Arriving at Tianyuan Mountain!

Primitive old forest.

Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, dappling the thick layer of fallen leaves.

A plump wild rabbit was warily nibbling on tender grass, its long ears twitching occasionally.

"Whoosh!"

A pebble flew through the air.

Before the rabbit could even scream, it fell straight down.

Ye Xuan emerged from behind a tree, tossing a few pebbles in his hand as he hummed an unknown tune.

"Although cultivation requires a pure and detached heart."

"This desire for food is a great human desire, indispensable."

He skillfully skinned and cleaned the rabbit, then set up a fire.

In a short while.

The enticing aroma of roasted meat filled the forest.

Ye Xuan held a branch, turning the roasting rabbit. Oil dripped into the fire, sizzling.

The unremarkable bronze cauldron hanging at his waist swayed with his movements.

After eating his fill.

Ye Xuan leaned against a large tree and let out a satisfied burp.

Night fell, and the forest filled with the chirping of insects.

He didn't rush to continue his journey.

Although there were some fierce beasts in this primitive old forest, in the eyes of a cultivator, they were nothing more than slightly larger cats and dogs.

The next morning.

A thin mist hung in the air, and the morning dew had not yet dried.

"Time to get going."

Ye Xuan stretched, his joints cracking.

With a flip of his wrist, a slender green sword materialized out of thin air.

The sword was long and elegant, exuding a vibrant green aura. Two ancient characters, "Chang Qing," were carved on the hilt.

This was the flying sword he had casually crafted from the leftover materials after refining the Ten Thousand Ancient Cauldron.

According to the standards of the Low-tier Artifact Forging Technique, it was a mid-grade Magic Artifact.

In other words, it was just a slightly sharper piece of iron that could fly.

However.

Compared to the standard-issue flying sword he received when he descended the mountain.

The mid-grade Magic Artifact, the Chang Qing Sword, was far superior.

"Rise."

Ye Xuan formed a hand seal.

The Chang Qing Sword let out a clear, resonant hum and hovered steadily three inches above the ground beside his feet.

Ye Xuan stepped onto the sword.

Stable.

It was as stable as standing on solid ground.

The magical power of the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao within him circulated slightly, flowing into the Chang Qing Sword beneath his feet.

"Whoosh!"

A green rainbow shot into the sky, instantly tearing through the morning mist and soaring into the clouds.

High above, the wind was fierce.

Ye Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, his hair flying.

The Chang Qing Sword projected a faint green barrier, blocking out the gale-force winds that could split rocks.

"This speed is barely acceptable."

Ye Xuan looked down at the rapidly receding mountains and rivers below, estimating mentally.

The speed was around eight hundred kilometers per hour.

Slightly slower than the civilian airliners of his previous life.

But for traveling in the cultivation world, it was already astonishing.

After all, he was only at the sixth level of the Yuqing Realm.

For an ordinary Qingyun Sect Disciple.

At this realm, being able to fly with a sword for two hundred kilometers without falling would be considered a stroke of immense luck.

They'd be panting like a dog.

Unlike him, who strolled leisurely, his mana consumption barely keeping up with his regeneration rate.

This was the thrill of overwhelming power through equipment.

Heading north.

As the sun began to set.

A majestic and perilous mountain range came into view.

Tianyuan Mountain.

Unlike the Spiritual essence and ethereal aura of Qingyun Mountain.

Tianyuan Mountain exuded a wild, rugged atmosphere.

Steep slopes, jagged rocks, and countless rudimentary cave dwellings were scattered across the mountain face like a honeycomb.

The air was filled with chaotic fluctuations of Spiritual Energy.

Along with a strange mix of Herbs, ores, and even the scent of blood.

This was a sanctuary for rogue cultivators, and a breeding ground for sin.

The absence of rules was the biggest rule here.

Ye Xuan lowered his sword light, landing about ten miles away from Tianyuan Mountain.

Don't flaunt your wealth.

Although his Chang Qing Sword was trash in his eyes.

To these impoverished rogue cultivators, it was an unparalleled divine weapon.

If he had flown in directly on his sword.

He would likely have been swarmed by hundreds of red-eyed rogue cultivators before even landing.

He wasn't afraid, but he disliked trouble.

Putting away the Chang Qing Sword, Ye Xuan straightened his clothes.

His attire wasn't a Qingyun Sect Daoist robe, but ordinary coarse linen, making him look like a young herb boy who had wandered into the mountains.

However, the small bronze cauldron at his waist added a peculiar touch to his ordinary appearance.

He proceeded along the mountain path.

Before long.

A massive valley entrance appeared ahead.

Two giant rocks stood like gatekeepers.

A tattered wooden sign hung in the middle, with "Tianyuan Market" written crookedly on it.

The handwriting was sloppy, exuding a wild and unrestrained bandit-like air.

At the valley entrance.

Several cultivators in varied attire sat cross-legged on the ground.

They appeared to be meditating, but their eyes darted around, scrutinizing everyone entering and leaving.

Ye Xuan walked in with his short strides, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

Those people glanced at him, and seeing a mere brat with no experience, lost interest.

"Whose little kid is this, running here to die?"

A burly man with a face full of scars scoffed and spat.

Ye Xuan ignored him.

As soon as he entered the market, the clamor hit him.

"Look, look!"

"Top-quality Red Iron Ore! The best material for forging flying swords!"

"Hundred-Year Vermillion Fruit! Just dug up from Black Wind Ridge, it enhances cultivation! Don't miss out!"

"Ancestral Treasure Map! It records the ruins of an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling, only one High-grade Magic Treasure needed to bring fortune home!"

Stalls were lined up one after another, filling the entire valley.

Most of the stall owners were raggedly dressed.

Some had grim expressions, while others were fiery enthusiastic.

But without exception, their eyes held a glint of shrewdness and calculation.

Ye Xuan browsed with great interest.

This was the ecosystem at the bottom of the cultivation world.

Compared to a place like the Qingyun Sect, this felt more like a real martial world.

Ye Xuan walked up to a stall selling Red Iron Ore and crouched down.

The so-called high-quality Red Iron Ore was dark red all over, with a pitted surface.

"Young man, good eye!"

"This is something this old man dug out from the depths of the mine with all his might."

"Look at the color, look at this..."

The stall owner was a thin, small old man.

Seeing a potential customer, he immediately bared a mouthful of yellow teeth.

"The impurity rate is at least seventy percent."

"And there are internal cracks, and the fiery essence has leaked out."

"Take it to forge a sword, and it'll shatter into slag immediately."

Ye Xuan extended a finger and gently tapped the ore.

Because of his Low-tier Artifact Forging Technique.

Ye Xuan was definitely an artifact forging master in the Zhu Xian World.

Seeing through the essence of an artifact forging material was naturally not difficult.

"This..."

"How is this possible..."

The old man's smile froze on his face.

How did this little brat know so much?

Ye Xuan acted as if he hadn't heard the old man's reaction. He stood up and turned to leave.

[Ding!]

[Detected Host has arrived at Sign-in location - Tianyuan Mountain!]

[Do you wish to Sign-in?]

Just then.

The System's cold voice echoed in Ye Xuan's mind.

Ye Xuan paused.

"Sign-in!"