Creating a paradise in an ant nest

Chapter 66 Lingxiao Sword Sect and the Market

With the obsidian bead, Liu He's strength increased significantly, giving him the confidence to venture out.

About ten days later.

After the routine morning meeting ended and everyone dispersed, Liu He caught up with Marshal Fu.

"Senior Brother Fu, please wait a moment."

"Liu He, is something wrong?"

"When is the next time our Lingzhi Peak will gather to go to Lingxiao Market? I'd like to ask for leave to go, please grant me permission, Senior Brother Fu."

This is a perk for outer disciples; they can go to Lingxiao Market once a year with the team.

Every one or two months, a Foundation Establishment cultivator from Lingzhi Peak will lead a team of outer and inner disciples to Lingxiao Market.

"It's tomorrow, with Manager Meng from our Spirit Wood Garden leading the team. Taking leave to go to Lingxiao Market is a perk for you as an outer sect member, but you must make sure to arrange the care of the forest area properly and that nothing goes wrong."

They set off for Lingxiao Market that morning and returned the following afternoon, leaving in less than two days.

Outsiders cannot enter Lingzhi Peak, and their Lingmu Garden usually seems very safe and does not require strict protection.

But Fu Shuai knew that someone would take advantage of his absence to harm him behind his back.

He reminded Liu He that he wasn't guarding against outsiders, but rather against the people inside Lingzhi Peak.

"I have asked Brother Li from the neighboring forest area to look after it for me."

The "Brother Li" that Liu He mentioned is named "Li Zhi," and he is another neighbor of Liu He's besides Huang Shideng.

"That's good. I'll be going to Lingxiao Market this time too, so I'll remind you of some things to watch out for."

Fu Shuai happened to be there too.

"Thank you in advance, Senior Brother Fu."

Liu He felt a faint sense of anticipation; this was his first time experiencing the outside world of cultivation.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

next morning.

Liu He arrived at the meeting point ahead of time.

He had just arrived when a female cultivator, her robes fluttering, gracefully approached from afar.

She wore a long, flowing, smoky blue dress with wide sleeves, the hem of which swayed in the wind like clouds swirling around her. The characters "Qian Yuan" were also embroidered on the shoulders and sleeves.

Liu He recognized the person as Wang Yarong, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

"Good morning, Wang Yarong. It's been half a year since we last met. Congratulations on your advancement to the outer sect."

He greeted us with a smile.

"Good morning. It's been about half a year since we last met when we were collecting our spirit stipends. You've reached the fourth level of Qi Refining too? When did you break through?"

Wang Yarong was somewhat surprised to see that Liu He was also wearing a mid-grade magic robe and was at the fourth level of Qi Refining, just like her.

Two or three months ago.

To be precise, it was four months ago. Liu He was being "modest," hiding his true abilities.

"I broke through two months ago, and you did it even earlier? How did you do that? Aren't you a low-grade spiritual root?"

Wang Yarong was puzzled.

With her average spiritual root talent, coupled with the assistance of the second-tier Spirit Gathering Array of the Spirit Plant Peak and some external resources, she was able to advance from the third level of Qi Refining to the fourth level in just over a year.

What gives Liu He the right?

"I use all my spirit stones to buy elixirs and resources to improve my cultivation. Besides, spiritual root talent is only one aspect, it's not that absolute."

Liu He explained.

As the two were talking, more and more people arrived.

Among them were acquaintances of both individuals.

"What a coincidence! Liu He, Wang Yarong, are you two going to Lingxiao Market too?"

The speaker was Meng Kaizhou, who was also wearing a mid-grade Dharma robe.

Meng Kaizhou and Liu He both lived in the Spirit Wood Garden. They would occasionally meet because of their work in the forest area, and thus both knew about the other's breakthrough to the fourth level of Qi Refining.

It's worth mentioning that Meng Kaizhou broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refining a month earlier than Liu He.

"Meng Kaizhou, you've also reached the fourth level of Qi Refining?"

Wang Yarong was surprised at first, then realized: "Right, your father is Manager Meng, so you must have plenty of resources. Your father led the team to Lingxiao Market this time, right?"

"Yes, it was my father who led the team."

Meng Kaizhou had wanted to go to Lingxiao Market for several months, and he waited for his father to lead the team there.

A moment later, everyone had arrived.

The thirty-odd cultivators present were all outer and inner disciples of the Spirit Plant Peak.

Meng Yunxiang, who was in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, flew in from the sky.

Good morning, Steward Meng.

"Greetings, Steward Meng."

"..."

