The Road Ahead Grew Difficult

Xuanli City, within the forbidden area.

Inside the cave abode.

Cheng Buzheng sat cross-legged on the Jade Bed, his right hand supporting his chin, as if deep in thought.

at this time.

The joy he had felt after his breakthrough was gone from his face; only bitterness remained.

He pondered how to continue his cultivation.

This island only has a tiny Spirit Vein, which is far from sufficient to support his cultivation.

The only way to continue improving one's cultivation is by consuming elixirs.

The Spirit Stone obtained from refining Qi Gathering Pill by the three puppets alone are barely enough to satisfy Cheng Buzheng -Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivation, let alone Little Roar's food rations.

Second-tier, mid-grade to high-grade Bipolar Pill and Spirit-Increasing Pill!

Although the grade has been upgraded by one minor grade, the required spirit medicine have also increased. The age of the spirit medicine has increased from two hundred years to three hundred years, and the price has increased several times over.

The main ingredient of the Bipolar Pill has changed from a mid-grade second-tier Desolate Beast to Second-order High-grade, and its price has increased several times over, not to mention the other auxiliary spirit medicine.

Although the second-tier mid-grade Bipolar Pill and Spirit-Increasing Pill can also improve one's abilities, the effect is much weaker and certainly cannot be compared with the previous progress.

Fortunately, his fifty-year term as a garrison commander was coming to an end. In about four more years, this mission would come to a complete conclusion.

Thinking of this, Cheng Buzheng felt much better!

Being stationed on Xuanli Island, he couldn't act freely on many matters.

It was precisely because he couldn't leave the island for long, and because the Talisman Treasure he had left behind when he left Xuanli Island had already been used up, that he dared not leave for an extended period.

The safety of this island is closely related to the interests of its defenders!

This is because it relates to the distribution of Contribution Points. If any Demon Beast or Desolate Beast attack the island within ten years and cause damage to it, the Contribution Points will decrease accordingly.

If significant losses are incurred, or even if no Contribution Points is made at all, it's equivalent to wasting ten years of time.

At the same time, they will also be held accountable by the Immortal Alliance.

This also means that each of the town's guardians rarely goes out for extended periods of time.

The thought that his garrison duty was almost over filled him with joy.

Immediately.

He stood up, walked directly out of the cave abode, and then disappeared in a streak of black and white light.

In a secluded place Xuanli City.

There are 300 underground locations.

A black and white light suddenly flashed, Cheng Buzheng glanced at the three puppets in front of him, taking a storage bag from the No. 3 Puppet.

Then, it transformed into a ray of light and disappeared once more.

Two months later.

Cheng Buzheng walked out of the Earth Fire Chamber in Xuanli City and then drifted away.

Back in the cave abode, a flash of inspiration struck Cheng Buzheng, and Little Roar suddenly appeared.

Cheng Buzheng patted Little Roar's head and said:

"From now on, we'll be cutting back on food and reducing your rations!"

Little Roar sensed the helplessness in Cheng Buzheng's heart and nodded as if he were very sensible.

If Cheng Buzheng sensed the grievance in Little Roar's heart, he wouldn't have known that Little Roar wasn't truly indifferent.

"So sensible!"

Cheng Buzheng patted Little Roar's head and said:

"I'll compensate you after the garrison mission is completed!"

If Cheng Buzheng that Xuanli Island would be attacked by second-tier Demon Beast and Desolate Beast while he was out, he would have gone to the Zhenbao Pagoda in Huanqiu City long ago to accept the alchemy mission.

When the time comes, you can use the Honor Points earned from completing the mission to exchange for Spirit Material spirit medicine, and you won't be in such a predicament.

However, the round trip would take at least half a month, and accidents could easily happen in Xuanli City. Moreover, Cheng Buzheng could not be sure whether Huanqiu Island could provide timely assistance.

If the rescue is delayed, he will bear all the responsibility.

Unless it's a once-in-a-decade trip to Xuanfeng City, where the City Lord Mansion is to hand over missions and collect Contribution Points, if Huanqiu Island's rescue efforts are insufficient, all responsibility will fall on the rescue cultivators of Huanqiu Island.

