Chapter 307 Card Drawing and Upgrading
Golden flames swirled endlessly, and two hundred seals were continuously launched out, arranging themselves one by one in mid-air.
This scene was not the first time I had seen it, but every time such a large number of sacrifices were made to Dan Yun, it was still quite spectacular.
There will be up to 200 resources available for extraction, including at least 20 guaranteed level 9 items.
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Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan sat on the stone bed, leaning against each other, still feeling the lingering excitement from their playful time.
The two of them were not so focused when they watched the seal tremble in mid-air.
After all, the resources in the early stages are relatively ordinary.
Soon, fifty-one high-grade mystic stones were produced.
Zhong Cai sighed and said, "At a time when we're spending millions of high-grade Xuan Stones every now and then, seeing these few dozen high-grade Xuan Stones, I don't feel like our income is increasing at all..."
Wu Shaogan tilted his head slightly and nuzzled Zhong Cai's face to comfort her.
Zhong Caihui rubbed against him; he was actually just making a few complaints.
Along with the superior-grade Xuan Stone, there were thirty-seven level-four resources. A small portion of them were currently usable by Zhong Cai, but the vast majority should only be sold off to exchange for a few Xuan Pearls.
Then came one, two, three circles of golden light...
Three waves of resources appeared.
Among them are:
Twenty-nine items of Level 5 resources;
Twenty-six items of Level 6 resources;
Twenty items of Level 7 resources.
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At this point, there were still thirty or forty envelopes left.
Zhong Cai recalled the results of her 22 consecutive draws last time and couldn't help but say, "It seems like my luck is better this time than last time?"
Wu Shaogan remembered it and replied, "Last time there were only thirteen level eight resources. This time, either we get more level eight resources, or..." He paused deliberately.
Zhong Cai added with a smile, "Or maybe we'll both have a stroke of incredible luck and manage to draw a legendary gold item ourselves!"
Wu Shaogan said gently, "Then I wish we could have a few big ones."
Zhong Cai extended her palm.
Wu Shaogan gave him a high five.
Both of them still had some expectations.
While it's practically impossible to extract the highest-level and most urgently needed refining materials that are perfect for upgrading, there's a chance you might get materials of a lower tier if you're lucky.
This time it seems like we're in luck.
Hopefully, at least a few level-eight refining materials, or even low-grade level-nine refining materials, will be produced...
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After the golden light circled four times, fifteen level-eight resources appeared.
Zhong Cai blinked, so happy she wanted to jump up—but she just happened to be in Wu Shaogan's arms and was instinctively held down by him.
Because among this batch of level 8 resources, there was indeed one Yin-Yang attribute refining material and one metal attribute refining material.
At the same time, materials with lightning attributes also appeared... These cannot be used for upgrading, but obviously, they have other uses.
In addition, there are two level-eight puppets.
This further strengthened their protective capabilities.
Of the remaining ten items, four are level eight rare medicines, and the other six are distributed among the rare materials, mystical artifacts, and array plates needed by Nirvana cultivators.
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Zhong Cai looked at the level eight resources with delight and counted the remaining envelopes.
Besides the guaranteed minimum, there are two extra envelopes!
Zhong Cai's eyebrows practically flew off her chest as she said with great satisfaction, "We were so lucky this time! We managed to draw something with such a low probability! I wonder what it will be!"
Wu Shaogan smiled slightly, ruffled Zhong Cai's hair, and said, "Congratulations, Cai."
Zhong Cai chuckled: "Congratulations to Lao Wu too!"
The two looked at each other, both feeling incredibly happy.
At this moment, all the level 8 resources were released, and large areas of golden light appeared on the other envelopes!
The golden light of one or two covers can only be described as bright and beautiful, illuminating a small area nearby, but now a full twenty-two covers are bursting out with golden light together!
Then, it would be quite dazzling.
The golden light connected with the golden light, almost dyeing the entire sky above the sacrificial pool a brilliant gold, which was dazzling.
However, if you can endure the prickly feeling and appreciate it, you can understand its magnificent beauty.
The golden light lingered for at least several breaths before gradually fading.
At the same time, smoke billowed, and the dark golden seals disappeared one by one, opening one by one.
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The level 9 resources drawn separately are different from the guaranteed resources.
The guaranteed resources can be selected from multiple sources, while the level 9 resources drawn separately are whatever you get, with no options.
In an instant, a scalding torrent swept over them, as if to engulf them both in a sea of fire!
Wu Shaogan instinctively protected Zhong Cai and pulled him into his arms.
Although the two of them should not encounter any danger in the ancient city, his worry prevented him from reacting quickly, so he could only instinctively protect Zhong Cai.
Zhong Cai instinctively reached out to hug Wu Shaogan, but he wasn't as fast as Wu Shaogan.
