Nine-bend essence-containing wood and cloud and mist spirit silkworm silk were both valuable spiritual materials. Chen Shuangbai was already quite surprised that Du Zifeng had a way to obtain them.
But when he remembered that Du Zifeng was an inner disciple, he was not quite so shocked.
Since Du Zifeng could secure two of the main materials for him, Chen Shuangbai naturally had to pay the Merit Points.
The two pressed their disciple jade tokens together, and Chen Shuangbai went from having a modest fortune to being penniless.
Of course.
A transaction involving such a large number of Merit Points required documentation from the Expenditure Hall as proof. The two invited Qian Jin to serve as a witness.
Du Zifeng seemed not to notice Chen Shuangbai's mournful face. He left in high spirits, apparently eager to purchase the spiritual materials and refine his plan for crafting the treasured banner.
Qian Jin explained, "Senior Brother Du is just like that. He immerses himself wholeheartedly in artifact refining. His temper is a little strange, but his skills are superb, and his reputation is excellent."
With Qian Jin vouching for him, Chen Shuangbai felt considerably more at ease.
After seeing Qian Jin off, Chen Shuangbai looked at the handful of Merit Points left on his jade token and forced himself to rally.
"Fortunately, I've gotten faster at refining the Jade Spring Five Pills. I can sell the batch I have on hand and tide myself over for a while... But refining only basic pills won't do. I still need to find a way to improve my skills."
With that thought, Chen Shuangbai entered his cave abode and began his cultivation for the day.
Two months later.
Chen Shuangbai had just sold the pills he had recently refined at the Expenditure Hall. He summoned the Flowing Cloud Flying Pouch and landed lightly atop it. With a thought, he sent the scenery rushing past him.
Before long, he arrived at the entrance to the Cloud Peak Small Market.
Lu Zhiyuan had been waiting at the entrance for some time.
"Junior Brother Chen, over here!"
Lu Zhiyuan waved and called out loudly.
Chen Shuangbai lowered his cloud and landed at the entrance. The two entered the market, found an eatery run by a disciple who was a spiritual chef, and went into a secluded private room.
"It's been a while, Junior Brother Chen. Your cultivation seems to have advanced quite a bit again," Lu Zhiyuan said with a smile.
"Hasn't yours too, Senior Brother? Compared to a few months ago, your Qi has grown much more solid," Chen Shuangbai replied.
"Haha, let's eat, let's eat."
After the two sat down, an attendant brought out the spiritual dishes.
They had been eating and drinking for a little while when clear footsteps sounded outside. Then someone pushed the door open and entered.
"Junior Brother Lu, I'm not late, am I?"
Chen Shuangbai turned at the sound and saw that the newcomer was handsome and valiant, with bright, piercing eyes and an upright, imposing air. A forceful wind accompanied his steps, marking him as a man of swift, decisive action.
Lu Zhiyuan immediately rose, hurriedly assured him he was not late at all, and then introduced the two.
"Junior Brother Chen, this is Senior Brother Jiang Xunzhen, whom I mentioned to you before. He's at the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining, and the six inner peaks have already taken an interest in him for his immortal potential."
"Hey, the first stroke of the character hasn't even been written yet. Keep your voice down."
Jiang Xunzhen spoke with a hearty laugh. Though his words were modest, the expression on his face gave him away.
Chen Shuangbai stepped forward and paid his respects.
Chen Shuangbai was good-looking and had reached the Qi Refinement Fourth Layer at a young age. In the eyes of others, he was a promising immortal talent.
Thus, Jiang Xunzhen was also all smiles as he made his acquaintance and befriended him.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, the three sat down again.
Meanwhile, Lu Zhiyuan called an attendant over and ordered a few more dishes.
Those at the Qi Refining Stage could not yet completely abstain from food, and spiritual dishes were no ordinary mortal fare. Cultivators ate them too, and quite a few spiritual dishes were immensely beneficial even to Golden Core True Persons. Thus, cultivators did not turn their noses up at them.
