CHAPTER 411: 224, CHU KINGDOM PILL CAULDRON SCHOOL, GREEN VINE TOKEN_2

"That night, the Clan Leader found me, urging me to give up this opportunity..."

A look of remembrance emerged in Kang Han’s eyes. "I agreed to the Clan Leader, but... later, the Ancestor summoned me. I still accepted the Ancestor’s command, becoming the finalized Nascent Formation candidate within the clan."

"Everyone in the Sect has heard about this matter; it’s just that you, Junior Brother Chang, are younger and haven’t heard of it."

Hearing this, Helan Lianjiang nodded and took over from Kang Han, saying, "Junior Brother Kang has had this grudge with his Clan Leader for over three hundred years. When they usually meet, we fellow brothers deliberately avoid this sensitive topic."

"It’s just a small matter."

"Today is our first time meeting Junior Brother Chang. Junior Brother Kang, let’s not bring up these unhappy matters again," Helan Lianjiang said to Kang Han.

With that, he changed the subject, bringing up an interesting event from the outside world.

He opened the floodgates of conversation, no longer mentioning the Kang Family’s internal affairs.

Today, Junior Brother Kang saw that I had the Yun Shu Tea given by Chief Kang. He’s probably worried that my friendship with him might upset Chief Kang, so he brought up this topic...

About half an incense stick later, Helan Lianjiang’s voice sounded beside Xu Xing’s ear, explaining why Kang Han had mentioned the matter.

"But you also need to be careful."

"As for what Kang Han said, whether his words match his thoughts is not necessarily true."

Just when Xu Xing thought Helan Lianjiang was speaking up for Kang Han, Helan Lianjiang’s tone shifted again, and he began to "disparage" Kang Han.

...

...

「Half a day later.」

The feast ended.

Following his original plan, Xu Xing told Kang Han and Helan Lianjiang that he intended to go to Crane Mountain Marketplace for Seclusion Cultivation.

"Crane Mountain Marketplace?"

"The Spiritual Energy there is far inferior to the Sect’s... However, Junior Brother, since you insist on going to Crane Mountain Marketplace, then the two of us shall accompany you."

Hearing Xu Xing’s words, although Kang Han and Helan Lianjiang were surprised, they still agreed to Xu Xing going to Crane Mountain Marketplace.

After all, although they were ostensibly there to watch over him, they were accompanying Xu Xing under the title of "Protectors," so it was inconvenient to restrict his freedom.

「About a day later.」

「Crane Mountain Marketplace.」

Xu Xing greeted the Market’s Manager, asking him to arrange Cave Mansions for Kang Han and Helan Lianjiang. Then, making an excuse, he entered his Cave Mansion for Seclusion Cultivation.

"We two will reside near his Cave Mansion. Forty years will pass in the blink of an eye, like a brief nap," Helan Lianjiang said to Kang Han via sound transmission via divine consciousness.

Then, he entered the Cave Mansion next to Xu Xing’s and closed the Stone Door.

Did Golden Rainbow Martial Uncle arrange for me to be Chang Kun’s Protector because I already possess a Nascent Soul Spiritual Object and won’t compete with him, or is there another purpose? Kang Han stood alone before their Cave Mansions, his head lowered and eyes flickering, a stark contrast to the disappointed demeanor he had displayed during the feast.

Never mind, I’ll wait for 40 years. These 40 years are also an opportunity for me to find a good chance for Nascent Formation, he thought, shaking his head.

...

...

「Inside a Cave Mansion in Crane Mountain Marketplace.」

Xu Xing used his proficiency in mechanisms to open the stone wall of the Cultivation Room, revealing a hidden chamber concealed within.

It was a cramped little room, barely large enough for two or three people.

Inside the chamber stood a single Stone Mirror, about a person’s height, its surface inscribed with arcane runes that gave it an extremely mysterious appearance.

Xu Xing took out two Spirit Pearls from his Sleeve and set them into the back of the Stone Mirror.

Immediately after, light quickly illuminated the Mirror Surface of the Stone Mirror, and yellow light flickered.

The heavens are vast, and I can roam freely. A few True Monarchs can’t possibly restrain me, Xu Xing thought, a smile playing on his lips.

Although he had been forced to yield to Golden Rainbow Ancestor’s pressure this time, he had managed to turn the situation to his advantage, effortlessly obtaining a few Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects. It was a blessing in disguise.

But I can’t sever my ties with the Immeasurable Sect. This is my foothold in the Nanyan Continent. With this foothold, it’s easier to accomplish certain things... Xu Xing mused.

Whether in East Huangzhou or the Nanyan Continent, being a Freelance Cultivator was not an easy identity. In the Cultivation World, it was difficult to make any progress.

It is said that those without constant property lack constant purpose; this applies in both the realms of Mortals and the Cultivation World.

Besides, the enormous profits from cross-continent trade alone were enough reason for Xu Xing not to relinquish his hard-won high-level status within the Immeasurable Sect.

Should I go to the Chu Kingdom? Or return to East Huangzhou?

