Exploration

Exploration

Since the Primordial Wilderness had first opened, it had continued to expand.

For countless years, none knew how high the heavens were, how deep the earth was, where its boundaries lay, or how vast it stretched!

After the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, the Primordial Wilderness shattered and divided into the Four Great Continents.

They were Dongsheng Divine Continent, Xiniu He Continent, Nanzhan Bu Continent, and Beiju Luzhou.

Beyond the Four Great Continents lay the boundless Four Seas.

Above were the Nine Heavens; below were the Nine Netherworlds.

Beyond the Four Great Continents and the Four Seas lay the Endless Void. Within the void were countless Greater Worlds and Lesser Worlds, like stars circling the moon as they revolved around the Primordial Wilderness's central lands—the Four Great Continents and Four Seas.

Beyond the realm lay a dazzling starry sky. Within the Zhou Tian Stars, immeasurable living beings were born!

"Primordial Wilderness" had been open for thirty-eight hundred years.

To this day, players' footprints remained confined to only a small area. Let alone players born in the infinitely vast Four Great Continents—even on an inconspicuous island in the East Sea, one could not hope to leave without Mahayana Stage cultivation.

Most players spent their entire lives lingering around their birthplace, unable to leap beyond the cage.

Lu Qingfeng had been born on an isolated continent beyond Beiju Luzhou, countless billions of li away from the Earth Immortal Realm where the Four Great Continents stood.

It was said that a player on this continent had once cultivated to the Mahayana Stage. Believing there was no hope of surviving tribulation, he had attempted to cross the void to Beiju Luzhou in search of opportunity, only to lose himself in the Endless Void and perish there!

"Sky Fox Realm—Hundred Barbarian Archipelago—Seven Swords Mountain Range—Elephant King City—Black Sand Town."

"My current location is Black Sand Town, something like a Newbie Village."

Lu Qingfeng wandered around Black Sand Town twice and gathered quite a bit of information.

Black Sand Town belonged to Elephant King City, which was one of the Twelve Hundred Cities among the Eight Hundred Peaks of the Seven Swords Mountain Range, territory governed by the seven great sword sects.

Yet such an immense Seven Swords Mountain Range was merely a corner of an inconspicuous island in the Hundred Barbarian Archipelago!

"Could such a vast map really be a game created by the Human Federation?"

Lu Qingfeng could not help but doubt it!

Such doubts were clearly meaningless. Elephant King City, the Seven Swords Mountain Range, and the Hundred Barbarian Archipelago had little to do with the present Lu Qingfeng. He continued walking, familiarizing himself with Black Sand Town.

Newbies made up the overwhelming majority in Black Sand Town, and there were guilds of all sizes.

Among them were dozens of established guilds, some even nearing the level of founding their own sects. Some had simply been supported and established by sects from Myriad Phenomena City and the areas around Black Sand Town, specifically to recruit and screen talented disciples!

"Heavenly Lake Guild is recruiting! Requirements: Level 10 or above, with one combat spell or martial skill mastered!"

"Imperial City Guild sincerely invites experts to join! Requirements: Level 21 or above, with any combat spell cultivated to the Third Layer!"

"Sword Immortal Guild is recruiting! Requirements: Level 10 or above!"

Passing through Guild Plaza, Lu Qingfeng saw a sea of bobbing heads.

Numerous guilds constantly screened and recruited newcomers, while countless newcomers chose guilds suited to themselves.

"Within 'Primordial Wilderness,' natives, players, and the players' descendants in the game had long since become hopelessly mixed together. On the surface, they could not be distinguished. Black Sand Town was the same."

"Yet the Human Federation possessed an enormous population base. At every moment, youths turned Sixteen Years old and were able to enter 'Primordial Wilderness' as Newbie Players."

"These Newbie Players could accept missions from shops and government offices, or join major guilds to obtain starting resources."

Lu Qingfeng spent more than half a day walking around Black Sand Town before he barely became familiar with half of the West City District. To tour the entire Black Sand Town would take at least three to five days.

Black Sand Town was called a town, but its area was not small.

The urban district alone stretched forty or fifty li from end to end. The town's permanent population exceeded two hundred thousand; including the villages surrounding Black Sand Town, the total population was at least five hundred thousand.

