Departure

In cultivation, the years passed without notice. In the blink of an eye, a year and a half had gone by.

Fang Xiao stopped circulating his cultivation technique, having completed the day's cultivation. Thinking back, it had already been two and a half years since he had entered the sect and begun cultivating. All of a sudden, he missed the old man back home. He wondered how his father was doing, whether he had remarried and given him a little brother or sister.

After Tianlan Sect disciples of the Qi Condensation Stage broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, they would usually choose to travel abroad for a time. When the time came, he could first return to Golden Jade City to visit his father.

"Counting the days, we'll be setting out in two more days."

The Mingxuan Outer Court was closer to Wuji Immortal City. According to Fatty Han, Court Master Li Daoyuan would personally lead the group to Wuji Immortal City. Any disciples who wished to go only needed to gather at the Outer Court plaza on the day of departure.

Over the past year and a half, Fang Xiao had earned a large number of Spirit Stones by selling Spirit Wine in the Outer Court. As long as he had sufficient spirit ingredients, the yield of Spirit Wine was extremely considerable. Its effects were also obvious, making it highly popular among Outer Court disciples. Some well-off disciples even placed orders in advance. It could truly be said that gold poured in every day.

Fatty Han truly had talent in this regard, so Fang Xiao naturally gave him quite a share of the profits. Seeing a bright future in Fang Xiao, Fatty Han had also declared his loyalty, willing from then on to serve him like a horse before the carriage and behind the stirrups—to be his little brother.

The first thing Fang Xiao did after accepting him was hand him a list, instructing him to make long-term purchases of materials Fang Xiao needed, such as Essence of Five Metals. Perhaps something would turn up.

He also had Fatty Han expand the area of Spirit Fields he rented and switch to planting Purple Splendor Rice. As one of the most sought-after spirit rices, long-term consumption of Purple Splendor Rice could weaken the bottleneck of the Qi Refining Late Stage. Purple Splendor Wine brewed from it was even more effective, capable of helping one break through the Qi Refining Late Stage bottleneck. Though it possessed only half the effect of ordinary breakthrough pills, Purple Splendor Rice had a short growing cycle and high yield. Furthermore, Purple Splendor Wine was affordably priced, making it one of the best-selling Spirit Wines in his possession, second only to Azure Origin Wine, which increased cultivation.

As for the Spirit Honey he had acquired at the Market, he had experimented with it many times during this period. Unfortunately, it could not be brewed into Spirit Wine on its own. However, adding a small amount of Spirit Honey when brewing other Spirit Wines could slightly improve their effects. Better than nothing, at least.

Naturally, he had not relaxed his cultivation for even a single day. His cultivation was now stuck at the peak of the Qi Refining Seventh Layer. Although his realm had yet to break through, the quality of his spiritual power increased with every passing day. Fang Xiao planned to buy two more Purple Qi Meridian Protection Pills at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion after arriving in Wuji Immortal City, then break through the bottleneck. He knew his own situation best; he could not afford to be careless.

As for the sword path, after entering the realm of Sword Energy Thunderous Sound, he still practiced his Sword Art diligently every day and had made some progress. Yet he had no idea when a major breakthrough would come. It was like playing games in his previous life: the terrifying thing was not that the progress bar was long, but that you could not see the progress bar at all.

Cultivation was important, but resources were indispensable as well. He already had more than enough Spirit Stones. He only hoped this trip to Wuji Immortal City would yield something.

On the day of departure for Wuji Immortal City, Fang Xiao arrived at the plaza on time. Looking around, he saw that most of the disciples going had reached the Qi Refining Late Stage. There were only around fifty in total, though quite a few disciples would be traveling there on their own as well.

Fang Xiao's arrival immediately drew everyone's attention. They all stepped forward, cupped their hands, and addressed him as Senior Brother Fang. Given the influence he now held in the Outer Court, he deserved the title, and he nodded in response.

"Senior Brother Fang, you're here."

Fatty Han came scampering over from the crowd.

"Mm. You've been cultivating diligently lately."

"That's all thanks to basking in Senior Brother's glory. Senior Brother's cultivation advances at lightning speed. If I fall behind in my cultivation, I fear I won't even be qualified to handle matters for you in the future."

Fatty Han had a very clear understanding of his own position.

"Don't worry. As long as you follow me, you won't lack benefits."

Just as Fang Xiao and Fatty Han were speaking, a disciple walked toward them.

