The Map and Luo Mu's Plans

Beyond the mid-grade "Black Iron Chain" that brought Luo Mu a moment of joy, the artifacts belonging to the others were merely entry-level trinkets. Back before he had stepped into the world of cultivation, Luo Mu would have envied such entry-level artifacts, dreaming of owning even one.

However, Luo Mu now found these entry-level items somewhat beneath him. After a cursory glance, he deemed them unremarkable and tossed them into his storage bag, intending to trade them for spirit stones with other cultivators later, or simply sell them to a shop if necessary to recoup some value.

Since even entry-level artifacts could fetch a decent number of spirit stones, Luo Mu couldn't bear to simply throw them away.

Aside from a few artifacts, the storage bags contained only a meager amount of low-grade spirit stones, along with daily necessities and miscellaneous sundries. After rummaging through them with a face full of disappointment, Luo Mu couldn't help but shake his head; these fellows were even poorer than he had imagined.

Anything that could be sold for spirit stones, regardless of what it was or how little it was worth, was kept by Luo Mu for a future sale. As for the items he deemed utterly useless, he burned them to ashes without a second thought.

Finally, with a pained expression, Luo Mu buried the empty storage bags deep underground.

Once finished, Luo Mu sat on a stone stool and fell into deep thought. He pondered how to make the most of his time in the coming days, ensuring not a single moment was wasted.

Although he had now entered the Qi Refining stage and his lifespan had increased by several decades compared to an ordinary mortal—allowing him to live to about one hundred and fifty—Luo Mu was an ambitious man. He was not satisfied with the status quo, and time was precious to him. His next goal was Foundation Establishment; he had to achieve it before his time ran out, or he would be nothing more than a pile of bones in a century or so.

After Foundation Establishment, his lifespan would triple compared to a Qi Refining cultivator, and only then did Luo Mu feel he would have enough time to pursue other matters.

Luo Mu's path into cultivation had not been easy. If he could not achieve something significant, he would be unable to face his deceased father, nor could he justify his own efforts.

Luo Mu still possessed a fair amount of poisons and toxic herbs, but he dared not consume any more. Over the past year, he had ingested toxic herbs day and night; while his strength had progressed at a terrifying rate, a massive amount of medicinal power had accumulated within his body.

This medicinal energy required long periods of cultivation to absorb slowly, and it necessitated the assistance of a proper cultivation technique to be fully integrated without waste or leaving behind any lingering side effects.

"A cultivator without a technique is like a mortal without limbs; it makes every step a struggle!" Thinking of the residual energy in his body that required a technique to be properly channeled, Luo Mu sighed, whispering the words from the bottom of his heart.

"Technique... technique..." Luo Mu tapped his fingers against the stone table, muttering the word repeatedly, his brows furrowed as if deep in contemplation.

After a long while, his tapping ceased abruptly, and a look of firm resolve crossed his face. He had just made a decision.

"It seems this is the only way!" With that, Luo Mu stood up.

He swept his gaze over the crude cave he had called home for a year, a flicker of reluctance crossing his eyes. Although the cave was primitive and a far cry from the legendary immortal dwellings, he had lived here for a year, and he felt a certain attachment to it.

There was nothing to pack, nor were there any valuables. Anything Luo Mu deemed of worth was already in his storage bag.

Taking one last look at the cave, Luo Mu stepped outside. He was leaving to go to a place he had to visit; only there could he obtain the technique he desired, allowing him to absorb the residual medicinal power, advance his strength, and eventually march toward Foundation Establishment.

As for the Ten Thousand Snake Mountain Range, Luo Mu lacked the strength to venture deep inside for treasures. Although he had spent a year on the periphery without encountering any danger, that did not mean the place was safe. If his luck turned, he might well lose his life here.

Once his cultivation was sufficient, he would definitely return to brave the Ten Thousand Snake Mountain Range. After all, he had long coveted the spiritual and toxic herbs within, but he simply lacked the courage to enter.

"Eh?" Just as he took a step, Luo Mu let out a soft sound of surprise, staring intently at the stone table beneath him.

The table was supported by a circular stone pillar, and at the base of this pillar, Luo Mu discovered a tiny crack. If it had been just that, it might not have piqued his curiosity.

However, from the very edge of the hidden crevice, a piece of cloth-like material was visible, and this stirred his interest.

