creation.
She had the privilege of hearing a senior Star Lord who had a connection with her family recount the process of breaking through to the Cave Heaven. She learned that breaking through to the Cave Heaven was a very natural thing, as natural as water flowing downhill.
Upon hearing this, Ji An grasped the key point. He vaguely understood that when the Yin-Yang Dao Seed was no longer clearly distinguished between black and white, it was a sign of a breakthrough.
He solemnly cupped his hands in greeting, "Thank you for your guidance, fellow Daoist. So, it means that I don't need any pills when breaking through?"
"Of course not. Fellow Daoist is also an alchemist, so you know that all pills contain toxins, and breaking through to the Cave Heaven requires pure power to drive the evolution of one's own life."
At that point, even the slightest flaw in the power you rely on will be magnified infinitely.
Talking about this further is pointless and will only create obstacles to your understanding. Let's begin taking inventory of the inner cores and spiritual herbs.
Xuan Shuang Sanren picked up the inner cores to appraise them, and at the same time took out a blank jade slip. He described the quality of each inner core he appraised and recorded the information into the jade slip.
"Fellow Daoist, please also take out a jade slip to record this information. We'll compare the information later."
It took her more than an hour to complete the appraisal of the items, and then she handed over the jade slip:
"Please take a look, fellow Daoist."
Ji An took the jade slip and compared it with the one in his hand, then returned the jade slip to him.
"There is no problem with the records."
"Very well, fellow Daoist, you have two requests. Which one would you like to choose?"
I can fulfill all your requests, but it will take time to complete the transaction.
Hmm. About twenty years, at most thirty years.
"Fellow Daoist, you're quite lucky. Several forces that supply me with raw materials happen to have a batch of spiritual herbs to deliver, which is just right for refining the inner core into pills."
Ji An barely hesitated before blurting out:
"Then I'll trouble you to exchange it for demon beast flesh and blood. Remember, I only need beast meat of the fifth rank or higher."
The pills made from the five-colored flowers of the Gathering Yuan Tree are the most suitable for him. Although it takes a few hundred years to take one, which is a bit too long, he doesn't need to be in such a hurry to improve now.
Animal meat is different; when burned to ash, it can accelerate the improvement of the grade of the spiritual roots of heaven and earth in the small world.
"OK."
Xuan Shuang Sanren smiled and agreed, knowing that she could earn more if the other party chose beast meat.
She blinked her bright, large eyes and asked:
"Converting all these inner cores into beast meat would be a huge weight. Why do you need so much meat, fellow Daoist? Surely you're not going to eat it all?"
Of course, if it involves your privacy, you don't need to answer; I'm just curious.
High-level demon beast meat can nourish a cultivator's physical body, but the best way to nourish it is to absorb spiritual energy through cultivation techniques.
Normally, cultivators at the Three Flowers Realm would not consume large quantities of high-level demon beast meat that is close to their own cultivation level over a long period of time.
The other party has been buying high-grade beast meat for a long time. Previously, they bought mid-grade or higher level beasts of the fifth rank, but now, as prices have risen, they only buy high-grade or higher level beasts of the fifth rank.
A ridiculous thought suddenly popped into her mind: she felt that the other party might possess some kind of secret treasure that could extract the flesh and blood of demonic beasts and refine it into a precious medicine that could enhance cultivation, just like the methods of demonic cultivators.
Ji An smiled and waved his hand, explaining:
"There is nothing I cannot tell others. I bought the beast meat to burn and obtain ashes, and then used them to cultivate the spirit wood in my small world."
"As you know, fellow Daoist, I possess several spiritual roots of heaven and earth. These kinds of spiritual trees can improve the soil and gather spiritual energy, which helps to elevate the grade of spiritual veins."
He wasn't worried that the other party would do the same. The spiritual roots of heaven and earth did indeed have such an effect, but the effect wasn't particularly obvious. His confidence stemmed from the fact that the five spiritual roots of heaven and earth with different elements could form a cyclical force.