However, he had less than ten years left to guard Xuanli City, so he didn't have that opportunity.

As for having Little Roar guard the main island, that was originally his plan.

However, considering that a second-tier Demon Beast would be no match for several Demon Beast and Desolate Beast beasts, Little Roar would likely die a tragic death in their jaws.

Although the possibility was slim, Cheng Buzheng going out at this time, just to be on the safe side.

Similarly, it's currently impossible to ask anyone for help with purchasing.

Because he didn't have enough Spirit Stone to exchange for a large amount of spirit medicine Spirit Material to refine Second-order High-grade Bipolar Pill and Spirit-Increasing Pill.

Moreover...

Second-order High-grade Spirit Pill, including the Bipolar Pill and the Spirit-Increasing Pill, contain some rare Spirit Material and spirit medicine.

Ordinary cultivators would find it extremely difficult to purchase; only the true body could personally go to the Treasure Pagoda to acquire it.

Needless to say, Hu Niu was sent to make the purchases.

Currently, he can only maintain his cultivation using mid-grade second-tier Bipolar Pill and Spirit-Increasing Pill.

Although his cultivation progress cannot compare to before, and he can no longer take a Spirit Pill every half month, it is still better than not taking any pills at all.

Similarly, the same applies to Little Roar.

Only in this way can basic cultivation be maintained.

This is also mainly because the garrison mission is almost over, and Cheng Buzheng doesn't want any accidents to happen that would reduce or even eliminate his Contribution Points!

Fortunately, during the last Ten Thousand Treasures Assembly, no second-tier Demon Beast or Desolate Beast attacked the island.

Otherwise, he'd really go bankrupt!

However, in order to purchase the treasures that would aid in breakthroughs and to cultivate to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage as quickly as possible, such a risky move was unavoidable.

Fortunately, the result did not disappoint him. Not only did he purchase the Earth Milk Spirit Marrow, but he has also advanced to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

If it were during his tenure...

Xuanli City suffered significant losses, and he is highly likely to be held accountable by the Immortal Alliance.

If things were to unfold in this way, it would be completely contrary to his later plans, and could even be two completely opposite paths.

at this time.

There's no need to take risks for these last few years.

There is a huge gap between the benefits and the risks, so taking the risk for it is indeed extremely unwise.

Moreover, Contribution Points are also related to purchasing auxiliary treasures for breaking through realms in the future.

Therefore, he cannot afford to be even slightly lax!

Just to be on the safe side, let's prioritize stability for now!

Cheng Buzheng took out a Bipolar Pill, placed it in front of Little Roar, and patted its head, saying:

"Eat up, this is half a month's worth of rations!"

Little Roar glanced at the pill in front of him with great reluctance, then swallowed it carefully, completely unlike his previous ravenous manner.

Finally, Little Roar stuck out his tongue and licked the area again, as if afraid of wasting even a bit of the medicine's potency. Then he squinted his eyes, as if savoring something.

immediately.

Cheng Buzheng then took out a second-grade mid-level Bipolar Pill pill from another Long-necked Jade Bottle.

Raise your hand, open your mouth, and swallow.

Then he closed his eyes and began circulating his Celestial Cycle again, refining the medicinal power.

He instantly swept away all the spiritual energy in the cave abode, and with the circulation of his Celestial Cycle energy, streams of medicinal power and Spirit Power were refined and drifted into his dantian.

The moment it entered the dantian, it was swallowed up by an incredibly terrifying suction force and drawn into Grey Vortex that resembled a pillar of heaven.

A moment later.

Drops of grayish liquid dripped from the bottom of the vortex, merging into the gray Sea of Magic Power below.

at this time.

The gray Sea of Magic Power was no longer just a shallow layer as before.

The Sea of Magic Power was still one-third away from completely filling the dantian space.

Moreover, the Sea of Magic Power was shrouded in wisps of gray mist, making it appear...

Extremely deep!

Vast beyond compare!

Moreover, there was a special rhythm within the Sea of Magic Power, as if it were brewing some kind of terror.