Free Taxi

Then Zhou Hai said, "You must reach Craftsmanship Tower and meet Chen Xingfeng within three days, or the mission will expire as well."

"Craftsmanship Tower is in Luoxia City, quite far from the Heaven Defying Sect."

"If you travel there normally, it'll take quite a while."

"Do you know how to get there?"

Hearing this, Ning Ri said, "This disciple has some savings. I can call a... no, I can have someone take me there."

He had nearly said the words "call a taxi," but fortunately changed his wording in time.

He had learned of this mode of transportation when he previously went to perform the authentic Mortal Blade Technique for that group of cultivators.

Ning Ri had told them that he wanted to seek a master, but the immortal sect was far away, and he did not know how to get there.

That group had then given him a jade slip and a set of hand seals.

As long as he poured spiritual energy into the jade slip and formed the hand seals, he could summon a cultivator to take him there.

Because it was so much like calling a taxi, Ning Ri had simply assumed this thing was called calling a taxi.

The first person Ning Ri had summoned was a Sword Cultivator. That Sword Cultivator had taken him directly to a place where sects gathered, where he had then been rejected several times in turn...

Moreover, what astonished Ning Ri was that this cultivation-version "taxi service" also gave new users a free ride. He had not spent a single coin on his first trip.

That was why Ning Ri had told Zhou Hai that someone could take him there.

When Zhou Hai heard that, he could not help but smile. "What you mean... is Golden Strategy Tally, isn't it?"

Ning Ri immediately nodded. "That's right!"

The words "Tally" came from the Tally Drum Chariot.

The Tally Drum Chariot was, in truth, the mortal world's taxi.

For every li the carriage traveled—five hundred meters—a little wooden figure inside would beat a drum once.

In other words, it was metered.

But cultivators did not need to keep tally by meter. They could fly immense distances in a single burst, and the rides Ning Ri had taken had not been metered either. They had all charged a fixed price.

Still, while there was no need to keep tally, the Golden Strategy Immortal Sect had retained the name because it was easier to understand.

Of course, that was easier for people of this world to understand. Ning Ri still preferred Golden Strategy Taxi.

At this, Zhou Hai seemed to think of something, and a hint of mischievous amusement suddenly appeared on his face. "Golden Strategy Tally—how many times have you used it?"

"Twice," Ning Ri said. "One of them was free!"

He did not have enough savings to keep calling taxis all the time.

The smile on Zhou Hai's face deepened. Then he took out a jade slip and suddenly said, "Do you know? The Heaven Defying Sect possesses a technique specially meant for anomalies. It stands alone beneath heaven, and sects across the world have imitated it."

Ning Ri froze. Weren't they discussing taxis? Why had they suddenly begun talking about anomalies? "What technique?"

Zhou Hai said, "It is called the Heaven Defying Soul Splitting Technique."

"Most soul-splitting techniques in the world divide one's own cultivation and Divine Soul, but the Heaven Defying Sect's Heaven Defying Soul Splitting Technique is different. It creates a Divine Soul shell outside one's own Divine Soul."

"Once you enter an anomaly, that Divine Soul shell becomes a life-saving talisman."

"When ordinary people enter an anomaly, before they can figure out its rules, they can easily violate one and die on the spot."

"Even if they do not die, they must expend life-saving means or suffer grievous damage."

"But the Heaven Defying Soul Splitting Technique is different. It does not consume any of the caster's power, yet it grants you one additional life within an anomaly."

"The only flaw is that this Heaven Defying Soul Splitting Technique can only be used for anomalies. If a powerhouse of the Cultivation World hunts you down, this Heaven Defying Soul Splitting Technique cannot die in your place."

"Even so, the Heaven Defying Soul Splitting Technique is immensely powerful!"

"However, you cannot yet cultivate the true Heaven Defying Soul Splitting Technique. Cultivating it requires sufficient strength in one's Divine Soul—at the very least, a Nascent Soul. But since I have said so much, naturally I am not wasting my breath."

"I want you to cultivate a simplified version of the Heaven Defying Soul Splitting Technique."

"Under normal circumstances, Qi Refinement disciples cannot learn it. But I have faith in you."

Ning Ri was stunned. "You want me to learn the simplified version?!"

"That's right. Once you learn the simplified version..." Zhou Hai suddenly gave a chuckle. "You can use Golden Strategy Tally for free one more time."

Ning Ri was dumbfounded after hearing that. Then his eyes widened as realization struck him—

So you suddenly veered into anomalies, brought up the Heaven Defying Sect's unrivaled technique, and said all that just to turn me into a new user...

When Ning Ri left the Pillars of Cultivation Pavilion, his heart was still filled with gratitude toward Zhou Hai.

Of course, it was not because Zhou Hai had turned him into a new user, but because of the Heaven Defying Foundation Establishment Method.

Although Zhou Hai had not said much, Ning Ri understood inwardly that, throughout the entire Outer Sect, he alone could complete this mission.

Elder Zhou had intercepted this mission, clearly waiting to hand it over to him.

Or rather...

Perhaps Elder Zhou had long guessed that he would refuse the two choices he had offered.

Thus, Elder Zhou had already prepared a third choice. That third choice was a path of greater independence and self-reliance!

If he had chosen to let the elders help him obtain pills to improve his aptitude, Elder Zhou would not have given him this artifact-refining mission related to cultivation methods.

Thinking of this, Ning Ri could not help but ponder—

From this perspective, did that mean he had... passed another test?

Then, beneath the bright moonlight, Ning Ri walked back to Golden Osmanthus Garden.

The entire Outer Sect contained valleys, plains, and small hills, all linked together by formations. When Ning Ri had first arrived at the Heaven Defying Sect, he had been warned not to wander around carelessly, lest he trigger a formation. Now that he had a Disciple Token, he no longer needed to worry about that.

After crossing all sorts of terrain, Ning Ri returned to Golden Osmanthus Garden.

All along the way, he planned out his trip to Craftsmanship Tower to have Master Chen Xingfeng refine an artifact.

Now that he had Golden Strategy transportation, getting to Craftsmanship Tower would not be much of a problem.

Even at its slowest, it would take less than half a day.

Before that, he would stock up on more techniques within the sect and see whether he could raise all the strength that needed raising...

After all, he worried that something might happen on his way to find Master Chen Xingfeng and carry out the mission.

For example, what if some ultimate boss blocked his path and tried to kill him?

Before stocking up on techniques, however, he planned to visit Liang Chengdao first.

Borrowing someone else's identity could be either a small matter or a serious one.

It was only proper to express his apology.

However, when Ning Ri reached Liang Chengdao's small cottage, Liang Chengdao did not see him. From inside, he merely said in an indifferent voice that he did not blame him.

Having been turned away at the door, Ning Ri said gently, "Thank you, Brother Chengdao, for being magnanimous and not holding a petty man's faults against him. If Brother Chengdao needs any artifact refinement, Ning is willing to lend his strength."

That offer to lend his strength was rather flexible. If the magic treasure was simple, he would refine it for him; if it was difficult, they could discuss it further.

But in any case, he first needed to make his attitude clear.

From behind the door, Liang Chengdao replied indifferently, "Mm."

"Then Ning shall take his leave."

With that, Ning Ri returned to his own cottage.

Only after Ning Ri had left did Liang Chengdao walk to the window. He stared at Ning Ri's receding back for a long while, then took out a mirror and looked at himself. After putting the mirror away, he turned and went back to continue cultivating...