Another key factor is that the small world nurtured by the stone turtle is unique. It is likely that there has never been a small world like his as a foundation in the entire history of the cultivation world.
"Is that so? Let's set a price for the goods. Starting next year, I will deliver the animal meat to you in batches."
Xuan Shuang Sanren was somewhat skeptical of the other party's words, but he didn't dare to ask any further questions.
"Can."
Ji An's cultivation became extremely regular. He and Yunmiao Sanren hunted in the deep sea, each trip lasting about fifteen to twenty years, after which they would return to Haixing City to sell their spoils.
Yunmiao Sanren mainly exchanges his harvest for pills and spiritual materials to improve his cultivation or repair spiritual treasures.
In addition, she has been acquiring materials for crafting substitute treasures for a long time, which can be life-saving in critical moments, and she will buy them even though the materials are expensive.
Ji An exchanged most of his harvest for beast meat, which he then burned to ashes to cultivate spiritual roots of heaven and earth.
The rest will be given to the Crescent Moon Hermit to exchange for Tier 5 top-grade materials in preparation for upgrading the Plain Cloud Banner.
Time flies, and three hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye.
After hunting that day, Ji An returned to his cave and, as usual, slept for several days.
When he woke up and stepped out of the attic, he immediately felt that the world seemed different, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what was different.
Ayun stepped forward, smiling sweetly:
"Your Majesty, the Azure Jade Tree completed its transformation two days ago and has been upgraded to the fifth-order superior level."
With the Wood element spiritual root being upgraded to the fifth-grade superior level, all spiritual roots were upgraded to the superior level.
Ji An smiled gently and said:
"When I woke up, I noticed that the atmosphere was different. It turned out that a brand new cycle of the five elements had been established."
Now that a new cycle has been established, the speed at which the spiritual veins improve will accelerate.
Currently, the spiritual fields in all of the central yellow land, most of the southern red land, the eastern blue land, and a small part of the western white land have reached the fifth-order superior level. The improvement of the spiritual vein grade should be achieved within two hundred years.
He strolled to the Gathering Yuan Tree, pointed to the blooming five-colored flowers, and said:
"The five-colored flower has already bloomed three layers. It will be ready to be harvested in a few decades. Hehe, I can finally start refining the pills I will take myself."
During his time in Starfish City, he would occasionally take on commissions to refine pills, so as to avoid becoming rusty when he needed to refine pills.
Ayun replied with a smile, "Congratulations in advance, Your Majesty."
Ji An chuckled, rubbing his forehead. "Hey, who congratulates others so many years in advance?"
"I'm going out to visit a friend now. Go and fetch two jars of mid-grade fifth-rank spirit wine and bring them over."
Outside the cave, Ji An exchanged pleasantries with the host and presented him with gifts, which made the host laugh heartily.
The Recluse of the Crescent Moon stroked his beard and asked cautiously:
"The spirit wine you brewed, fellow Daoist, is the best I have ever seen. I wonder if you would be willing to part with it? I would like to purchase the recipe."
For a cultivator who can't live without wine, he can't bear the thought of not being able to brew a spirit wine that suits his taste.
Ji An paused for a moment, then replied:
"The recipe isn't something that needs to be kept secret. If you want to give it to me, that's fine too."
However, without high-quality raw materials and spiritual water, even with the recipe, it's difficult to brew a spiritual wine comparable to that of the humble Taoist priest.
The spiritual plants that grow in the gourd world are different from those in the outside world; they are of a higher quality.
Another very important factor affecting the quality of Ling wine is the water used in its production.
The spiritual water he used to brew his wine was all produced by the Panyun Tree, and the other party simply couldn't produce such water.
The Recluse of the Crescent Moon immediately puffed out his beard and glared, saying defiantly:
"How can I be satisfied without giving it a try! If you give me the formula, I will surely repay you."
After saying that, he stared at the other person expectantly.
(End of this chapter)
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