Fire Cloud City

Li Jun drew in a deep breath and quickly calmed down.

In the cultivation world, nothing was truly strange. No matter how sinister that woman's phantom was, it still could not escape the scope of cultivation.

"Don't panic. At the end of the day, that thing was only a phantom. If she really had that ability, she would have slaughtered us just now."

The Mystic Swan's large eyes rolled around. That seemed to make some sense.

"If it really was because of the mire, then Yao Yuzhi took the lion's share. Even if it wanted to find someone, it would go after her first. You and I don't need to worry that much."

Li Jun continued to persuade it.

"Caw, caw!"

The Mystic Swan nodded and finally settled down.

It still wanted to live a few more years. It did not want to lose its life over this.

"After some time, we'll be mining Black Rock Mine at Cangwu Mountain. If Yao Yuzhi wants to make a move, there's a high chance she'll do it then. When the time comes, you can observe in secret. If necessary, you and I can join hands."

Li Jun and the Mystic Swan reached a deal. With the help of a flying bird whose speed rivaled that of a second-tier demonic beast, he felt much more confident about this mining trip.

Early the next morning, Li Jun leapt down from the Mystic Swan's back and arrived in a stretch of woodland.

"Here. This is your benefit. Brother Bird, happy cooperation."

Li Jun tossed over a bag of medicinal herbs and a bottle of milk. The latter caught them steadily and swallowed them straight down.

"Caw, caw!"

The Mystic Swan was extremely satisfied. Whether it was the milk or the medicinal herbs, they were far tastier than what it found outside on its own.

And all it had done was carry this man for a flight. It was something done in passing.

Li Jun bade farewell to the Mystic Swan, disguised himself properly, then walked toward the faintly visible city beyond the forest.

Fire Cloud City.

As a border city of the Fire Kingdom, this place was the most important supply station for demon hunters heading to the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

Accordingly, it was also the place with the greatest abundance of demonic beast materials.

Li Jun arrived at the city gate. The enormous gate was made of hard Yellow Gang Rock.

As for guards, there were none.

According to the official explanation, most of the people in Fire Cloud City were cultivators, so ordinary guards were completely meaningless.

The City Lord's Manor, which represented the Fire Kingdom, was usually too lazy to manage the cultivators who came and went here.

As long as one did not cause trouble or stir up trouble, Fire Cloud City offered an extremely high degree of freedom. Many Rogue Cultivators often came here to buy and sell demonic beasts, exchanging them for cultivation resources.

Li Jun entered the city and found that the whole of Fire Cloud City was not large. Two main streets divided the city into four sections.

A bustling stream of people passed by him, and Li Jun could sense spiritual energy fluctuations of all different auras.

"Most of them are cultivators in the Qi Refining Realm. There aren't many above Foundation Establishment."

Li Jun's heart settled slightly, and he turned toward a restaurant.

"My lord, our shop just received a fresh batch of Tiger Eagle Meat today. Tender and delicious, it's an extraordinary great tonic!"

"Waiter, just bring me some plain tea and simple food. Also, I want to ask about some information."

At the words "plain tea and simple food," the waiter's face instantly fell.

But when he saw the five Spirit Stones being stuffed into his hand, that drooping face instantly bloomed into a delighted smile.

"Oh my, my lord, a private room on the second floor. This way, please!"

The waiter called out and led Li Jun up to the second floor.

The food was served very quickly. Though it was plain tea and simple food, it was still fine beast meat, accompanied by a pot of clear wine.

"My lord, what information would you like to ask about?"

"I want to know which places in Fire Cloud City sell cultivation methods, spells, and talismans," Li Jun asked.

"Then you've asked the right person, my lord. This humble one has been in Fire Cloud City for twenty years, and when it comes to the forces big and small in this city, this humble one knows them clear as day!" The waiter smiled and patted his chest, then thought for a moment. "The best place to buy cultivation methods is none other than Ningxuan Bookstore. As for talismans, that would naturally be Myriad Treasures Pavilion. Not only do they sell talismans, they also hold auctions. It's the place Rogue Cultivators like to go most."

