Tianbao Mountain (Seeking Follow-up Reads! Your Support is My Motivation!)

"North Sea Commandery City?"

Lei Zhan stood upon the dragon-headed ship, gazing into the distance at the massive island that seemed to have no end.

The island appeared as if it had risen directly from the vast, azure waves, shimmering with a seven-colored halo under the sunlight.

On the island, a towering, colossal city stood in silence, resembling an ancient beast lying in wait.

Even from a thousand miles away, Lei Zhan could still perceive the fluctuations of the formations atop that majestic city. Those waves, which made one's heart tremble, were as vast as the North Dark Sea itself.

This commandery city... just the layers of formation restrictions visible to the naked eye are enough to make me feel palpitations and unease. Expectation filled Lei Zhan's eyes; such a gathering place for cultivators naturally held more excitement.

"Those large sects, great tribes, and even Tianbao Mountain, where I am headed, are all in the West City of North Sea Commandery City. I shall head straight there!" Lei Zhan closed the black book in his hand and began to walk leisurely toward the west.

As the core of the commandery, North Sea Commandery City had to accommodate a vast number of cultivators, so the city was naturally immense.

The entire North Sea Commandery City was divided into five major districts: the East City, West City, South City, North City, and the Marquis of the North Sea Mansion located at the very center.

The West City was the most prosperous area in all of North Sea Commandery City!

Within the West City stood rows of large mansions, all belonging to those of high status and great power. Naturally, there were also branches established by top-tier great tribes, large sects, and major religious orders.

At the same time, the West City also contained areas for trade and leisure.

"The great demons of Lone Dragon Island were barbaric, and the cultivators who preyed on others were weak. Until now, I haven't had a proper meal or tasted fine wine." Lei Zhan sighed slightly.

"This time, I will dispose of the magic treasures and items I don't need, exchange them for elemental liquid for cultivation, and buy some food and wine."

Thinking of this, Lei Zhan quickened his pace.

Flying was prohibited in North Sea Commandery City. While it was not strictly forbidden, one had to at least reach the level of a Primordial Spirit Daoist to fly over the commandery city without restriction.

Otherwise, the layers of formation restrictions above the city alone were enough to pin down any cultivator whose cultivation was insufficient.

Moving swiftly, Lei Zhan soon arrived at the West City.

"Hm. It truly lives up to its name as a prosperous place!" As soon as Lei Zhan entered the West City, he felt as if the whole world had come alive. The bustling crowds flowed incessantly, and the cultivators walking here were at least at the Purple Mansion level.

Wanxiang True Persons were also visible everywhere, and one could even occasionally spot a Primordial Spirit Daoist or two, who would usually be in seclusion in their caves.

Of course, although there were many cultivators, they all maintained a facade of civility. Even if there were disputes, no one had the slightest intention of starting a fight within North Sea Commandery City.

This was because fighting was strictly forbidden inside the city!

Of course, within those individual mansions and the branches of sects and orders... it didn't matter how fierce the fighting was. The prerequisite, naturally, was that the masters of those mansions or branches allowed it.

"As expected of Tianbao Mountain..." Lei Zhan's eyes lit up as he looked at the peak standing in the distance. Although this Tianbao Mountain was only a branch, it was able to place an eight-hundred-mile-high mountain within the commandery city, and its decorations were so magnificent that it could be recognized at a glance from a great distance.

Lei Zhan did not linger. Although cultivators along the way were laying out white cloths with all sorts of magic treasures and items for sale, he had obtained far too many miscellaneous items, treasures, and magic treasures. If he were to trade them slowly out here, it would take far too long.

While the cost of dealing with Tianbao Mountain was higher than outside, it had the advantage of being convenient and fast.

Deep within Tianbao Mountain, huge mirrors generated by water-mirror techniques almost covered the entire sky of the space.

Beneath these water mirrors, cultivators were busy at work.

"Deacon," a cultivator in blue robes said respectfully.

"Hm? Is Deacon Yu sending someone to ask again?" The beautiful woman in purple robes, addressed as a deacon, glanced at the cultivator, though her eyes remained fixed on the water mirrors in the air.

"Yes. It is still Deacon Yu's person." The blue-robed cultivator said with a troubled expression, "Deacon Yu's messenger is pressing hard, and it is... a deacon of our Tianbao Mountain. Your subordinate had no choice but to come and ask you to make the decision."

"Hmph!" The beautiful woman in purple robes let out a cold snort. "As a deacon of the North Sea Tianbao Mountain, to be so closely associated with the Marquis of the North Sea Mansion—these nobles are becoming increasingly presumptuous."

The blue-robed cultivator stood silently, as if he had heard nothing. His cultivation was low, and he was merely a common Wanxiang True Person in the North Sea Commandery Tianbao Mountain; naturally, he dared not involve himself in such matters.

After a long while.

"The owner of that black sailing magic treasure is named Lei Zhan. When Immortal Juhua was taking disciples, this Lei Zhan participated in the Purple Mansion level trial..." the beautiful woman in purple robes finally spoke.

As she spoke, the blue-robed cultivator took out a book and recorded it one by one.

"Send this intelligence to the other families as well, besides the Marquis of the North Sea Mansion," the beautiful woman in purple robes ordered.

