Several months later, a surge of energy stirred in Lu Xiaotian's dantian, and his vital energy gushed forth like a spring. Joy spread across his face. He hadn't expected that the life-or-death adventures in the Moonwatch Mountains, with danger constantly pushing him, would make his cultivation progress even faster than usual. He had actually broken through to the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, several months earlier than he'd expected.
What a pleasant surprise. He'd gained quite a lot on this trip into the mountains. The various spiritual materials and spiritual artifacts piled up inside the barrier alone were worth several thousand Spirit Stones, and he'd learned several secret arts as well. The other cultivators had probably gained plenty, too—provided, of course, they had survived these months of adventure.
Soon, Lu Xiaotian furrowed his brow slightly. He was still missing four of the spiritual herbs required by Azure Elixir Palace and three required by Soaring Heavens Palace; he hadn't managed to collect everything. With only a few days left before the immortal sects recruited disciples, there was little point in staying in the mountains any longer. Other cultivators were probably facing the same problem. Finding spiritual materials in the mountains was entirely a matter of chance; there was no way to find exactly what one needed. Surely plenty of people in Moonwatch City were already trading for the materials they wanted. If he arrived too late, he might not get anything at all.
With that thought, Lu Xiaotian immediately set off toward Moonwatch City. He was far more practiced at casting the Wind-Riding Art than when he'd first entered the mountains, and his speed had increased considerably.
Along the way, he occasionally saw returning groups of cultivators. Most were eager to get home. But some had made little headway and had