"Senior Brother Fang, it has been a long time." The newcomer was none other than Xiao Yan.

"Junior Brother Xiao. We haven't met since entering the sect. It seems I didn't see you during the Sect Minor Competition either. I didn't expect you to have already reached the Qi Refining Seventh Layer."

"I was fortunate enough to become the disciple of an elder from the Pill Hall. Aside from cultivation, I have been studying alchemy, so I am not skilled at spell combat. My current cultivation is due not only to never lacking pills, but also to Senior Brother's Spirit Wine. I never expected Senior Brother to be the legendary Spirit Wine Master."

"I didn't expect you to have such a fortuitous encounter. I too only became a Spirit Wine Master through a twist of fate. Since we are brothers, if you lack Spirit Wine in the future, just come and take some. You and I come from the same place, and we both possess mutually generating Dual Spirit Roots, only a notch weaker than a Heavenly Spiritual Root. As long as we support one another from now on, the Great Dao will surely lie within reach."

"Ah, Senior Brother is absolutely right. I will have to rely on your care in the future. If you need anything, please feel free to command me."

Xiao Yan indeed possessed extremely high talent in alchemy, but because he was obsessed with refining pills, he was exceedingly poor at spell combat. Having heard of Fang Xiao's formidable reputation in combat and his identity as a Spirit Wine Master, he had come to build connections using their shared hometown as a pretext. He had not expected Fang Xiao to have the same thought. It was like lighting a firecracker from both ends—they had thought of the very same thing.

"Junior Brother Han, this is Junior Brother Xiao. He grew up in the same city as I did and is a rare alchemy genius. You two should stay in contact as well."

"Rest assured, Senior Brother Fang. I know Senior Brother Xiao."

Fatty Han's cultivation talent was ordinary, but when it came to doing business and building connections, he knew every trick of the trade. He knew every capable disciple like the back of his hand. How could he not know Xiao Yan?

As the three chatted, they gradually became familiar with one another. Each had their own specialty. They planned for the two of them to handle production while Fatty Han handled procurement and sales. They did not dare claim a monopoly, but in the future, they would seize more than sixty percent of the Outer Court market for spirit pills and Spirit Wine. Even if others grew jealous and wanted to snatch it away, they would have to weigh Fang Xiao's strength and potential first.

Just as they were chatting enthusiastically, Court Master Li Daoyuan had appeared in the plaza at some unknown time. Fang Xiao inwardly marveled. As expected of a Golden Core Stage cultivator—he had no idea when Li Daoyuan had arrived. It was even possible that Li Daoyuan had been there all along, and they simply could not detect him.

"Alright, nearly everyone is here. We won't wait for those who are late. Let's depart."

"Yes."

At Li Daoyuan's words, all the disciples cupped their hands and answered in unison.

Fang Xiao watched as Li Daoyuan opened a Spirit Beast Bag, and a blue-white spirit crane flew out. The crane stood tall and straight, with broad wings and slender legs. Its beak and claws were black, and judging by their sharpness, even a Top-grade magic tool could likely be pierced through and torn apart in an instant.

Fang Xiao had underestimated this spirit crane. It was called a Mysterious Sky Crane, an exceedingly rare Wind Attribute spirit beast. Li Daoyuan had already raised it to the Fifth Order, equivalent to an early Golden Core stage cultivator. Yet its speed was not the least bit inferior to that of a Golden Core Mid Stage cultivator.

The Mysterious Sky Crane stood in the center of the plaza, its small eyes filled with intelligence. It swept its contemptuous gaze over the many Qi Condensation Stage disciples, then proudly raised its head. Li Daoyuan chuckled.

"Alright, stop fooling around. Let them come aboard."

Upon hearing Li Daoyuan's words, the Mysterious Sky Crane immediately became incomparably docile. It spread its wings, and its body began to enlarge. Not only could it accommodate all the disciples below, it would still have room for twice as many.

The many disciples boarded the Mysterious Sky Crane in an orderly fashion, none daring to act recklessly for fear of displeasing it.

Once the disciples were in position, Li Daoyuan also flew to the Mysterious Sky Crane's neck and stood there. He patted its neck, signaling that it could depart.

With a clear cry that rang through the clouds, the Mysterious Sky Crane shot into the sky. After rising to a certain height and identifying its direction, it carried the disciples toward Wuji Immortal City. In the blink of an eye, the Outer Court behind them had vanished from sight.