"At the start of 'Primordial Wilderness,' having an elder to guide you was another matter. But if starting alone, leaving the city to grind monsters for experience was the worst choice. Most players chose to join a guild, or enter an Artifact Refinement Workshop, Pill Refinement Workshop, or Talisman Refinement Workshop as apprentices."

"This method not only granted an initial Elementary Grade Cultivation Method and earned a certain amount of Cultivation Resources, but also allowed one to master a secondary profession. With so many benefits, it was naturally the first choice."

Lu Qingfeng arrived before a Pill Refinement Workshop named Forget Dust.

The Forget Dust Pill Refinement Workshop was not large. A notice was posted outside its doors—

"Forget Dust Pill Refinement Workshop is recruiting apprentices. After players sign a contract, they will receive one Elementary Grade Cultivation Method, one basic pill-refinement art, five Yellow Dragon Pills, and five Fasting Pills free of charge. One month after signing the contract, players must process at least ten portions of basic medicinal ingredients for the workshop every day for one year."

The standards for recruiting apprentices at the major Pill Refinement Workshops and Artifact Refinement Workshops in Black Sand Town were largely similar, specially prepared for Newbie Players like Lu Qingfeng.

Put plainly, they were "poverty alleviation projects."

Lu Qingfeng stood before the notice and signed a contract with the Forget Dust Pill Refinement Workshop without even seeing a single person in charge.

Once the contract was completed, light flickered from the notice board. Two booklets, two jade bottles, and a Blue Stone Talisman were tossed out, landing in Lu Qingfeng's hands.

Several other newbies stood beside Lu Qingfeng. Like him, they received exactly the same things.

Cultivation Method: Blazing Sun Scripture

Grade: Beginner Level, nine layers in total

Cultivation Requirement: None

Cultivation Method Trait: None

Secret Manual: Alchemy Primer

Grade: Beginner Level

Notes: A basic pill-refinement handbook recording the processing methods of forty-six medicinal ingredients

Pill: Yellow Dragon Pill

Grade: Low Grade

Notes: A cultivation pill for the Postnatal Fetal Breathing Realm that can slightly strengthen Inner Breath

Pill: Fasting Pill

Grade: Low Grade

Notes: When taken at the Postnatal Fetal Breathing Realm, it allows one to go without food for six days

Equipment: Blue Stone Talisman

Grade: Low Grade

Notes: Can house a Newbie Player for one year and contains a simple medicinal-ingredient processing station; bound, owned by Forget Dust Pill Refinement Workshop, non-tradable, and automatically reclaimed after one year

"Just when I was worrying about having nowhere to cultivate."

Lu Qingfeng examined the Blue Stone Talisman. With it, he would at least not need to worry about lodging or cultivation for his first year in the game.

Unfortunately, the Blue Stone Talisman could not be used outside Black Sand Town and would be reclaimed by the Pill Refinement Workshop after one year. Otherwise, it would have been an essential item for travel and home alike.

Storing away the Blue Stone Talisman, Lu Qingfeng took out the Blazing Sun Scripture and Alchemy Primer.

Both were Beginner Level.

According to the introduction to cultivation method grades, Beginner Level Cultivation Methods could at most be cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

The Blazing Sun Scripture freely provided by Forget Dust Pill Refinement Workshop was even trash among Beginner Level Cultivation Methods, capable only of cultivation to the peak of the Postnatal Fetal Breathing Realm.

"The postnatal realm is divided into the Fetal Respiration Realm and the True Qi Stage. Only by breaking through to the True Qi Stage can one advance to the Foundation Establishment Stage. That is still far too distant for me. For now, the Blazing Sun Scripture suits me well enough."

Lu Qingfeng gripped the Blazing Sun Scripture and clapped his hands together. A great flood of information poured into his mind, permanently imprinted there like a brand. Then he did the same with the Alchemy Primer, and dozens of methods and essential points for processing medicinal ingredients filled his mind.