Meng Yunxiang didn't say much, but nodded slightly in response to everyone, and then waved his hand to release the magical flying boat from his storage bag.

The entire flying boat was over ten zhang long and more than two zhang wide, with a warm, bluish-brown color throughout, and its outer walls were covered with intricate and mysterious patterns.

The bow of the ship is carved with a sparrow holding a branch in its beak, its eyes inlaid with green jade.

The spacious deck at the front of the airship served as the place where everyone stood.

"Come on up."

Meng Yunxiang was the first to fly onto the spirit boat and stand in front of the cabin.

The group stood on the front deck, looking somewhat reserved. The thirty-odd people standing in an area several meters long and wide appeared rather crowded, with only a small space to move around.

Fortunately, it was only a little over an hour's journey, and we arrived in no time.

Their destination was the Lingxiao Sword Sect, which was more than 5,000 li away as the crow flies.

There are two major Golden Core sects near the Qian Yuan Holy Sect: the Lingxiao Sword Sect and the Lingrui Immortal Sect, also known as the "Beast Taming Sect".

The Lingxiao Sword Sect is famous for its swordsmanship, and its reputation is even greater than that of the Qianyuan Holy Sect. Moreover, there are many sects of all sizes in the vicinity of it.

The market he runs, "Lingxiao Market," is the largest cultivation market near the Qian Yuan Holy Sect.

The distance from Qian Yuan Holy Sect to Lingxiao Market is over 5,000 li, which is not too far for Foundation Establishment cultivators, but it is too far for Qi Refining cultivators.

Even for a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator who can fly, it would take most of a day to fly over 5,000 li and would also deplete their spiritual energy.

Mid-stage Qi Refining?

Even with the lightness technique, one cannot cross a distance of five thousand miles in two days and two nights.

Not to mention the dangers that might be encountered along the way.

Therefore, Zhuji Daxiu led the team there not only to save time, but also for safety reasons.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"call--"

The airship soared into the sky, traversing through the clouds and mist, as if riding the clouds and mist.

A pale blue aura shielded the area, blocking the howling wind.

The people stood scattered on the deck, some chatting, others quietly watching the scenery.

It was Liu He's first time riding a flying boat. He looked in amazement at the receding clouds around him and looked down at the mountains, rivers, lakes, and ordinary cities through the faintly visible clouds below.

"Faster and more stable than an airplane. How many spirit stones would it take to buy a spirit boat like this?"

He couldn't help but guess that even 100,000 spirit stones might not be enough to buy a spirit artifact of this level.

Meng Yunxiang was not on the deck. After he took off, he turned around and went into the tea room in the cabin.

Others naturally didn't have that qualification and could only stand outside.

Besides Meng Kaizhou.

He naturally followed Meng Yunxiang into the cabin.

As Meng Yunxiang's son, there's no need for him to avoid suspicion over such a trivial matter.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"We're almost there."

More than an hour later.

Liu He's gaze pierced through the clouds and mist, landing on the massive mountain range shrouded in ethereal mist in the distance: Lingxiao Mountain.

Lingxiao Mountain stretches for hundreds of miles, and its deep underground contains abundant spiritual veins, making it the territory of the Lingxiao Sword Sect.

Meng Yunxiang did not fly directly to the Lingxiao Sword Sect in his spirit boat, but instead descended slowly and stopped on a mountain ten miles away from the Lingxiao Sword Sect.

"Meet here at around 3 PM tomorrow to return home. Do not be late. Now, everyone go to Lingxiao Market."

After Meng Yunxiang finished speaking, he saw that everyone had disembarked from the flying boat and put it away.

He gave Liu He a special look.

Just now, he learned from Meng Kaizhou that the person who "stole" his spot in the Spirit Plant Peak selection was Liu He.

"Is it him? This young man is quite capable on the path to immortality. You must maintain a good relationship with him and avoid making enemies."

Meng Yunxiang wouldn't hold a grudge against Liu He because of that incident. On the contrary, he knew that Liu He's talent far surpassed that of his son, Meng Kaizhou.

"Dad, I know. Let's go. You promised to buy me the magic pill."

"You've just broken through to the fourth level of Qi Refining, what's the rush? The path of cultivation emphasizes gradual progress and accumulating strength before unleashing it. Your cultivation has improved faster than mine was back then, so take some time to calm down and solidify your foundation..."

As Meng Yunxiang spoke, a burst of spiritual energy enveloped Meng Kaizhou and carried him towards Lingxiao Market.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

[I have some family matters to attend to today, so this is only one update. I'll make up for it tomorrow.]