Luo Mingyan indeed kept his word, taking Wei Zhong with him to Azurewood Sect after a day's journey.
This was Wei Zhong's first long journey since crossing over. Sitting atop Luo Mingyan's flying artifact, he found it rather novel.
It could not be helped. Among the artifacts stored by his previous self, there had not been any such flying artifact. At most, he could use a magic sword to fly at low altitude.
Riding a small boat like this and soaring through the skies was simply impossible.
So rich!
Wei Zhong sighed inwardly. With an artifact like this, even fleeing for one's life would be much easier. As expected of a sect cultivator.
Luo Mingyan had no idea what Wei Zhong was thinking. He sat cross-legged in the cabin of the small boat with his eyes shut, circulating his technique.
Quite diligent.
Wei Zhong had known him for years and knew that Luo Mingyan had also come from a Rogue Cultivator background. His father's generation had likewise farmed for several years in Azurewood Sect.
Because Luo Mingyan possessed outstanding aptitude, he had entered Azurewood Sect's outer sect. Over the years, his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, and he had successfully become an Inner Sect Disciple.
Once he successfully established his foundation, a true inheritance position would surely await him.
Unfortunately, there were no fewer than dozens, if not a hundred, cultivators like Luo Mingyan. Most were trapped at the Foundation Establishment bottleneck.
Even with a Foundation Establishment Pill in hand, they did not dare establish their foundations rashly. After all, not everyone could bear the consequences of a failed Foundation Establishment.
A day later, the two settled down in a market on the outskirts of Azurewood Sect.
Bright Moon Market was bustling with activity, with countless cultivators coming and going. Wei Zhong even spotted one or two Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"This is Azurewood Sect's most prosperous market. Not only are there many Rogue Cultivators, but cultivators from within the sect also come here to trade. Many experts pass through this place, so be careful not to offend others lightly."
"I understand."
Afterward, Luo Mingyan led him to a pavilion. The moment he entered, he warmly greeted the steward inside.
"Uncle Ning, long time no see."
"So it's Mingyan. What brings you to my place?"
"Haha, I need Uncle Ning's help with something. Are there any spare Spirit Fields? A friend of mine wishes to find work here as a spirit farmer."
The steward surnamed Ning glanced at Wei Zhong.
"These Spirit Fields are highly sought after."
Wei Zhong understood that he wanted a benefit. Putting on a pained expression, he took twenty spirit stones from his robes and handed them directly to the man without using his Storage Bag.
With a sweep of his right hand, Steward Ning accepted them.
"By coincidence, a spirit farmer recently left for five months. He has most likely died outside. More than ten mu of Spirit Fields have been left untended. Why don't you take them over, Fellow Daoist?"
Wei Zhong was "overjoyed." "Thank you, Steward Ning."
The two quickly settled the matter of the Spirit Fields. Wei Zhong was given a token, which served as proof of ownership for his Spirit Fields.
"I only agreed to give you this work for Mingyan's sake. Fellow Daoist, take note: if you are not seen for three months, the Spirit Fields will be reclaimed. Do not become so absorbed in cultivation that you forget the days."
"I understand."
"Then the matter is settled. It is time for me to leave as well."
"Take care, Uncle Luo."
After Luo Mingyan departed, Steward Ning led Wei Zhong between the field ridges and pointed to the surrounding Spirit Fields.
"These are Ridge Sixteen Spirit Fields, and they are yours. Keep the boundaries clear, and do not cross the line. Pay the rent on time each year. As long as you do not damage the Spirit Fields, you may do as you please."
"And that small courtyard over there is yours as well..."
"Thank you, Steward Ning."
Watching his departing back, Wei Zhong let out a breath of relief. At last, he had settled down.
Entering the small courtyard, he found it overgrown with weeds. It seemed that no one had tended it for a long time.
He released Nine Colors from the Spirit Beast Bag and had it perch on a branch in the courtyard.
"From now on, you'll guard the house."
Wei Zhong stroked its feathers.
Nine Colors was already a mid-stage first-order demonic beast, roughly equivalent to a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator. Years ago, Wei Zhong had obtained by chance a method for making something called Spirit Feeding Pills.