After the two hugged each other, they both came to their senses.
The heatwave was indeed intense, and it seemed about to sweep them away, but it stopped reluctantly when it was only a few feet away from them.
Zhong Cai exhaled and focused her gaze on the resources.
Wu Shaogan felt a slight sense of relief and looked over.
The level nine resource was finally clearly revealed.
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A crystal with a diameter of tens of meters, engulfed in flames!
It certainly looks incredibly imposing!
The flames flickered and crackled.
The surrounding space seemed to be slightly distorted by the scorching flames.
But what kind of crystal is this?
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After carefully examining it for a while, Zhong Cai finally managed to discern very subtle patterns on the crystal, the same color as the crimson crystal. However, this required considerable eyepower, and after looking at it for a few more times, she felt like she was going blind.
Wu Shaogan also observed carefully.
The two of them suddenly spoke at the same time: "Could it be some kind of beast core from a ninth-tier savage beast or a rare beast?"
Then they both said together:
"It must be quite large!"
"It should be a colossal beast with a majestic form."
The two looked at each other and made a decision together.
Wu Shaogan held Zhong Cai's hand, their fingers touching.
Zhong Cai cooperated tacitly.
The two kept their fingers touching, with Wu Shaogan taking the initiative and leading Zhong Cai's fingers to touch the crystal together.
They were simply touched by the red light from the flames.
In an instant, a flood of information came in, and the two of them learned exactly what the crystal was.
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Just as the couple had guessed, it was the beast core of a ninth-tier behemoth.
The behemoth is an ancient volcanic beast, originating from the terrifying magma within a volcanic crater. It is unknown how many tens of thousands of years it accumulated and how much magma it devoured before it grew into an adult beast capable of escaping the Flaming Mountain.
Once such a volcanic beast escapes, it will cause a volcanic eruption. It is already at least an eighth-order behemoth. Once it breaks free, it will release a large amount of magma and flames, which will surge in all directions and devour the nearby villages and towns!
Moreover, all the places swept by the lava seemed to be marked by this volcanic beast. If it made another swallowing motion, all the humans in the settlements would be completely dissolved into the lava and swallowed back by the beast.
This is how the volcanic behemoths eat.
Its appearance signifies an extremely terrifying disaster, with a destructive power surpassing countless savage beasts of its level—though slightly inferior to some vicious rare beasts.
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These savage beasts have a very short lifespan, and if they are imprisoned in a volcano at a young age and never manage to break through their limits, they will die inside and be transformed into energy to continue nurturing the next generation of volcanic beasts.
It was too powerful and too easy for it to reach the ninth rank, so its lifespan was very short.
For example, a normal ninth-tier beast can live for 100,000 years, but it can only live for 10,000 years, and it has to spend several thousand years deep in the volcano.
At the same time, this savage beast's entire body is almost composed of a layer of skin wrapped around countless magma, so its fur is the most useful part, which can be forged into a very powerful level nine mystic artifact armor.
However, its most valuable part is still the beast core.
This beast core is divided into inner and outer layers.
The outer shell can be used in medicine and can also be used to forge ninth-order mystic weapons. It is an outstanding ninth-order fire-attribute refining material.
Its inner layer contains a kind of beast fire.
Normally, the name of the beast fire is: Flaming Mountain Fire.
It's very simple and straightforward.
Only those at the Nirvana Realm are qualified to refine this wildfire. For Nirvana cultivators who are fire-attribute or who cultivate such secret techniques, once they refine this wildfire, they can not only increase their cultivation speed and help them break through minor bottlenecks, but also temper their physique and greatly enhance the attack power of fire-attribute secret techniques!
That's very appealing.
Moreover, the Flaming Mountain Fire is a rare and precious resource, and its price is difficult to predict once acquired.
I'm afraid many fire-attribute Nirvana cultivators would be willing to go bankrupt to buy it—it can be used directly from Nirvana to Heavenly Realm and even to Tribulation Transcendence.
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Zhong Cai took a deep breath, and her eyes had already transformed into the shape of black stone.
Wu Shaogan found it amusing and couldn't help but reach out and touch Zhong Cai's eyelids from top to bottom.
Zhong Cai subconsciously closed her eyes in response to his movement, then said happily, "Old Wu! We're spending a lot these days, but isn't this money coming in right away?"
Wu Shaogan then asked, "So, how much does A-Cai want to sell it for?"
Zhong Cai immediately made a plan.
If the two of them were still on the Flying Star Continent, they would most likely not sell it for the time being, keeping it until that kid could cultivate to a sufficient level and accumulate enough Xuan Stones to trade with them.
But now that we've reached the top continent, it's uncertain whether the child will be able to cross over smoothly in the future. The child is probably already walking within the destiny and plot that originally belonged to him... It's just that due to the butterfly effect, the child's current reaction will be very different from that in the original book.