"To think something was hidden here! It was so well-concealed that I didn't notice it after living here for a year!" Complaining, Luo Mu reached out with curiosity.

The Poison Fang appeared in his hand, and he easily sliced open the stone pillar, pulling out an old, yellowed piece of cloth. Luo Mu raised an eyebrow as he examined the aged fabric.

Though the cloth was worn, the markings on it were exceptionally clear, drawn with some unknown ink. From the illustrations, Luo Mu could tell it was a map.

Upon closer inspection, Luo Mu was astonished to find that it was a map of the Ten Thousand Snake Mountain Range, with three red dots marked deep within the heart of the mountains.

Luo Mu had no idea what the red dots represented. Furthermore, since they were located deep within the range, he had no intention of investigating them. With his current strength, he would likely end up as food for a demonic beast long before he reached those locations.

The map had been hidden so cleverly that he had expected something valuable, yet it turned out to be just a map. While he couldn't be certain it wasn't useful, for the current Luo Mu, it was of no practical value.

It was not the high-quality cultivation technique he had been longing for, so he felt a slight disappointment. He tucked the map away, cast the matter from his mind, and walked out of the cave.

After leaving the cave, Luo Mu took out his Flying Artifact and soared into the sky. The direction he headed was none other than Jinxiu City!

He had already decided to enroll in Jinxiu Academy. Studying there would not only allow him to learn the cultivation technique he dreamed of, but also enrich his knowledge of the cultivation world, helping him avoid unnecessary detours on his path.

For instance, even when he couldn't gather spiritual energy in the past, he had studied diligently at the school in Dragon Gate Town, memorizing the foundational knowledge of the cultivation world. That was why, once he stepped onto the path of cultivation, he hadn't been caught in the awkward position of knowing nothing.

Moreover, Jinxiu Academy was one of the prestigious institutions under the Wanfa Sect. Every ten years, the Wanfa Sect would select the most talented students from its affiliated academies to join their ranks, becoming true cultivators of the sect.

Becoming a disciple of the Wanfa Sect meant having an excellent cultivation environment, top-tier techniques, and monthly stipends of spirit stones, with additional resources for those with high aptitude—the benefits were numerous!

Most importantly, while joining a sect meant being subject to its rules, one also received the sect's protection. As the saying goes, "It is easy to enjoy the shade under a big tree."

Becoming a disciple of the Wanfa Sect was still a distant goal for Luo Mu. His immediate priority was to enroll in Jinxiu Academy and bolster his knowledge in areas like alchemy, artifact refining, formations, and talisman making—subjects he had never been exposed to in Dragon Gate Town.

Enrolling in Jinxiu Academy was something Luo Mu had dreamed of, but he had never been able to enter the Qi Refining stage, and thus lacked the qualifications.

To enroll, one had to pay one hundred low-grade spirit stones annually, and the other requirement was that the student must have reached the Qi Refining stage. Even at the first level, the academy would accept them without issue.

Of course, they would also accept those whose cultivation was far higher.

For the current Luo Mu, enrolling was a piece of cake. While he didn't have a vast fortune, he had several hundred spirit stones, having made a small fortune twice by looting the dead.

As for his own cultivation level, he had no worries; he had already reached the sixth level of Qi Refining, so enrolling would be effortless.

However, Luo Mu intended to keep his status as a poison cultivator a secret. He did this, firstly, to keep a trump card. After two fights, he had discovered that his unexpected Poison Spirit Power was indeed formidable in combat.

Secondly, cultivators who used poison were often viewed with disdain or even ostracized by others, who considered such methods to be underhanded. Until he was strong enough, Luo Mu would keep a low profile to avoid unnecessary trouble. To avoid becoming a target of exclusion, he would use poison sparingly, and if he did use it, he would ensure no witnesses remained alive.

Once he believed his strength was sufficient, he would no longer have to worry about such things!

"Poison Spirit Power... poison..." Thinking of his power and his destination, Jinxiu Academy, Luo Mu couldn't help but think of Bai Lin, the man in white who had tricked Xiao Ling'er into feeding him the "Heartbreak Pill."

"Though I don't know what level you are at, I have another purpose for attending Jinxiu Academy: to take your life and let you taste what real poison is! Hmph!" To this day, Luo Mu didn't even know Bai Lin's full name, but that did nothing to diminish his hatred.