Flying Sword

Ji Yuan had no idea how much a Rotbone Flower was worth, so over the past month, he had saved up quite a few Spirit Stones.

Drawing Talismans day and night, the Half-Spirit Fish in the Fish Pond advancing, and selling some Spirit Eggs... even after spending money on a Red-Crowned Chicken, he had still managed to save over a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

That day, the skies were clear and bright.

Ji Yuan once again arrived at Shop No. A-18.

The cultivators of Shop No. A-18 all seemed to wear identical black robes.

There were three compartments. Last time, Ji Yuan had entered the middle one. This time, he entered the compartment on the right, yet the furnishings he saw were still exactly the same.

Including the black robe worn by the cultivator.

"What are you buying?"

The voice beneath the black robe was no longer hoarse. It seemed somewhat sharp and thin... like a woman's voice deliberately raised.

It was not the same person as last time.

Ji Yuan walked over and sat in the bamboo chair opposite her, saying softly, "I came last month and paid a deposit for a Rotbone Flower."

"Oh? So you're the one who wanted the Rotbone Flower?"

The voice beneath the black robe carried some surprise, and she immediately raised her head.

Ji Yuan saw a rather pretty woman's face. Those peach blossom eyes of hers, so affectionate even when looking at a dog, left an especially deep impression on him.

The female cultivator was briefly stunned when she looked up, as though she had not expected Ji Yuan to possess such looks, but she soon lowered her head again.

"That's right."

Ji Yuan nodded.

"That person is unwilling to trade for Spirit Stones. They want to meet you and discuss a barter trade." After speaking, the female cultivator brushed her right hand across her waist, producing a slip of paper, which she pressed onto the table and pushed toward him.

"The location is on this. If you're willing to trade, take the address, but the deposit won't be returned."

"If you're unwilling, I'll return your deposit, and the deal is off."

From the looks of it, the transaction was honest enough and not particularly excessive... The thought flashed through Ji Yuan's mind. Whether or not he went to meet them, he definitely had to secure this lead.

So after a brief pause for thought, he took the slip of paper from the table.

"Deal."

A sharp, thin voice came from beneath the black robe. "Pleasure doing business with you. Welcome again next time."

After leaving, Ji Yuan glanced at the paper and casually burned it.

Only one simple line was written on it.

[December 6th, Cloud-Rain Marsh, Sophora Island]

Ji Yuan was in no hurry to return. Instead, he wandered aimlessly through Zengtou City. Whether he would attend the appointment was no longer something he needed to consider.

He was definitely going.

With the influence of Shop No. A-18, it had still only found this one seller. Then throughout Cloud-Rain Marsh, this was most likely the only one with a Rotbone Flower.

There was only this one chance. If he missed it, he would never have another.

There was no reason not to go.

The question was, should he bring these Spirit Stones with him, or turn them into strength first?

As for cultivation, he definitely could not break through in such a short time. The only way to increase his strength was through external means... After a moment's consideration, Ji Yuan made his decision.

He would spend the Spirit Stones first.

As for acquiring the Rotbone Flower, he would first see what conditions the other party proposed.

With that thought, Ji Yuan turned toward the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

Just as he was nearing the entrance of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, he suddenly heard a soft call from beside him.

"Ji Yuan."

The familiar voice drew Ji Yuan's gaze. "Sister Lu."

Over the past few months, Ji Yuan had run into Lu Wan several times, and every time had been in a different place.

Compared to before, Lu Wan looked far more haggard now, with a few more traces of sorrow between her brows. Yet from her eyes... she was free.

Ji Yuan had already seen it when he first saw her setting up a stall on the street.

She had likely wanted to leave the Wu Family long ago.

In Zengtou City, Lu Wan was one of the rare people who was truly alive. Rather than bow beneath intimidation, she had bravely chosen to be herself... even if it meant death.

Thus, Ji Yuan had quite a favorable impression of her.

"You recently..."

Lu Wan was about to speak, but seemed to think of something and hastily changed her words. "Nothing. You should leave quickly."

"Hm?"

