Chapter 85: Departure

Chapter 85: Departure

Bone Luohan: You... always full of surprises. Connecting with the Ji Family is a good thing; let's hope he can take it further.

Blood Luohan: Do you want him to become an informant within the Ji Family?

Bone Luohan: That's unrealistic unless he marries into the family. But maintaining a good relationship with the Ji Family can't hurt; you never know when it might come in handy. Besides, things are too sudden, and we can't send you to the core zone for now.

Blood Luohan: I'll figure out a way to get in.

Bone Luohan: ? Don't do anything reckless. The Four Guardians Star is one of the main bases of the Federation's divine system, with several masters stationed there!

Blood Luohan: I understand. Any news about the Bodhimanda Fruit?

Bone Luohan: What's the rush? This is a strategic resource. You should quickly guide Ji Jingqiu into the Buddha Kingdom to facilitate communication.

Blood Luohan: What do you mean, intercepting my mission?

Bone Luohan: Don't overthink it. What's yours is yours; we're all working for the Supreme Buddha. Your merit points for the last mission have been confirmed; remember to check.

Blood Luohan: I also got news that Wansui Weiqquan has gone missing?

Bone Luohan: We're still verifying this information... but we don't expect any results. Our main focus is still on the west.

...

Ji Jingqiu checked and saw that the merit points for the last mission, "Enlighten Ji Jingqiu," had been confirmed.

It was a substantial amount, totaling 110 points. Li Bu Yi's total merit points barely exceeded 1,000, so this mission was equivalent to one-tenth of his annual merit points.

It seemed that the Supreme Buddha Sect valued him highly.

This was good news; the more they valued him, the greater the hope for the Bodhimanda Fruit.

He planned to guide "himself" into the Supreme Buddha Kingdom soon, creating a new account to observe Bone Luohan's reaction.

After emerging from his meditation...

Seeing that it was still early, Ji Jingqiu went alone to the lower levels and visited Grandpa Zhuang's shrine.

Grandpa Zhuang and Xiao Shanhe had made arrangements before their departure, leaving a boy named Ah Cheng to take care of the shrine's daily cleaning.

As usual, Ji Jingqiu brought some egg cakes. Since Grandpa Zhuang wasn't there, he offered them as a tribute.

He went to the back and burned a few incense sticks, bidding farewell to Ah Cheng and leaving him Zhang Xingyi's phone number. He instructed Ah Cheng to call this number if anyone came to the shrine with malicious intentions.

Ji Jingqiu patted Ah Cheng's head and left the shrine, heading upwards to the snack street.

Hearing that Ji Jingqiu was about to depart for the core zone, Autumn Auntie, Uncle Zhang, Old Man Wang, and others gathered around him as he ate sour and spicy noodles. They chatted animatedly.

"The core zone? Remember to bring extra clothes; I heard clothes there are incredibly expensive!"

"Those are all big brands, so they're bound to be pricey."

"Ah Qiu is going to the big city for further training!"

"Ah Qiu, do you want an extra chicken leg? You won't be able to eat Uncle Zhang's delicious food once you're in the core zone!"

...

Listening to the familiar yet chaotic voices, Ji Jingqiu felt a sense of calmness in his heart.

Before leaving, he savored the familiar flavors one last time. Ji Jingqiu bid farewell to the neighbors who had watched him grow up and returned home with the evening breeze.

Upon arriving home, he packed his belongings, ensuring he took all the important items. After confirming nothing was left behind, he prepared to move to the martial arts hall that night and depart the next day.

Before leaving, he glanced at his grandfather's room, and his gaze fell on the desk. Under a teacup, something was being pressed down.

It was a paper ticket.

A ticket from the Far Ocean Travel Company.

The ship would set sail in five months, departing from the Four Guardians Star.

Ji Jingqiu moved the teacup, picked up the ticket, and studied it under the window light for a long time before carefully putting it away.

...

