Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Bihai Pavilion is a merchant guild under the Immortal Alliance, and Lan Jingchi has traveled to several regions near Tongming Domain for many years, so he has a wide range of knowledge.

"The grandeur of the Immortal City goes without saying, but what's more important to you is the ultra-long-distance teleportation array within the city."

The Ziyang Domain is more than 200,000 miles away from the Tongming Domain.

Even at the speed of a Core Formation cultivator, it would take several months to fly.

And these journeys are not easy.

Various dangerous places, sect territories, mysterious clans, and powerful monster territories are fraught with danger.

Even a Core Formation cultivator needs to proceed with extreme caution, often needing several years to cross this distance; how much more so for you.

He pointed south: "Therefore, the cultivators of Yunzhou established twenty-three immortal cities in these key regions."

These immortal cities are not only the regional centers of Yunzhou, but also transportation hubs, and each city is equipped with arrays that can be used for long-distance teleportation.

By teleporting between these celestial cities, travel time can be greatly reduced.

Lin Zhao listened intently. The existence of this teleportation array was what enabled the Holy Sect's system of ruling over 138 domains to operate efficiently.

"However," Lan Jingchi changed the subject, "this kind of teleportation array involves the principles of space, and each activation consumes a huge amount of energy."

It's not something ordinary cultivators can use at will. Usually, prior application and identity verification are required, and the procedures are extremely complicated.

He looked at Lin Zhao and Xu Chuan with a smile on his face, "Of course, you don't need to worry about this."

Those holding tokens from the Yunhai Cangming Sect have priority access to teleportation arrays in various immortal cities; this is one of the benefits of the Holy Sect.

Xu Chuan then added, "Speaking of sects, you're not as familiar with the assessments and rules after joining as I am."

He looked at Lin Zhao and explained earnestly, "Only Qi Refining cultivators can participate in the sect's assessment. Brother Lin, if we can pass the assessment and enter the sect..."

His initial status was that of an outer disciple, and he then spent ten years cultivating and studying at the mountain gate.

If one can successfully establish a foundation within ten years, one will automatically be promoted to an inner disciple, and only then will one be truly accepted by the sect.

But if the ten-year period expires and the foundation is still not established…

Xu Chuan's tone was slightly serious: "Then you can only become a nominal disciple. A nominal disciple means that only your name remains in the sect, but you cannot enjoy the sect's inheritance and resources."

Even if you manage to establish your foundation in the outside world through your own fortuitous opportunities, the sect will usually only recognize you as a "nominal disciple".

Returning to the sect for cultivation is extremely difficult; most can only hold positions within powerful external forces.

He pointed to himself: "Someone like me, whose parents are both inner disciples, can only be considered a 'nominal disciple' affiliated with them."

Not a true member of the sect, unless I can pass the sect's assessment and establish my foundation within ten years of joining the sect.

The sect's rules have always been impartial and incorruptible. Unless... you have a Nascent Soul ancestor standing behind you.

He chuckled, "However, the starting point for the descendants of Nascent Soul True Monarchs is different. They may be able to directly become inner disciples, or even become candidates for true disciples."

Lin Zhao nodded silently, keeping this crucial information in mind.

Ten years, laying the foundation!

This is the first and most important hurdle to overcome when entering the Cloud Sea Azure Sea Sect.

Above the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, the Azure Sea Merchant Guild's Tier 3 spirit ship led fifteen Tier 2 spirit ships.

They formed a fleet of spirit boats, shuttling between the sea of ​​clouds.

Outside the window, from the initial continuous sea of ​​clouds to the phantom of the mountain peaks, and the rosy glow stretching for thousands of miles, the journey was not smooth sailing.

From time to time, various flying monsters were attracted by the spiritual energy fluctuations caused by the flight of the spirit boat.

Most of them were dispersed or killed by the spells of the second-tier spirit boats and cultivators on the outer perimeter before they even got close, posing no real threat.

Occasionally, they will encounter monsters that have reached the second tier and are comparable to Foundation Establishment level.

These second-tier demonic beasts have developed intelligence and most of them can sense that the fleet is not to be trifled with. They are especially wary of this third-tier spirit ship and will retreat after circling and observing it from a distance.

However, a few ferocious beasts driven by wild instincts will launch attacks.

Lin Zhao had personally witnessed two three-headed blue-scaled vultures covered in blue bone armor.

Emerging fiercely from a patch of dark clouds, it aimed directly at the flank of the fleet! The powerful fluctuations of spiritual energy even caused the protective shield of the spirit ship to ripple slightly.

The next moment, at least five Tier 2 spirit boats simultaneously lit up with dazzling light, and the spirit boats instantly completed their energy charging.

Several enormous pillars of crimson fire precisely enveloped the two ferocious birds!

"Hey——!!"

Roars and wails echoed across the sky. Violent energy exploded in the air, scattering feathers, broken armor, and blood mixed with the smell of burning flesh.

With just one volley of fire, the two three-headed Azure Scaled Vultures were severely damaged and shot down.

After the battle, the cultivator flew out of the spirit boat and used magic to collect the scattered valuable monster materials.

The best third of the cargo was sent to the third-tier spirit ships; this was the rule during the voyage.

The flagship enjoys priority in allocation, while also providing a certain degree of protection for its accompanying members.

However, the real crisis occurred about ten days into the voyage.

That was a dangerous airspace with fierce winds. These winds, strong enough to tear apart fine iron, blew here year-round.

The fleet had to descend, slow down, and erect protective shields to navigate with difficulty.

Just as the fleet reached the middle section of the gale-force winds, where the winds were relatively weak, a sudden change occurred!

Suddenly, a terrifying claw, as large as a small hill and covered with dark purple scales, emerged from below!

These claws came without warning, their speed exceeding the limits of divine sense, carrying a violent power capable of tearing the sky and splitting the earth, and fiercely grabbed at the spirit boat in the fleet!

"Enemy attack! Tier 3! Get out of the way!" The shrill alarm rang out across all the spirit ships.

But it was too late!

"Crack—Boom!!!"

The sickening sound of metal twisting and tearing and the earth-shattering explosion rang out almost simultaneously!

The two locked-on second-tier spirit ships, whose protective barriers, which they were so proud of and capable of withstanding Foundation Establishment cultivators, were as fragile as paper before those purple claws.

The spirit boat broke into several pieces under the terrifying force, and the screams of the cultivators mixed with the dissipating spiritual energy, creating an apocalyptic scene.

Countless figures escaped from the shattered spirit boats, desperately flying towards other spirit boats.

Some unfortunate individuals were directly swept into the explosion, struck by ship debris and turbulent spiritual energy, their fates unknown.

With a single strike, two second-tier spirit ships, comparable to Foundation Establishment cultivators, were destroyed!

"roar--!!!"

A ferocious roar came from below, and with it, purple demonic power surged into the sky, vaguely condensing into a blurry yet enormous phantom of a third-tier demonic beast!

It was a terrifying creature resembling a giant lizard, with amethyst bone spurs growing from its back—

The Purple Fiend Crystal Armored Dragon Lizard! Its cold, vertical pupils were fixed on the largest target in the fleet.

A third-tier spirit boat with strength comparable to a Core Formation cultivator!

"Activate the formation! All second-tier spirit ships, gather together and form the 'vast ocean heaven-defying formation'!"

Lan Jingchi's voice resounded throughout the entire ship through the array, calm yet carrying an unprecedented severity.