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Chapter 566: Yunlai Fang
Chapter 566: Yunlai Fang
"That's not necessarily the case... But I believe that good things will always attract people, just like how wine's fragrance will draw them in, no matter how hidden it is." Fang Xing replied calmly.
"Makes sense," Old Lu nodded, taking another swig of his monkey wine. "I'm going to a duel tomorrow, so I can prepare three to five of these as spares... Young man, where will you set up your stall from now on?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, it should be at Yunlai Fang Market," Fang Xing answered after some thought.
"That's excellent," Old Lu nodded and handed over five talismans.
After receiving his first earnings, Fang Xing continued to attract a few more buyers one after another.
By dusk, Fang Xing counted the talismans in his hand, finding thirty-seven in total. He nodded in satisfaction and packed up his stall to start shopping.
He had already gathered information about Yunlai Fang Market beforehand.
The market was jointly built by several nearby Dao Foundation families, and they also maintained order using their family members, making it relatively safe.
Moreover, the market offered a wide variety of goods.
Fang Xing entered a bookstore with a fixed shop, which usually indicated better credibility.
A middle-aged man dressed in Confucian attire greeted him, "Welcome, sir. What kind of books are you looking for?"
"The 'Greenwood Cultivation Technique' and the 'Encyclopedia of the Great Zhou'..." Fang Xing scanned the bookshelves and replied.
"The Greenwood Cultivation Technique is a common wood-attribute cultivation method, and the first nine layers are explained in great detail... It's priced at twenty talismans," the middle-aged scholar said.
"The 'Encyclopedia of the Great Zhou' has a concise version and a detailed version. I can give you the concise version as a bonus for this purchase, but the detailed version will cost ten talismans." The middle-aged scholar smiled.
"I'll take the detailed version..." Fang Xing raised his hand and tossed out thirty talismans.
He had known beforehand that basic cultivation techniques in the cultivation world were relatively inexpensive. Comparing the prices, he realized how badly the previous stall owner had ripped him off.
However, there was nothing he could do at the time, as it was a seller's market.
"Alright, please wait a moment while I fetch the books," the middle-aged scholar said, retreating behind the counter. "Our bookstore keeps the genuine products hidden. The ones displayed here are either incomplete, containing traps or errors... If you're bored, feel free to browse through them."
Fang Xing: "..."
...
After a moment, the middle-aged man returned with a tray, "Here are the Greenwood Cultivation Technique and the detailed version of the 'Encyclopedia of the Great Zhou'... Additionally, the Greenwood Cultivation Technique is the entry-level technique of Greenwood Peak. If you wish to obtain higher-level techniques after cultivating this, you must join this sect."
He added, "This is also a way for major sects to select their disciples."
"I see," Fang Xing nodded. No wonder the cultivation technique was so cheap; it was indeed full of pitfalls.
However, he had inquired about Greenwood Peak and knew it was a righteous sect, with a better reputation than the Blood Shadow Sect.
Furthermore, most cultivation techniques in the market were similar, leaving little room for choice.
Compared to the multiple volumes of the 'Encyclopedia of the Great Zhou', the manual containing the 'Greenwood Cultivation Technique' was surprisingly thin.
He flipped to the first page and compared it with the portion he already had, nodding in agreement.
Then, he turned to the pages describing the subsequent cultivation stages.
"In this world of cultivation, the initial stages can be divided into two major phases: 'Sensing Qi Nine Layers' and 'Dao Foundation Three Layers'..."
"Most solitary cultivators are at the Sensing Qi stage. Those who reach the Dao Foundation stage are considered local powerhouses, capable of establishing small sects, families, and even protecting market towns..."
"Sensing Qi Nine Layers... Sensing Qi, Refining Qi, Transforming Qi, Gathering Qi, Combining Qi, Nourishing Qi, Killing Qi, Vigorous Qi, and Primordial Qi. The first three layers focus on 'sensing and refining,' the middle three on 'condensation,' and the last three on improving the quality of true qi... In the end, it's about 'a mouthful of primordial qi, establishing my supreme foundation'... Using primordial qi to forge the Dao Foundation?"
"Indeed, each step of the Sensing Qi Nine Layers determines the quality of the Dao Foundation. And what the major sects occupy are not spiritual veins but 'killing cavities' suitable for their qi cultivation..."
Fang Xing even suspected that the Blood Shadow Sect possessed some secret technique to enhance the quality of killing cavities using corpses, otherwise, their harsh treatment of the paper slaves couldn't be explained.
'For me, the best place to cultivate is naturally an area rich in the essence of plants and trees... Just planting more trees around my residence should do the trick.'
After a quick browse through the Greenwood Cultivation Technique to ensure its accuracy, Fang Xing flipped through the 'Encyclopedia of the Great Zhou'.
In theory, the 'Land Beyond' was also considered part of the Great Zhou.
Therefore, the 'Encyclopedia of the Great Zhou' included a rough map and introductions to various forces in the 'Land Beyond'.
Fang Xing purchased this book to plan for his future settlement.
He even considered returning to the Great Zhou Divine Dynasty if the 'Land Beyond' proved unsuitable.
This confidence came from the [Wild Transformation] ability he had never encountered in this world.
Being able to perfectly transform into ordinary animals, he believed passing through the 'Three Trials' would be a breeze—if the Great Zhou Divine Dynasty was as good as rumored, Fang Xing wouldn't mind immigrating there.