The next day, upon learning of Ji Jingqiu's imminent departure for the core zone, everyone held a farewell party for him at noon.

they prepared the party, Yang Shi called him aside to discuss some matters.

Originally, Yang Shi wanted Ji Jingqiu to follow the Dragon Tiger Dojo's path, as newcomers to the core zone often needed assistance with various connections.

Initial accommodations and guides were crucial, as one could easily offend local taboos and customs without careful guidance.

However, since Ji Jingqiu was departing early and the dojo's personnel seemed to be engaged in a joint mission, they couldn't spare anyone for guidance and accommodations.

Nevertheless, since Ji Jingqiu was connected to the Ji Family and Starlight Corporation, they likely had their own arrangements for guides and accommodations, which might not be inferior to the Dragon Tiger Dojo's.

wasn't stable yet, so he could go to the Dragon Tiger Dojo's branch dojo after settling down. He still had a temple invitation quota, and he could go through the formalities then.

Subsequently, Yang Shi also sent him an extremely detailed document.

It contained numerous details and insights related to advancing to the True Seed Realm, as well as information about the core zone and various notes, all of which Yang Yan had recorded the night before.

Finally, Yang Shi helped him set a short-term goal for his arrival in the core zone:

Breakthrough to the True Seed Realm, match the body essence, and attempt to cultivate the supreme technique.

"After I stabilize my cultivation, I should be able to guide you, your senior brother, and senior sister to the core zone for further training. By then, I hope you've already made a name for yourself."

At this point, Yang Yan smiled, his eyes filled with anticipation.

In Yang Yan's eyes, Ji Jingqiu was like a young tiger living in a sheepfold, unaware of his position in the food chain.

So, he eagerly anticipated Ji Jingqiu's performance in the core zone.

Unfortunately, he couldn't witness it for now.

Thus, he began to look forward to the next time he would meet Ji Jingqiu, hoping that by then, the latter would have reached the heights that he and Old Luohan could only look up to.

After bidding farewell to everyone, Zhang Chongba sent Ji Jingqiu to the airport.

Ji Anyu and Lou Qinglan were already waiting, along with another young man around the same age as Ji Jingqiu.

"This is Anming, my uncle's child. He's traveling with you, but his destination is different from yours," Ji Anyu introduced.

Ji Anming took the initiative to approach Ji Jingqiu and shook his hand, revealing a toothy smile. "I've often heard of Brother Ji's reputation from Brother Yu. Please take care of me, and just call me Anming."

Ji Jingqiu was impressed, realizing that Ji Anyu hadn't lied yesterday. The Ji Family indeed upheld their family traditions, and their members were not arrogant but rather humble and polite.

"Likewise, just call me Jingqiu," he replied.

His gaze swept past, and he noticed Lou Qinglan standing quietly behind, her eyes slightly lowered. Sensing his gaze, she lifted her eyes and smiled faintly.

Skipping the small talk...

The three of them boarded the ship together.

Thanks to Ji Anyu's arrangements, Ji Jingqiu, on his first space travel, enjoyed the treatment of a first-class cabin—a private, spacious room.

Ji Jingqiu had assumed that the Ji Family would travel in a private luxury starship with their own military escort.

In this era, noble families and corporations had their private armies, but they were not so direct. They would disguise them, like having a security department under the company's name.

The Starlight Corporation's previous operation in Taian City had resulted in the greatest casualty—the Martial Artist from the Shackles Realm, Wu, who had seen something he shouldn't have and was detained by the Administration.

After boarding and setting sail, Ji Jingqiu had just finished arranging his luggage when he received a message from Ji Anming on the terminal.

"Jingqiu, want to spar at the training ground?"

The original chapter can be found at 69@Book/Bar!

A training ground on the spaceship?

Ji Anming explained, "The training base in the Core Zone is more extensive because modern Martial Artists need to consider combat in various environments. So, there are many training grounds specifically simulating planetary surfaces, various terrains, and even cities and ruins."