Therefore, Zhong Cai said directly, "I want to sell it to the Temple of War."
Wu Shaogan wasn't surprised, because that's just the kind of person A Cai is.
If someone shows kindness to A-Cai, A-Cai will reciprocate with kindness; if A-Cai considers someone one of her own, then when A-Cai gets something good, she will quickly think of that person—unless the person doesn't need it, then she will consider other options.
The Lingxian Sect and the War God Palace have treated them well. So far, the fellow disciples they have met from these two major forces have all been compatible with them. A Cai thinks that they should continue to stay in these two forces. So, if they have good resources that they don't need, they are naturally willing to provide them to the two major forces so that the seniors and teachers in need can exchange them for them.
As for why it's the Temple of War Gods and not the Spirit Immortal Sect...
Because this thing is definitely incompatible with wood and fire, once an alchemist tries to refine it, the furnace will likely explode frequently due to the violence of the beast fire.
As for the very few Nirvana cultivators in the Lingxian Sect... their strength is mostly insufficient to withstand the backlash of the beast fire.
When they come across something useful to alchemists, they will naturally put it in the Lingxian Sect.
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Wu Shaogan agreed, saying, "A-Cai's considerations are thorough."
Zhong Cai was beaming with pride.
Afterwards, he said with a hint of regret, "This volcanic beast is very old, but its shell is only at the level of a low-grade ninth grade, so it can only be used as fire-attribute nourishment material."
Wu Shao chuckled dryly, "Using one thing for two purposes saves money in the end."
Zhong Cai immediately gave him a thumbs up: "Old Wu is right."
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Soon after, the second level-nine resource also revealed its image.
Strangely, in stark contrast to the previous heat wave, what appeared was a very strong and refreshing breeze!
It quickly entered their bodies, and just smelling its scent made them feel refreshed and comfortable in an instant.
Zhong Cai asked curiously, "What is this?"
Wu Shaogan shook his head; he couldn't guess either.
After examining it for a few more moments, Zhong Cai hesitated and said, "A...spring?"
Wu Shaogan thought for a moment and nodded, "Similar, I suppose."
·
This object is shaped like a small pool, constantly spraying water vapor in all directions.
Like smoke and mist, it was as hazy as a drizzle.
The small pool was not filled with much water, but a bead floated up and down in it, and each time it floated up and down, a mist of water would appear...
It really looks like a spring.
However, from this perspective, the spring did not seem to be gushing out much water at all; only a few water droplets were rolling off the very bottom of the pool.
After the two reached out and touched the moisture, the information was transmitted.
It really is... a rare and precious natural treasure, similar to a spring.
The naturally formed Qingyun Fairy Pool.
The beads among them are called Qingyun beads, but they can also be called "Qingyun spring eyes".
Each time the bead rotates, the moisture it releases spreads out. Within the area where the moisture is present, any precious medicinal herbs planted there can retain some of their vitality, or be nourished to grow healthily and supplemented with nutrients.
The water droplets that accumulate in the pool are a kind of nectar that is extremely useful to alchemists.
Only those who have reached Nirvana can consume this nectar. After consuming it, it can nourish the physical body and also keep the alchemist's mind clear, greatly increasing their understanding of alchemical knowledge.
A single drop of nectar can sustain life for seven days and nights.
In ancient times, many alchemists would try to obtain this nectar when they encountered a bottleneck in their skills in order to improve them. They could then use this nectar to quickly gain enlightenment and eventually break through the bottleneck.
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My darling!
Zhong Cai instantly became excited, her eyes shining brightly.
"This is the perfect treasure for our herb garden! We'll install it here!"
"And this nectar... I can't consume it now, I'll sell it to the Spirit Immortal Sect!"
Just as Wu Shaogan had predicted, when the other of the two level-nine resources turned out to be something useful to alchemists, Zhong Cai would not hesitate to sell it to the Lingxian Sect.
Zhong Cai was very willing to improve his strength with the powerful figures on both sides, and he also hoped that with the help of the sweet dew, the Lingxian Sect could have another eighth-level alchemist break through to the ninth level!
That would be amazing.
With such powerful backgrounds, they can be a bit more arrogant as disciples.
Zhong Cai pondered again: "It seems that this nectar only produces one drop a month. I'll sell half to the Lingxian Sect and keep the other half for myself."
Wu Shaogan nodded and said, "A-Cai is right."
As for what to do with the accumulated nectar?
Of course, Zhong Cai would use some for herself, and also leave some for those who were close to her in the past and those who might be close to her in the future.
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The naturally extracted level 9 resources were indeed of extremely high quality, far superior to the guaranteed level 9 resources.
