"This should be the place."
Looking at the cluster of low buildings before him and hearing the occasional crane cries from within, Zhang Jing paused briefly, then headed straight for the gate.
This was one drawback of the Outer Court.
The teams' bases were scattered across the islands, making travel rather troublesome for someone like Zhang Jing, who had neither a flying Law Artifact nor a flying spirit beast mount.
As for relying on a flying Law Technique... he would probably run out of spiritual power halfway there and fall straight into the lake to feed the fish.
With luck, he might even catch sight of a legendary Flood Dragon.
So the best option was to rent a Spirit Crane from the Spirit Crane Garden before him.
As soon as he entered, a man in blue robes came up to greet him.
"Junior Brother, are you heading out on a mission?"
"Senior Brother, I'd like to rent a Spirit Crane to go to the Thousand Techniques Pavilion."
Upon hearing Zhang Jing's answer, the blue-robed man's smile grew even warmer.
"You'd like to rent a Spirit Crane, Junior Brother? Certainly, certainly. This way."
With that, the man courteously led Zhang Jing farther inside.
Before long.
A lush green garden appeared before Zhang Jing. Inside, a dozen or so Spirit Cranes, each taller than a person and snowy white without a blemish, strolled leisurely about.
Every so often, a Spirit Crane raised its long neck high and beat its wings, letting out clear cries.
The fine dust and grit stirred up flew straight toward Zhang Jing, only to be blocked an instant later by the spiritual light emanating from his enchanted robe.
"Junior Brother, are these Spirit Cranes to your liking?" the blue-robed man asked.
Zhang Jing nodded, then asked:
"May I ask how much it costs to rent a Spirit Crane for a day, Senior Brother?"
At this, the man gave Zhang Jing a surprised look, but asked no further questions and simply answered earnestly:
"Two Spirit Stones a day."
"Then that's settled. I'll rent one for today. Sorry for the trouble, Senior Brother," Zhang Jing said with a smile, taking two Spirit Stones from his storage pouch and handing them over.
"You're too kind, Junior Brother."
The man accepted the Spirit Stones.
Then he took a black bracelet from his storage pouch and held it out to Zhang Jing, pointing with his other hand at a Spirit Crane in the garden as he explained:
"Junior Brother, you can control that Spirit Crane by channeling your spiritual sense through this bracelet."
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
Zhang Jing accepted the bracelet and extended his spiritual sense into it. Sure enough, he sensed a hazy awareness.
Come here. Zhang Jing sent out a pulse of spiritual sense.
At once, a Spirit Crane stopped what it was doing, raised its head to glance at Zhang Jing, then walked straight toward him.
"Senior Brother, do you sell the Spirit Cranes here?"
Having experienced how convenient a Spirit Crane was, Zhang Jing asked, somewhat tempted.
His cave abode had a place for keeping spirit beasts anyway. If he could keep an obedient Spirit Crane like this, wouldn't traveling become much easier?
Yet the blue-robed man's reply nearly made Zhang Jing abandon this enticing idea.
"Junior Brother, of course these Spirit Cranes are for sale. For just a hundred Dao Merit, you can take one home."
A hundred Dao Merit? That price was sky-high!
He certainly could not bear to buy one with Dao Merit, but if he could use Spirit Stones, he could consider it. After all, unlike Dao Merit, there were still quite a few ways to obtain Spirit Stones.
"Senior Brother, can I pay in Spirit Stones?" Zhang Jing asked, unwilling to give up.
Meeting his gaze, the man smiled faintly.
"Junior Brother, are you certain?"
Inside the Inheritance Pavilion, Senior Brother Liu held the Middle-Grade Inheritance exchange voucher, looking at Zhang Jing with a trace of surprise.
Zhang Jing nodded firmly and answered:
"Senior Brother, I'm certain."
"Junior Brother, didn't I tell you before that all you need to do now is focus on cultivation, rather than waste your time elsewhere? Inheritances such as Talisman Making are especially demanding of time and energy. Of those who can earn Dao Merit through Talisman Making, which one hasn't had to spend years practicing diligently even with talent?"
Senior Brother Liu looked at Zhang Jing with a complicated expression.
He wanted to offer further counsel, but when he noticed Zhang Jing's resolute gaze, he knew that no matter what he said this time, the other man would not give up.
After a long silence.
Senior Brother Liu first sighed, then solemnly reminded Zhang Jing:
"Junior Brother, since you've made up your mind to exchange it, I won't stop you. I only hope you'll always remember that cultivation is the foundation. Only by entering the Inner Academy will you truly set foot on the Immortal Dao's path to longevity and learn just how vast this world is!"
"I will certainly keep your teachings in mind, Senior Brother."
Zhang Jing bowed deeply and spoke with earnest sincerity.
"Hah, if you could keep my teachings in mind, you wouldn't have come here today to exchange for a Talisman Making inheritance!" Senior Brother Liu said irritably.
Zhang Jing did not answer, merely standing there with a somewhat awkward smile.
"Let me think. A Middle-Grade Inheritance exchange voucher..." Senior Brother Liu looked at Zhang Jing and patiently explained, "Junior Brother, Talisman Making inheritances for the Qi Refining stage aren't divided into specific grades like cultivation methods. What matters most is the methods they record for making various talismans."
"If we're exchanging for something of equal value in Dao Merit... I have it. Wait a moment, Junior Brother."
With that, Senior Brother Liu turned and walked into the depths of the Inheritance Pavilion.
Before long.
He appeared again and walked straight up to Zhang Jing, holding a Jade Slip.
"This is the [Ninefold Evolution Spirit Star Talisman Canon]. It mainly records the art of Talisman Making, along with methods for making some talismans of each level. It should meet your requirements."
"This inheritance counts as a superior Talisman Making method, and its value is equivalent to your Middle-Grade Inheritance exchange voucher."
"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Zhang Jing said gratefully.
He then took the Jade Slip, unconsciously extending his spiritual sense into it.
Sure enough, the inheritance recorded the art of Talisman Making, along with methods for making nearly twenty kinds of talismans of various levels.
"Junior Brother," Senior Brother Liu suddenly said, "I've given you the Talisman Making inheritance. I have something else to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."
"Take care, Senior Brother!" Zhang Jing put away the Jade Slip.
Only after Senior Brother Liu's figure vanished from sight did he turn and head outside.
His next stop was the Thousand Techniques Pavilion.
He could take this opportunity to look around the Thousand Techniques Pavilion while purchasing Talisman Making materials.
The Spirit Crane rose into the air with Zhang Jing on its back.
After briefly getting his bearings in the air, man and crane flew straight toward the Thousand Techniques Pavilion.
Half a quarter of an hour later.
Before a tall, magnificent bronze palace.
Zhang Jing lightly hopped down from the Spirit Crane's back.
Unlike the quiet Inheritance Pavilion, the area outside the Thousand Techniques Pavilion bustled with activity, with an endless stream of Dao Academy disciples coming and going.
After settling the Spirit Crane.
Zhang Jing took a deep breath, then followed the others straight inside.
What greeted his eyes was an extremely spacious-looking hall. An enormous blue-gold gate stood on one side, exuding an air weathered by the ages.
The enormous gate stood wide open.
But spiritual light shimmered within, obscuring the scene beyond.
Still, he noticed that after entering the Thousand Techniques Pavilion, almost all the senior brothers and sisters passed through the enormous gate with practiced familiarity and headed inside.
The place where the Thousand Techniques Pavilion sells Law Artifacts and talismans should be over there.
Without hesitation, Zhang Jing followed them inside.