"Yes." The blue-robed cultivator responded respectfully and then slowly retreated.

The beautiful woman in purple robes continued to look up at the countless water mirrors above. "To be able to kill a late-stage Wanxiang great demon at the Purple Mansion level, even while practicing the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Map, the premier technique for the God and Devil Body Refining Path—such talent makes one curious!"

Although the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Map was incredibly powerful, once a major level was broken through, it forged the most perfect divine body. A late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator could rival an average early-stage Wanxiang God and Devil Body Refining Path cultivator.

The God and Devil Body Refining Path was invincible at the same level; generally, a late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator killing a mid-stage Wanxiang Qi Refining Path cultivator was already the limit.

If one wanted to kill a late-stage Wanxiang—and a member of the Demon Race at that—it was usually only possible for disciples of those great tribes who had learned profound techniques and secret arts from a young age and possessed exceptional talent.

"However, if he truly is the only disciple of that Immortal Juhua... can he stir up this North Sea, which is like a pool of stagnant water?"

"That truly makes one look forward to it!"

Inside a restaurant in Tianbao Mountain.

Lei Zhan sat at a large table, with various spirit fruits, spirit vegetables, a large platter of meat, and a jar of fine spirit wine laid out before him.

Although the items on this table were not the best, they still cost Lei Zhan a full ten jin of elemental liquid.

Ten liang of elemental liquid made one jin, so ten jin was one hundred liang.

One had to know that a single Earth-rank magic treasure could be purchased for this amount. Though, that was only for the most common and ordinary low-grade Earth-rank magic treasures.

Of course, if one wanted to buy a better Earth-rank magic treasure, a mere ten jin of elemental liquid would not suffice. A high-grade Earth-rank magic treasure would cost several times that amount, typically ranging from eighty to one hundred and twenty jin.

Take, for instance, the Earth-rank flying sword magic treasure that Heishui Fang had produced.

Lei Zhan had slain the Lone Dragon Demon King and the hook-nosed Wanxiang True Person, obtaining quite a few Earth-rank magic treasures in the process. Although the Demon Race was poor, these cultivators who frequently plundered the North Dark Sea region possessed a modest amount of wealth.

At the same time, Lei Zhan had also killed over a dozen Purple Mansion-level demons and cultivators; while one might not amount to much, the accumulation of over a dozen was quite substantial.

Lei Zhan disposed of all the treasures and magic treasures he held at Tianbao Mountain, keeping only the set of Rahula Divine Needles obtained from the Hall of Treasures and the Dragon-Head Warship taken from the hook-nosed old man.

Everything else was exchanged for elemental liquid and three Small Teleportation Dao Talismans.

The elemental liquid is exchanged, and the Small Teleportation Dao Talismans are secured. For me, the God and Devil Body Refining Path has the Cold Shadow Divine Spear, the Qi Refining Path has the set of Rahula Divine Needles, I have a puppet warship for travel, and I have three Small Teleportation Dao Talismans for emergencies. That is quite sufficient, Lei Zhan thought to himself while heartily consuming the fine food and wine.

That Wanxiang True Person had two high-grade Earth-rank magic treasures in his possession. Adding the remaining middle and low-grade Earth-rank magic treasures, along with some other valuables, I managed to sell them for over eight hundred jin of elemental liquid.

Adding in all the treasures and magic treasures from those demons, and even the corpse of the Lone Dragon Demon King, I sold them for three Small Teleportation Dao Talismans, plus the few that were in the hands of those cultivators...

Just as flying sword magic treasures were extremely common among cultivators, Small Teleportation Dao Talismans were also essential for Purple Mansion cultivators and even Wanxiang True Persons.

Although they could only teleport randomly to a location ten thousand li away, in a critical moment, even a teleportation of ten li could very well save one's life.

Had Lei Zhan not been so overwhelmingly powerful, those waves of plundering Purple Mansion cultivators and even the hook-nosed Wanxiang True Person might have reacted in time. Without a sealing formation in place, there would have been a slim chance for them to escape using these Small Teleportation Dao Talismans.

Over one thousand two hundred jin of elemental liquid. This should be enough for me to advance my Qi Refining Path to the peak of the Purple Mansion stage.

Lei Zhan thought to himself, A standard Immortal-rank Qi refining technique usually reaches its limit after absorbing around several hundred jin of elemental liquid to break through from the early Purple Mansion stage to the peak. My Nine Directions Fragment is stronger and even more profound. From the mid-Purple Mansion stage to the late stage...

As Lei Zhan pondered, he suddenly felt a bit uncertain. Since breaking through to the Purple Mansion stage, his own speed of absorbing the elemental power of heaven and earth had surged more than tenfold compared to the Xiantian level.

My cultivation over the past year or so is equivalent to about three or four hundred jin of elemental liquid, which is enough for other cultivators to reach the peak of the Purple Mansion stage. But if I want to reach the peak of the Purple Mansion stage myself, one thousand two hundred jin of elemental liquid should be just about right, Lei Zhan sighed slightly.

Breaking through to the peak of the Purple Mansion stage was only the beginning for Lei Zhan.

To break through to the Wanxiang True Person level, his realm was already sufficient, but he still needed to find a top-tier Earth-rank magic treasure and a vast amount of elemental liquid to successfully make the breakthrough.