But even a guaranteed level nine is still level nine. Although the two of them knew perfectly well that it was unlikely to surpass the two level nine resources they had just drawn, it was definitely not something useless.
Therefore, Zhong Cai prepared to make a choice.
The minimum guarantee of twenty items comes with several possible options, all presented in a balanced way.
Zhong Cai carefully distinguished each item and made her own selections.
Soon, Zhong Cai had made all her choices.
Twelve of them were level nine rare herbs, but unsurprisingly, they were either finished products that had just been harvested or ordinary level nine rare herbs without any spiritual energy.
All of them became Zhong Cai's reserves.
Of the other eight items, two were low-grade level nine Yin-Yang Five Elements attribute refining materials—truly living up to the couple's expectations; three were ordinary low-grade level nine Xuan artifacts—their power wasn't particularly great, but since they reached level nine, they had considerable value; two were level nine talismans, both offensive in nature, which could be used to temporarily resist enemies, but they consumed too much energy, and only those at the Nirvana stage were qualified to use them; and one was a very ancient and tattered fragment of a classic text, which introduced some ancient secrets.
They weren't particularly good, but they were all things that Zhong Cai had carefully selected that they could use.
Wu Shaogan offered Zhong Cai several suggestions, all of which Zhong Cai adopted.
After everything was completed, Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan's level nine resource reserves increased significantly.
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Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan quickly got to work.
All the extracted resources were sorted and placed in their respective resource halls.
Those items that are more suitable for gifting are naturally placed in appropriate locations.
It took more than half an hour to finally resolve the issue.
And at this point...
Zhong Cai looked at Wu Shaogan.
Wu Shaogan looked at Zhong Cai.
Both of them actually felt a bit apprehensive about returning home.
Each previous upgrade of the ancient city brought both joy and tension to the two, but this time was quite different—this was the first time Wu Shaogan had fully recovered his aptitude, and the first time Zhong Cai's aptitude had caught up with Wu Shaogan's former self.
Although Zhong Cai did not feel jealous or inferior because his talent was far inferior to that of his best friend, he did think that it would be better if his talent was like that of "not a penny" so that they could walk together and cultivate together.
Now, Zhong Cai's qualifications are exactly the same as Wu Shaogan's every time the ancient city is upgraded, but the "top-grade heavenly quality" is still different.
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The two had mixed feelings for a short while, but it was only for a short while.
They quickly calmed down and moved on to the next step.
The ancient city is being upgraded.
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As Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan exchanged thoughts, the ancient city was ready for its upgrade.
At that moment, a series of sounds suddenly arose inside a resource vault, including swirling, flying, and colliding sounds.
At the same time, the entire ancient city was bathed in two layers of bright light.
One layer is colorful, and the other is black and white.
There is a very strange beauty in their alternation.
When the two lights collided, a huge vortex suddenly appeared inside the ancient city and in front of the inner city gate.
The next moment, the resource repository door, emitting various sounds, opened.
A terrifying torrent surged forth from it, like a ribbon of light, continuously flying and extending forward...
Upon closer inspection, this band of light is indeed still a band of light, but it only has a layer of colorful and black-and-white rotating halo on the surface. Inside, however, it is filled with countless refining materials in various shapes and forms.
The light belt acted like a conveyor belt, passing these refining materials out one by one.
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Seeing this strange scene, Zhong Cai couldn't help but exclaim "Wow!"
Wu Shaogan's eyes also flickered slightly.
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The light band quickly traveled a great distance, and its leading edge extended rapidly, rushing into the vortex. The countless refining materials contained within were also drawn into the vortex and swallowed up by it.
The vortex resembled the gaping maw of a gluttonous beast, its depths seemingly bottomless.
It seemed that no matter how many materials were sent in, it devoured them all without any pressure.
As the city was devoured, it began to tremble slightly.
Similar to every previous one, the ancient city walls are constantly being thickened and raised, and the number of menacing cannon muzzles on the walls is increasing, to the point that it makes one's scalp tingle.
The area was covered with dark, gaping cannon muzzles.
More watchtowers were added, and other types of firepower were continuously embedded in the city walls, enhancing their offensive capabilities.
It's easy to imagine how many enemies would perish if such a city wall were used to defend against external enemies—at least for now, even a cultivator at the highest level would likely suffer some setbacks.
The defensive capabilities of the city walls have gradually increased to level nine. At that time, it will be almost impossible for ordinary cultivators with the power to break through the city walls.
After all, the ancient city itself would have reached the level of a mid-grade ninth-level city at that time.
This level of defense is only vulnerable to repeated attacks from a powerful being who has survived a tribulation of lightning—perhaps more than once—within a reasonable chance of breaking through.
But it's clear that the ancient city won't just stand there and let the powerful experts from the highest levels attack it.
The ancient city's firepower could keep Tongtian at a great distance.
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