Li Jun nodded. After finishing his meal, he left the restaurant.

Although the waiter had given him suggestions, to be safe, Li Jun still first wandered around the city.

Information had to be gathered and compared from multiple sources; only then could one avoid suffering a loss.

Fortunately, because he had ridden the Mystic Swan this time, he had two more days than originally planned, just enough to familiarize himself with this city.

Ningxuan Bookstore

Li Jun looked at the four-story building before him. On the black-and-white plaque, four large characters were carved with the vigor of dragons flying and phoenixes dancing, an extraordinary presence.

It was said that the owner of this bookstore was a great clan from the imperial capital of the Fire Kingdom. Its branch stores were spread throughout the Fire Kingdom's territory, and its strength was considerable.

"Fellow Daoist, welcome to Ningxuan Bookstore. Within the bookstore, cultivation methods and techniques are all available. Fellow Daoist, please enter and have a look."

Li Jun nodded and asked, "I want to find some cultivation methods for concealing cultivation level. Could you introduce me?"

The female cultivator gave a slight bow and said respectfully, "Cultivation methods for hiding one's cultivation level and aura are on the second floor. Fellow Daoist, please follow me."

Li Jun followed the female cultivator leading the way up to the second floor. As he looked around, quite a few cultivators had already stopped before the jade displays of cultivation techniques, with female cultivators at their sides giving careful explanations. Voices mingled together, making the place extraordinarily lively.

"Fellow Daoist, everything on this side is a level-one technique related to hiding one's cultivation aura, ranging from superior grade to supreme grade. You may choose as you like."

Li Jun nodded and stepped forward to look through them one by one.

"Fellow Daoist, you may open them for a look. We have displayed a small portion of each technique, along with detailed annotations," the female cultivator reminded him.

"You can even open them and look?" Li Jun was surprised.

"Of course." The female cultivator smiled faintly and stepped aside to guide him. "There are countless techniques, and everyone's talents differ. The paths they primarily cultivate are also vastly different. If one happens to match the circulation of your own meridians, cultivating it will yield twice the result with half the effort and save you a great deal of bitter work."

She paused, then added, "In addition, we also provide sparring partners here. There are dedicated masters who will guide you step by step in cultivation. It just requires an extra fee."

Li Jun was stunned. They could do that too?

This was actually quite a novel way to make a living.

However, after thinking it over carefully, he felt relieved.

In the mortal world, those who could awaken spiritual roots were already one in a thousand.

Among these people, those who truly had talent for cultivation were ultimately the minority.

Those cultivators who knew they had no hope of breaking through had long since given up on attaining the Dao and gaining immortality. Whether as sparring partners or demon hunters, what they sought was nothing more than to pass the rest of their lives in peace.

Li Jun picked up a booklet and began flipping through it directly.

Since the other party allowed him to read the books, he naturally could not let this opportunity pass.

"This one's average. The entry isn't reacting."

"This one looks really impressive, but the entry isn't reacting either."

"This one won't do either..."

Li Jun walked back and forth across the second floor, constantly flipping through the books.

Since he could look through them freely, he naturally had to find one that could trigger an entry.

After all, if an entry certified it, it had to be a premium product!

After eliminating eight books in a row, he picked up a cultivation technique called Breath Sealing Technique.

He flipped through the book and used the opening section of the technique to attempt cultivation.

[Circuit incomplete, hidden apertures unrevealed]

Looking at the entry that had suddenly appeared before his eyes, Li Jun's heartbeat instantly quickened.

Without letting anything show, he browsed through it for a while, then looked at the female cultivator.

"I'll take this one. How much is it?"

The female cultivator glanced at it and smiled. "Fellow Daoist has a good eye. Though this art is only a level-one middle-grade technique, it's said to be incomplete. If the complete technique can be found, its grade is likely no weaker than a level-three technique."

Li Jun nodded. Level-three techniques were cultivated by Golden Core cultivators. No wonder it could make the entry react.

"Fellow Daoist, this art is worth five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones. How would you like to settle the payment?"

Li Jun's heart gave a jolt. This thing cost five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones?