Before he knew it, it was late September.
Outwardly, Li Ling remained a refined man of leisure, an unfettered Prince Consort. Having recently obtained Youth-Preserving Pills, he had taken them with his wife to enjoy lasting youth. In secret, however, he had made repeated trips to Beyond-the-World Valley, taking his first steps into the world of rogue cultivators and entering the realm of cultivators under another identity.
The Myriad Treasures Pavilion had opened for business, and the Spirit Materials in his possession were gradually being exchanged through various channels for things he needed.
He was collecting methods from every discipline that interested him—spellcraft, swordsmanship, talismans, Pill Dao, and formations. His sources of information were expanding, and his reflections on his own Dao Path and future development were deepening.
His foundations grew ever firmer.
At noon that day, Li Ling left his body during his nap for another bout of day wandering. He visited Beyond-the-World Valley again and discovered that someone had responded to his posted request to buy Kyara.
Known in ancient times as agarwood resin, Kyara was the finest grade of agarwood. Although the rogue cultivators generally possessed only small pieces they had stumbled upon, even a trace of Spirit Resonance would suffice for his current needs.
Li Ling therefore tracked the seller down through an inn attendant and found the rogue cultivator meditating inside his cave.
The man had called himself Liu Daocheng in his message. He appeared to be in his thirties, with handsome, dignified features. Clad in a blue-gray robe, his lean figure had something of an immortal's bearing.
Li Ling approached and cupped his hands in greeting. "Fellow Daoist Liu, I am Wu You, the one who left the notice in the market. Do you have Kyara you are willing to sell?"
Liu Daocheng said,