Following Ji Anming's guidance, Ji Jingqiu arrived at the first-class cabin's private training ground.

Inside, Ji Anming was alone, warming up.

Seeing Ji Jingqiu arrive, Ji Anming smiled. "Jingqiu, I heard you've broken through the Fifth Limit?"

"Yes," Ji Jingqiu replied, looking around and walking over.

"I'm currently at the Third Limit. Let's have a simple spar."

Although he said it was a simple spar, this guy seemed eager to try.

"Alright!"

Ji Jingqiu followed the old man's instructions before leaving, holding back three-tenths of his strength to avoid hurting feelings.

With his current physical qualities, both his power and speed surpassed Ji Anming's.

However, Ji Anming's combat techniques were unique. Each time, he slipped away from Ji Jingqiu's punches as smoothly as a swimming fish.

This piqued Ji Jingqiu's interest, and he began to push Ji Anming into more challenging dodging angles, observing his movements and combining them with the actual situation to deduce the key to his footwork.

A moment later...

Ji Anming was starting to feel overwhelmed, as Ji Jingqiu kept pushing him to the brink.

This wasn't a sparring match; instead, it was a test of his potential, giving Ji Jingqiu a feeling similar to sparring with his family's martial arts teacher.

Waving his hand, Ji Anming took a deep breath and admired, "Let's stop. Have you broken through the True Seed, Jingqiu?"

"Not yet," Ji Jingqiu replied with some regret. Ji Anming's steps weren't complex, but they were clever. He felt that with a little more practice, he could grasp the full picture.

Ji Anming's face showed surprise. "You haven't broken through the True Seed? But I feel your physique is even stronger than my cousin, who has also broken through the Fifth Limit. It's just that your combat techniques are a bit lacking."

Ji Jingqiu was aware of this. His time in martial arts was too short, and he had focused on elevating his realm, learning little about combat techniques.

Aside from various basic fighting techniques from the Divine Tiger Style, he had none.

Instead, he had inadvertently mastered many secret techniques, especially those related to the mind.

Ji Anming asked, "Jingqiu, have you entered the Contemplation Method?"

Ji Jingqiu nodded.

"Then I suggest you quickly condense your True Seed in these few days. After reaching the Core Zone, focus on improving your mind cultivation."

"Oh, why?"

Ji Jingqiu asked curiously, as the manual given by Yang Shi hadn't mentioned similar suggestions.

"Because you're definitely cultivating a superior body technique," Ji Anming asserted. "Superior body techniques require the use of mind secret techniques to transform oneself, and they have high requirements for mind cultivation."

These words reminded Ji Jingqiu of the [Carved Blade and Chiseled Axe].

He tentatively asked, "Among Body Forging and True Seed Realm Martial Artists, are there many who can achieve Mind Stillness?"

"Mind Stillness?" Ji Anming was taken aback and chuckled. "It's not a matter of many or few; there are hardly any at all. Even in the Divine Soaring Realm, countless Martial Artists fail to stabilize their minds and break through the Shackles Realm."

Ji Jingqiu pondered, perhaps the reason Yang Shi hadn't mentioned it was that his mind cultivation already met the requirements, perhaps even far exceeding them.

Finally, Ji Anming shared a mysterious secret with Ji Jingqiu.

"Due to certain reasons, Martial Artists in the Core Zone can more easily delve into the Mind Ocean and encounter the divine."

"Encounter the divine in various ways!"

...

...

After dinner, Ji Jingqiu returned to his room, preparing to guide himself into the Buddha Kingdom that night.

According to Dong Sanhuang Star, it was already 8 p.m.

Before entering meditation, Ji Jingqiu stood by the porthole in his room, gazing into the deep, dark space outside. Dong Sanhuang Star was already too far to be seen.

He withdrew his gaze and saw his reflection in the porthole.

It was him, ready for the journey.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end