Name: Lu Qingfeng

Race: Human

Faction: None

Title: None

Cultivation: None

Level: Level 0 (0/1)

Lifespan: 16/68

Root Bone: 1

Merit: Unknown

Karma: Unknown

Cultivation Methods: Yellow Court Scripture First Layer (Not Yet Initiated) Trait: Deriving Methods (First Layer); Govern All Arts (First Layer); Karma Elimination (First Layer); Blazing Sun Scripture First Layer (Not Yet Initiated);

Spells: None

Divine Power: None

Equipment: None

Alchemy: Alchemy Primer (Not Yet Initiated)

Black Sand Town.

Inside the Blue Stone Talisman.

Hungry, Lu Qingfeng swallowed a Fasting Pill and began cultivating for the first time.

The Blazing Sun Scripture was merely the lowest-grade trash among Beginner Level Cultivation Methods and had nine layers in total. Once he cultivated the Ninth Layer, he would reach the Ninth Layer of Postnatal Fetal Respiration Realm.

"I wonder what rank this cultivation method would hold in the Returning Truth Sect, and whether it could compare to the Returning Truth Technique."

Lu Qingfeng could not help thinking of it.

The Returning Truth Sect governed tens of thousands of people in Jiuzhai County, and the experts within it were hailed as immortals.

But it was still only a Jianghu Sect.

Though Lu Qingfeng's cultivation method had come from "Primordial Wilderness," it was a free gift and certainly could not be considered precious.

Which was stronger, the Blazing Sun Scripture or the Returning Truth Technique? It was difficult to say.

Lu Qingfeng planned to research whether he could enter the Returning Truth Technique recorded on the tree bark into the Attribute Panel after logging out this time.

For now, cultivation was more important.

Within "Primordial Wilderness," there were two ways to raise cultivation and Level.

The first was cultivation.

Whether one meditated and circulated qi step by step or consumed Spiritual Pills and Elixirs, both belonged to the first method.

The second was the traditional method of Monster Grinding for Experience.

"Primordial Wilderness" was filled with Fierce Beasts left behind from the Second Calamity. Killing these Fierce Beasts granted experience, thereby increasing cultivation and Level.

The first method was safe but slow. The second was dangerous, but Levels rose quickly.

However, most players chose the first method in the early stages. This was because once one died in "Primordial Wilderness," there were only two choices: Reincarnation Re-cultivation or Resurrection.

There was no need to explain Reincarnation Re-cultivation. It was equivalent to deleting one's account and starting over.

Other than the various cultivation methods and skills learned, which remained in one's mind and could not be erased, cultivation would be wiped all the way back to zero, while all Spells and Divine Powers that required time to polish would also have to begin anew.

It was not as though one would simply be given a sixteen-year-old body.

One had to be raised from infancy, spending a full Sixteen Years before emerging from the Reincarnation Pool and beginning cultivation again.

Even if a newbie died, they would still waste Sixteen Years.

The cost was immense beyond imagining.

The lifespan of "Primordial Wilderness" players in reality also had an end. If one could not break through to a certain level of cultivation before one's lifespan limit arrived, thereby extending one's lifespan, then death in reality would mean truly being "reincarnated into a new life."

Furthermore, if one died after True Body Entry and chose "Reincarnation," one would, like the Original Primal Chaos Inhabitants, reincarnate with one's memories obscured. It was no different from truly dying.

In short, if one's true body died in reality, one died directly. If one died in the game after choosing True Body Entry and then chose "Reincarnation," it was likewise no different from death.

Only if one had not entered the game with one's true body, died in the game, and chose "Reincarnation" was it equivalent to deleting one's account and starting over.

As for the Resurrection option.

After a player died, whether they had used True Body Login or not, they could choose to resurrect directly at the Reincarnation Pool or at a resurrection point they had set themselves.

Besides paying the corresponding price based on their cultivation, their Level would also fall by anywhere from five to fifty Levels. Those were secondary; the crucial point was that every death damaged one's foundation.

Unless one obtained Spiritual Pills and Elixirs to repair that foundation, future advancement would become even more difficult.

Thus, whether to choose reincarnation and rebirth or direct resurrection depended on the person—benevolence saw benevolence, wisdom saw wisdom.

Naturally, unless necessary, most players would rather cultivate bitterly or swallow pills to raise their cultivation than choose the extremely dangerous path of killing monsters to level up.

After all, both reincarnation and resurrection only appeared similar to those in ordinary online games. In truth, the price was far beyond what ordinary players could bear.

There was little difference from losing a life.