The three ate for a while before turning to the matter at hand.
Chen Shuangbai had come today because Lu Zhiyuan had sent him a message not long ago, saying that he had found an ancient cave abode while traveling for pleasure. His strength was insufficient, however, so he hoped to find one or two fellow disciples to explore it with him and share the treasures.
At first, Chen Shuangbai had been curious why Lu Zhiyuan, who had already reached the Qi Refining Fifth Layer and had a Lineage backing him, would invite him to share the spoils.
Lu Zhiyuan had not explained in detail. He had merely smiled, then said that the cave abode was very likely the abode of a great Foundation Establishment cultivator.
A great Foundation Establishment cultivator!
That had piqued Chen Shuangbai's interest.
As it happened, he was now in his fourth year of cultivation. Once he completed five years the following year, he would be able to take a garrison assignment and choose a place in the three provinces under the Jade Spring Sect's jurisdiction to guard for three years. Along the way, he could also return home to deal with that whole mess.
Thus, Chen Shuangbai wanted to find an opportunity to test his skill in combat and sharpen his awareness when fighting enemies, lest his lack of practice put him in danger when the time came.
Moreover, Lu Zhiyuan had said that the cave abode had fallen into disrepair over the years and that most of its protective formation had been damaged. There should not be much danger, so Chen Shuangbai had gladly accepted the invitation.
Besides Chen Shuangbai, Lu Zhiyuan had also invited Senior Brother Jiang Xunzhen, who had already been selected as an inner disciple.
Surely, success should be all but guaranteed.
The next day.
Chen Shuangbai rode the Flowing Cloud Flying Pouch to the mountain gate.
Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Xunzhen had already been waiting there for some time. After a brief meeting, the three each brought out their flying Law Artifacts and flew beyond the mountain gate.
The Jade Spring Sect's protective grand formation covered the entirety of Sunken Jade Valley and the surrounding three thousand li. Only those carrying a Jade Spring disciple's jade token or an attendant's bamboo token could pass without being attacked by the formation.
The Jade Spring Sect also kept strict records of disciples leaving the sect, both to guard against spies within and to prevent enemies from infiltrating.
As they passed through the mountain gate, which was made of jade, Chen Shuangbai clearly sensed a powerful Divine Sense sweep over him.
But the disciple jade token at his waist glowed faintly, and the Divine Sense swept past without lingering.
Once they were beyond the mountain gate, Chen Shuangbai looked at the white clouds and green mountains in the distance and felt the Spiritual Qi growing noticeably thinner. He could not help but frown slightly.
Lu Zhiyuan seemed to notice. He moved closer and said, "Junior Brother Chen, you joined the sect several years ago and have cultivated in seclusion on the mountain ever since. Now that you're leaving the mountain for the first time, it's only natural that you'd find it a little difficult to adjust."
Chen Shuangbai nodded slightly, then took two bottles of pills from his Storage Bag and handed one to each of them.
The two accepted them and saw that they contained pills from the Jade Spring Five Pills that aided cultivation. Their favorable impression of their junior brother immediately grew.
"Rest assured, Junior Brother Chen. I'll be sure to look after you on this journey."
Jiang Xunzhen patted his chest as he made the promise.
Lu Zhiyuan did the same.
Chen Shuangbai smiled and thanked them.
Then the three flew off in one direction.
Lu Zhiyuan brought out his spirit boat, and the three rode together. It traveled neither fast nor slow, but very steadily.
They crossed several stretches of mountain ridges and passed over several surging rivers. At times, they saw cooking smoke curling into the air; at others, they saw places bustling with people.
They also occasionally saw other cultivators flying on various Law Artifacts, though very few approached.
That was because Lu Zhiyuan had displayed the emblem of the Jade Spring Sect.
Anyone who did not have a death wish would not dare come and harass them.