Stepping into the Teleportation Array, Xu Xing felt a wave of dizziness as he was transported, arriving in the main hall of an Earth Palace.

This Earth Palace was about a thousand miles from Crane Mountain Marketplace. He had constructed it when he set up the Teleportation Array, over a hundred years ago.

I currently have four Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects. It would be such a waste not to go to the Chu Kingdom...

Xu Xing glanced at the Storage Bag at his waist, hesitating. He was unsure whether to return to East Huangzhou first or head to the Chu Kingdom, which was adjacent to the South Yue Nation.

The Storage Bag Gu Chengbin had tossed him before leaving contained three Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects. Each one was no less valuable than the Smoke Cloud Stone and was worth a considerable amount.

Increasing my strength is more crucial. In East Huangzhou, the only urgent matters I need to address are the Flying Feather Immortal Palace’s Sect Master’s Inheritance and Nan Lu’s Mother-Child Twinning. There’s nothing else...

Soon, Xu Xing made his decision: he would go to the Chu Kingdom’s Pill Cauldron Sect first. This would save time.

Although he only possessed four Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects, he might be able to barter them for a complete set at the Pill Cauldron Sect.

The combination of Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects required for a cultivator’s Nascent Formation varies depending on the specific Spiritual Objects involved.

The set of Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects collected by the Immeasurable Sect was valuable, capable of increasing the Nascent Formation success rate by 20%...

Conversely, by bartering for some cheaper Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects, even if he couldn’t achieve a 20% success rate, 15% or even 10% was still feasible.

A First-Rate Dao Pill alone offered a success rate of nearly 30% during Nascent Formation.

Moreover, Xu Xing’s Dao Pill was even more unique—it was an Innate Dao Pill. With the assistance of his Golden Crow Immortal Body, his chances were even higher.

An additional five percent chance, or five percent less, wasn’t that crucial to him.

Furthermore, his cross-continent trade had always been limited to the North Yue Country. In the long run, this was bound to cause problems. He and True Monarch Jinglian had been fleecing the North Yue Country for nearly a thousand years. It was time to find a new place. The Pill Cauldron Sect in the Chu Kingdom was an excellent choice.

...

...

「Exiting the Earth Palace.」

Xu Xing altered his appearance and aura. Employing a minor trick, he joined the Zhou Family’s trade caravan heading to the South Yue Nation.

Traveling from the North Yue Country to the South Yue Nation wasn’t difficult; one merely had to cross the thousand-mile-long river separating the two countries.

However, going from the South Yue Nation to the Chu Kingdom was considerably more challenging.

In a horse carriage at the rear of the Zhou Family’s trade caravan, Xu Xing sat facing an Old Monk. Both were cultivators in the Zhou Family’s guard contingent, possessing Late Stage Immortal Base Cultivation.

The Old Monk grinned, his yellow teeth prominent, took a puff from his dry pipe, and began to share his experience of getting into Xuan Turtle City with Xu Xing, his junior:

"The Cultivation World in the Chu Kingdom is prosperous. To prevent cultivators from the South Yue Nation from seizing Resources and illegally crossing into the Chu Kingdom, certain measures are in place.

"Only cultivators holding a Green Vine Token can enter Xuan Turtle City. Xuan Turtle City is located on the border between the South Yue Nation and the Chu Kingdom.

"Cultivators who demonstrate excellence and possess a specialized skill in one of the many Immortal Cultivation Arts might be noticed by the Chu Kingdom Sects stationed in Xuan Turtle City and subsequently be guided into the Chu Kingdom..."

The Old Monk continued, "Humans have their ways, and rats have their routes. Green Vine Tokens are incredibly hard to come by. Each one costs at least this much."

The Old Monk raised his right hand, spreading his five fingers.

"500,000 Spirit Shells!" he announced in a low voice, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke through his nostrils. A hint of arrogance touched his features, accompanied by a broad smile.

"But if you follow my lead," the Old Monk said, his eyes flicking meaningfully towards the Storage Bag at Xu Xing’s waist, "you’ll avoid detours and save a lot of Spirit Shells."

"How much?" Xu Xing asked, initially startled. He quickly covered the Storage Bag at his waist with his left hand, his eyes filled with suspicion. "If it’s too much, I’d rather save up Spirit Shells for a few more years and buy a Green Vine Token myself than be swindled by you."

When he first entered the Cultivation World, he had joined the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, one of the Ten Major Sects. Consequently, he’d had little contact with the lower echelons of the Cultivation World. The Immortal Base realm, for disciples of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, was merely a starting point. However, the Old Monk’s words weren’t entirely unfamiliar; it was simply a matter of smuggling—smuggling oneself from the South Yue Nation to the Chu Kingdom. But he was wary that this Old Monk might be a black market intermediary, an old grifter.

"Not much, just 100,000 Spirit Shells," the Old Monk said with a smile, shifting his gaze from Xu Xing, his face exuding confidence. "You’ll earn that back quickly in the Chu Kingdom. Think about it: a 500,000 Spirit Shell Green Vine Token versus the path I’m offering. That’s a difference of 400,000 Spirit Shells! Enough for you to earn over a lifetime."