Thus, Monster Grinding for Experience was chosen by very few.

It was not advisable.

At this moment, Lu Qingfeng had no Spells or Divine Powers, no magical artifacts or talismans. He could only honestly sit in meditation and level up.

"Blazing Sun Scripture!"

The profound principles of the Blazing Sun Scripture flowed through Lu Qingfeng's mind.

Within his body, an indescribable sense of qi flickered in and out of existence, elusive and impossible to grasp.

In reality, according to what Lu Qingshan had learned from the Returning Truth Sect, entry into the First Layer of the Returning Truth Technique required one to sense fetal respiration, generate a sense of qi, and refine Inner Breath.

For those with high aptitude, this could be achieved in several days. For those of average aptitude, it might take months or years. And for those with extremely poor aptitude, they could never catch that sense of qi in their entire lives.

They were commonly called "wastes."

From the age of twelve to fifteen, Lu Qingfeng had been examined every year by people sent by the Returning Truth Sect to test his Cultivation Aptitude. Yet he had not even qualified to become a Servant Disciple. He belonged to the last category.

The Root Bone: 1 on his Attribute Panel was proof enough.

As for Lu Qingshan, he belonged to the second category, with average talent. Given a few months or years, he could enter the path.

After entering "Primordial Wilderness," Lu Qingfeng's aptitude seemed not to have improved.

He sat cross-legged within the Blue Stone Talisman for a full half-hour, yet the sense of qi in his body continued flickering in and out of existence, beyond his grasp.

"Looks like I can only swallow pills."

Helpless, Lu Qingfeng rose and moved his numb, aching body. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he continued cultivating.

This time, he took one of the five Yellow Dragon Pills given by Forget Dust Pill Refinement Workshop and swallowed it.

He immediately circulated the Blazing Sun Scripture in silence, refining the medicinal power.

The Yellow Dragon Pill's potency was astonishing. The moment it entered his stomach, it transformed into a warm current that spread through his limbs and bones, bringing a sensation of floating like an immortal.

Time passed.

After an unknown amount of time, the medicinal power faded. Lu Qingfeng slowly opened his eyes, feeling somewhat lost.

"One Yellow Dragon Pill wasn't enough!"

Lu Qingfeng's aptitude was simply too poor. The Yellow Dragon Pill, hailed as a holy medicine for early-stage Fetal Respiration Realm cultivation, had actually failed to help him comprehend qi sense.

Lu Qingfeng adjusted his mindset, rose and walked around for a while, then swallowed another pill.

After the Yellow Dragon Pill entered his stomach, another unknown amount of time passed. Its effects faded again, yet he still failed to grasp that hazy qi sense.

"Again!"

Lu Qingfeng did not lose heart.

If he could not comprehend qi sense even with the Yellow Dragon Pills in the game, then wouldn't he have no hope at all once he returned to reality?!

The third pill!

The fourth pill!

The Yellow Dragon Pill's effects were not empty boasts after all.

After taking four Yellow Dragon Pills in succession, Lu Qingfeng suddenly felt as though fortune had descended upon him. He caught hold of that hazy qi sense, and qi sense was born. The pure medicinal power dissolved, nurturing the first wisp of Inner Breath.

The Inner Breath instantly circulated through countless turns, devouring the medicinal power even as it stabilized.

Congratulations, player. Cultivation has advanced to Postnatal Fetal Breathing Realm First Layer. Level has increased to Level 1. "Blazing Sun Scripture" First Layer has advanced to Initiated.

Lu Qingfeng opened his eyes, and a golden system notification appeared before him.

"Leveled up."

Lu Qingfeng froze. In an instant, memories of all the online games and little games he had played in his previous life surged into his mind.

He had been reborn in this foreign world for Sixteen Years.

He had survived cautiously in the oppressive Blackwood Village, and his personality had long since become silent and gloomy, while most of his memories from his previous life had been buried deep in his heart.

Now that they had suddenly been stirred up, all manner of feelings welled up within him.

More importantly, with this experience of comprehending qi sense, cultivation had become possible in reality, and there was hope for transcending the ordinary.