Ji Yuan saw the urging in her eyes. Though somewhat puzzled, he still nodded. "All right."

Ji Yuan headed straight for the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Lu Wan's gaze swept around the area, but she noticed nothing unusual. Still, she did not dare gamble. She suspected the Wu Family still had informants watching her.

She had many things she wanted to say to Ji Yuan, but she was afraid of bringing trouble upon him.

Calling out to him had been instinct. Urging him to leave had been reason.

After waiting a while, Lu Wan packed up her stall and left. She was worried about causing Ji Yuan unnecessary trouble.

Ji Yuan remained in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion for a full half hour before emerging.

He spent nearly all of his hundred-plus Spirit Stones.

He bought two First-Rank Upper-Grade Talismans capable of contending with Late Qi Refining Stage cultivators in one go. Those two alone cost him fifty Spirit Stones.

One was an Upper-Grade Water-Escape Talisman for fleeing, while the other was a Demon-Subduing Talisman for attacking.

With what remained, he bought himself a low-grade protective robe, the Dark Earth Robe. Water met earth and was blocked; it weakened and countered most water-element techniques.

This robe alone cost him twenty-seven Spirit Stones.

Along with two Hundred-Herb Pills for healing injuries, costing ten Spirit Stones.

With the rest of his Spirit Stones... he also sold the low-grade magical artifact Blackgold Blade, then added another ten Spirit Stones to purchase his first mid-grade magical artifact.

A flying sword named Whitewater.

When activated, its sword light flowed like rippling white water.

After obtaining these things, Ji Yuan did not see Lu Wan again when he came out. He hurried home and first refined the two newly acquired magical artifacts.

Then he put on the Dark Earth Robe, and immediately felt a heavy, solid presence settle over him.

The Whitewater Flying Sword darted ceaselessly through the courtyard, moving as his heart willed. Compared to the Blackgold Blade, the Whitewater Flying Sword possessed an additional sense of ethereal agility.

Even its spiritual energy consumption was far lower.

I should have replaced it long ago!

After testing it, although he had no corresponding flying sword technique, simply having this mid-grade magical artifact already increased Ji Yuan's strength by at least twenty percent, by his estimate.

In this cultivation world, a good magical artifact provided an enormous boost to one's strength.

For cultivators of the same realm, if the Blackgold Blade faced the Whitewater Sword, it would likely be severed within a few exchanges.

Ji Yuan estimated that even without using those two Upper-Grade Talismans, his strength would not be inferior to an ordinary Sixth Layer of Qi Refining cultivator.

After all, both were in the Middle Qi Refining Stage, and among Middle Qi Refining cultivators, Ji Yuan was armed to the teeth.

Since that was the case, it was time for him to go out and take a look.

After cultivating bitterly at home for three days and consuming all the Spirit Eggs he had saved, Ji Yuan's condition had reached its peak.

As for Sophora Island's location, he had already figured it out over the past few days. It lay in the shallow waters of Cloud-Rain Marsh and did not enter the deep-water region.

Ji Yuan was somewhat relieved.

The other party had only arranged to meet in the shallow-water region, which indicated they also sought safety. If they truly had other intentions, they might have arranged the meeting in the more dangerous deep-water region.

That day, Ji Yuan shut the only spirit fowl that was temporarily difficult to control, the Red-Crowned Chicken, inside the [Chicken Coop]. As long as it remained inside the Chicken Coop, it would be suppressed and behave obediently, saving Ji Yuan some trouble.

He pushed open the door and happened to run into Lin Hu and his wife, who had risen early.

They were somewhat surprised to see Ji Yuan summon a Spirit Vessel.

"Brother Ji, are you taking the boat out today?"

Lin Hu already knew Ji Yuan was a Talisman master, so he had long grown accustomed to Ji Yuan not needing to take a boat out to fish.

Thus, seeing Ji Yuan take a boat out today instead gave him a trace of surprise.

"Mm. It's a good day today. Let's see if I can catch a big fish and bring it back."

Ji Yuan smiled, then leaped onto the Spirit Vessel. His figure turned into a streak of white light and shot through the water into the distance.