As he flipped to the introduction of the Great Zhou Divine Dynasty, his expression changed slightly:
"The Great Zhou Divine Dynasty, founded by divine descendants, has lasted for over five thousand years..."
"In this dynasty, the worship of spirits is prevalent. The law enforcement system consists of household spirits, land gods, city gods, temple priests, divine mediums, and divine soldiers and generals... With a single decree, all cultivation is banned. Anyone who cultivates must register with the government and perform labor. Solitary and rogue cultivators are considered serious criminals and executed without trial."
"It seems to have a bit of the Divine Dynasty's luck and fortune, no wonder it's called the Divine Dynasty..."
"But I can be certain that this tightly-knit system of laws and regulations detests those who believe they possess great power... No wonder both the righteous and the evil are banished to the outskirts."
"If I were an ordinary person, I could live quite well in the Divine Zhou Dynasty, at least the bottom line is high... But if you want to roam freely as a cultivator, forget about it."
Fang Xing shook his head inwardly, rejecting his original plan.
To completely avoid trouble with the Blood Shadow Sect, going to the Divine Zhou Dynasty would be the best option.
However, it didn't matter if he couldn't go.
At most, he would lose a mortal slave, and even if that slave killed a few other slaves, it wasn't a big deal.
Fang Xing estimated that the Blood Shadow Sect's level of attention towards him was probably limited to the disciples in charge of the Paper Slave Valley.
It was far from reaching the standard of being wanted by a major power.
No mistakes, no changes, no inner thoughts, just read Book 169!
With enough distance, there was no need to worry at all, even if he didn't have to change his name, 'Fang Xing'! After all, there were too many people in the world with the same name.
By the time he became famous, it would be years or even decades later, and perhaps the disciples in charge who knew about this matter would have died of old age...
...
After leaving the bookstore, Fang Xing wandered around the market district.
As a Druid, he was naturally interested in various spiritual plants, but there were very few in the market.
In the end, he only bought some mulberry and hemp seeds, planning to plant trees himself when he returned.
Preparing for the future, when he would peel the bark and pulp... to make 'Blood Paper'.
Well, in the process of making blood paper, he might need the Blood Shadow Sect's secret method, but at least producing paper similar in quality to the talisman money shouldn't be a problem.
This was in preparation for learning the secret paper-making technique in the future.
After all, the best time to plant trees was ten years ago, and the second-best time was now.
As for actually starting his cultivation?
Fang Xing didn't dare to put in too much effort until he obtained the 'Immortal Body' talent.
At most, he would occasionally practice the 'Ten Thousand Safety Hand' technique, preparing for the future paper-folding.
...
Night fell.
Fang Xing left the Yunlai Market District and returned to nature, feeling an extra sense of familiarity.
The journey was very peaceful, with no cultivators appearing, causing his plan to multiply his profits several times to fall through.
'Well... it's just a transaction of a few dozen talisman money.'
'If even this gets robbed, there's no point in keeping the Yunlai Market District open... the few Dao Foundation aristocratic families behind it can go and beg for alms...'
He arrived at a temporary resting cave, silently lit the oil lamp, and began to read by the light.
First, he memorized the incantations of the 'Greenwood Art', committing them to memory.
Then he read the 'Chronicles of the Divine Zhou', focusing on the section about the outskirts.
"According to the map, the outskirts are located in the southwest of the Divine Zhou Dynasty, only considered a remote corner..."
"Within the outskirts, various forces are mixed together, with the Righteous and Evil Ten Great Sects leading the way..."
"The Yunlai Market District I'm currently in is in the northeast of the outskirts, already quite close to the Three Absolutes Pass and the Divine Zhou Dynasty's territory..."
"Similarly, the closest sect to the Three Absolutes Pass, the 'Flying Sword Sect', is considered the strongest among the Righteous and Evil Ten Great Sects, but it's difficult for them to use all their strength internally... According to the alliance agreement, the other nine sects also contribute, assisting the Flying Sword Sect in facing off against the Three Absolutes Pass... If something happens, they must come to aid!"
"As for the Corpse-Moving Sect and Greenwood Peak, their strengths are not too different..."
"According to my original plan, if I can't enter the Divine Zhou Dynasty, I might consider seeking refuge from one of the factions?"
"Between these two choices, I naturally lean towards Greenwood Peak..."
However, Fang Xing still had some reservations about becoming a formal disciple of Greenwood Peak.
After all, his Druid cultivation required him to be close to nature at all times, and some of his actions would appear strange to outsiders.
"Should I enter the territory of Greenwood Peak as a wandering cultivator? Or should I affiliate myself with a subordinate force under Greenwood Peak?"
Fang Xing didn't have much desire for cultivation resources.
The most crucial grass and wood essence energy was something he could obtain by planting trees himself.
Apart from that, he only needed a cultivation method for the Dao Foundation Realm and beyond.
Planning for it now wasn't an urgent matter.
Even if he didn't rely on this world's cultivation system at all and only followed the Druid's natural path, he could still become an unparalleled powerhouse!
This was the confidence that came with possessing the Transcender's inheritance.
'However, cultivating this world's techniques can accelerate the accumulation of Druid experience, so it's still worth practicing alongside it...'
Fang Xing gazed outside the cave, silently making a decision: "I can first settle down within Greenwood Peak's territory... Then I'll start to improve myself, of course, the most important thing is still to find my true body... But where did my true body go? I can only vaguely sense its state but can't pinpoint its location?"
(End of Chapter)
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