Casting aside his distracting thoughts, he brought up the Attribute Panel—

Name: Lu Qingfeng

Race: Human

Faction: None

Title: None

Cultivation: Postnatal Fetal Breathing Realm First Layer

Level: Level 1 (0/5)

Inner Breath: 1/1 (Quality: Basic)

Lifespan: 16/68

Root Bone: 1

Merit: Unknown

Karma: Unknown

Cultivation Method: Yellow Court Scripture First Layer (Not Yet Initiated) Traits: Deriving Methods (First Layer); Govern All Arts (First Layer); Karma Elimination (First Layer); Blazing Sun Scripture First Layer (Initiated), Derivable;

Spells: None

Divine Power: None

Equipment: None

Alchemy: "Alchemy Primer" (Not Yet Initiated), Derivable

The Attribute Panel had not changed much.

Other than the expected changes to his cultivation and level, an additional Inner Breath entry had appeared. The words "Derivable" had also appeared after the Blazing Sun Scripture and Alchemy Primer.

"Deriving?"

"Could it be the Yellow Court Scripture's Deriving Methods trait?"

Lu Qingfeng thought of it immediately.

Without making too many guesses, Lu Qingfeng directly tapped the word "Derivable" after the Blazing Sun Scripture.

Consume 1 Experience Point to derive "Blazing Sun Scripture"?

Notice: The player's current stored experience at this level is 0. If derivation is performed, the player's level will fall to Level 0.

"Derivation consumes Experience Points. If stored Experience Points are insufficient, it can even cause one's level to drop."

Lu Qingfeng summarized the information, then tapped the word "Derivable" after Alchemy Primer.

Consume 1 Experience Point to derive "Alchemy Primer"?

Notice: The player's current stored experience at this level is 0. If derivation is performed, the player's level will fall to Level 0.

The information was the same.

Lu Qingfeng considered it, but did not choose to derive it.

The Yellow Dragon Pill was greatly beneficial to Fetal Respiration Realm cultivation and was rather precious in the early stages. Lu Qingfeng could not afford to waste it.

If his level dropped because of derivation, firstly, he was not confident he could cultivate it back up by himself in a short time. Secondly, he had no more Yellow Dragon Pills to consume.

Sitting cross-legged, Lu Qingfeng continued cultivating the Blazing Sun Scripture.

He had only developed qi sense and advanced to Fetal Respiration Realm First Layer after consuming four Yellow Dragon Pills.

Most of the medicinal power still remained unrefined within his body. If he did not cultivate in time, a small portion of it would sink into every part of his body, becoming difficult to unearth.

Another portion would dissipate through his body, going to waste.

As he meditated and cultivated, the Yellow Dragon Pill's effects truly were formidable.

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Qingfeng finally refined all the medicinal power in his body that could be excavated.

His Level 1 Experience Points had also reached 4. He would level up again soon.

"Let's use 2 Experience Points to test the effects of derivation."

Lu Qingfeng opened his eyes and first began deriving the Blazing Sun Scripture.

Consume 1 Experience Point to derive "Blazing Sun Scripture"?

"Yes."

Lu Qingfeng answered inwardly.

"Blazing Sun Scripture" deriving—

"..."

After the Experience Points were consumed, a golden system notification box popped up before Lu Qingfeng's eyes, and then there was nothing more. On the Attribute Panel, the word "Derivable" after Blazing Sun Scripture had also changed to "Deriving."

"Were the Experience Points insufficient, or was the derivation speed simply too slow?"

Lu Qingfeng was utterly baffled.

"Let's try Alchemy Primer instead."

Consume 1 Experience Point to derive "Alchemy Primer"?

"Yes."

"Alchemy Primer" deriving—

Just like the Blazing Sun Scripture, Alchemy Primer was stuck at "Deriving."

"This is—"

Lu Qingfeng pondered for a moment, then tapped the word "Deriving." A stream of information immediately came to him—

"Blazing Sun Scripture" deriving, required Experience Points: 1/10
"Alchemy Primer" deriving, required Experience Points: 1/10

"So the Experience Points I put in were insufficient."

Lu Qingfeng immediately understood.

With that, he became curious about what the Blazing Sun Scripture and Alchemy Primer could become once enough Experience Points had been invested. But all the Experience Points he had on him now were not enough to complete the derivation of even one of them.

He could only set the matter aside for now and silently exit Primordial Wilderness.

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