With their aid, Nine Colors had not only firmly secured its status as a spirit beast, but had also broken through realm after realm. A few months ago, it stepped through the threshold of the mid-stage first order.
Wei Zhong guessed that this bird likely carried the bloodline of some special demonic beast. Without a teacher, it had comprehended the Wind Blade Art on its own.
Dealing with ordinary early-stage Qi Refining cultivators would be no trouble for it.
After tidying up the courtyard, Wei Zhong went to inspect the Spirit Fields.
As expected of Azurewood Sect—even its external Spirit Fields surpassed those of the Yan family.
Azurewood Sect possessed a Third-Order Spirit Vein, far stronger than the Yan family's second-order spirit vein. Naturally, the Spirit Fields contained denser spiritual energy, which would increase the annual yield of Spirit Rice.
After planting the spirit grain and casting several spells, Wei Zhong returned to his courtyard.
Spirit Fields were merely external possessions. What truly mattered was his own cultivation.
Name: Wei Zhong Cultivation: Qi Refining Level Nine (5%) Techniques: Azure Wave Art · Mastery (99%); Life Nurturing Art · Beginner (87%) Lifespan: 134/137
Wei Zhong had not slackened for the past seven years, and his cultivation had successfully entered Qi Refining Level Nine. However, the progress of the Azure Wave Art and Life Nurturing Art was truly moving—in the worst possible way.
The Azure Wave Art was stuck at Mastery 99%, unable to advance even an inch, as though it had encountered a bottleneck. The Life Nurturing Art had grown slower and slower after crossing the fifty-percent threshold. Its progress over seven years had not even matched four years' worth.
With only three years of lifespan left, he might as well temper himself more at Qi Refining Level Nine. Perhaps he could break through the Azure Wave Art's bottleneck.
Although it was merely a Yellow-Grade Middle-Rank Technique, and Wei Zhong would have no path forward with it once he reached mid-stage Foundation Establishment—
Wei Zhong currently had no intention of changing techniques.
The main reason was that the Azure Wave Art's proficiency was currently high enough that its cultivation speed rivaled that of a Mystic-Grade Technique.
It had already become Wei Zhong's best choice for grinding levels in exchange for life.
His current lifespan was still below the danger line. If he switched to another technique, Wei Zhong feared he would not live more than a few years.
Over the following year, Wei Zhong farmed while cultivating. Aside from occasionally visiting the market to exchange for cultivation resources and showing his face before Steward Ning, he lived in deep seclusion.
"Brother Chu, have you heard of the True Lord's inheritance?"
"Brother Ning, are you referring to the Blood Sea True Lord inheritance that has been causing such a furor throughout the market?"
The two sat across the table from each other. On it were snacks made from a spirit beast Wei Zhong had caught. They raised their cups and drank in turn. Wei Zhong had learned to brew wine during these days, making this first-order Spirit Wine himself from Spirit Rice and small fruits from the mountains.
Wei Zhong discovered that he not only possessed extraordinary talent in spells, but was also quite capable in other crafts.
First-Order Spirit Wine Brewing · Proficient (42%)
Thus, Wei Zhong had even considered learning alchemy. If not for the lack of any inheritance path, he would likely have begun long ago.
"Exactly. A True Lord's inheritance! Our generation finds Foundation Establishment difficult enough, let alone Core Formation and Nascent Soul above it. This matter has recently turned neighboring Hanzhu City upside down, until even chickens and dogs cannot live in peace."
Wei Zhong was startled inwardly and immediately sighed at his own foresight in choosing Azurewood Sect instead of Hanzhu City, where Rogue Cultivators gathered.
"No one knows where the news came from, but a group of cultivators holding Inheritance Keys will soon pass through Hanzhu City on their way to Yunjiang Prefecture to receive the inheritance. It has drawn a great number of cultivators together, greatly affecting Hanzhu City's security. Even that Core Formation cultivator, Bitter Bamboo Honored One, emerged from seclusion to suppress the situation."
"Could it be that even Core Formation cultivators are interested in this?"
"Who knows?"
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