Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Lan Jingchi smiled slightly and stopped beating around the bush: "Fellow Daoist Lin has keen insight. To be honest, the Azure Sea Chamber of Commerce, though seemingly large, has actually reached the limit of expansion under the current Immortal City structure."

To advance further, we must establish new trade routes through the immortal cities and acquire higher-level resources, especially... a stable channel for third-tier resources.

His gaze was sincere. "Although the Chamber of Commerce has some connections, it still needs a substantial 'stepping stone' to truly open the doors of those immortal cities. Fellow Daoist Lin is a disciple of the Holy Sect, and his future path to immortality is vast. Perhaps this is an opportunity."

I don't need any promises from you, fellow Daoist. I only hope that if I hear of any relevant information or opportunities in the future, I can perhaps act as a go-between for the Chamber of Commerce. If successful, the reward offered by the Chamber of Commerce will certainly not disappoint you—even a third-tier spiritual item is not out of the question.

Tier 3 Spirit Item!

Lin Zhao's heart skipped a beat.

He thought of the demonic dragon egg; if a suitable third-tier spiritual object were to replenish its foundation, its potential would be completely different.

But in an instant, he suppressed the heat.

If third-tier spiritual objects were truly so easy to obtain, why would the Thousand Radiance Sect go to such lengths, sacrificing millions of lives to carry out the "dragon-walking" ritual?

In that battle, nearly forty Foundation Establishment cultivators perished!

"What Brother Lan says is truly tempting." Lin Zhao slowly exhaled, his expression returning to calm. "However, this matter is of great importance and involves many aspects. My cultivation is shallow, and I dare not rashly agree."

Lan Jingchi seemed to have expected this and was not disappointed. He simply shrugged nonchalantly and said, "It's nothing. It's just about making good connections and opening up more paths. Fellow Daoist Lin, you don't need to take it to heart."

His tone became more sincere, "To be honest, with our aptitude, it's not difficult to cultivate to the peak of Foundation Establishment, but the insurmountable barrier of Core Formation... who dares to say they have absolute confidence?"

It's just about being prepared for the future and accumulating more spiritual practice for oneself.

Your sect has a profound foundation and naturally has no shortage of third-tier spiritual items, but with so many talented individuals, internal competition is fierce, making them difficult to acquire. I'm sure you're aware of this, fellow Daoist.

Sect missions can sometimes be perilous.

The two chatted for a while longer, exchanging cultivation insights and what they had seen and heard along the way. Only then did Lan Jingchi take his leave, transforming into a blue streak of light and returning to the massive third-tier spirit boat.

After seeing the guests off, Lin Zhao stood alone at the bow of the Azure Scale Shuttle, gazing at the magnificent fleet ahead and the cloud path that the fleet had broken through, seemingly leading to the world, and remained silent for a long time.

Lan Jingchi's last words stirred up waves in his heart.

Having guarded the area for ten years, he witnessed firsthand just how crazy the Thousand Glory Sect would go for the possibility of a Core Formation.

Core Formation...

For Lin Zhao, who was still in the early stages of Foundation Establishment, it seemed like a long way off.

But resources, opportunities, connections, information... all of these need to be planned early on.

Lan Jingchi's words were like a seed that fell into his heart.

Before parting, Lan Jingchi revealed a crucial piece of information: the Azure Sea Chamber of Commerce had another important mission on this trip—to eliminate a third-tier monster that was entrenched on the shipping route.

"It is the Purple Fiend Crystal Armored Dragon Lizard that you confronted on the third-tier spirit boat twenty years ago."

Lan Jingchi explained, "It has been entrenched in that gale-force wind belt in front of us for many years, which happens to be the only way for the Chamber of Commerce to reach Yunxia."

Over the course of twenty years, we collided with it seven times, losing thirteen second-tier spirit boats and suffering heavy losses.

On this return journey, the Chamber of Commerce has made ample preparations. A Core Formation cultivator from the Chamber of Commerce will be stationed aboard the third-tier spirit ship, determined to eliminate this major threat.

Lin Zhao suddenly realized.

No wonder the fleet is so large this time. Those eighteen identical second-tier spirit ships must have been prepared to form a battle formation to encircle and kill.

Lan Jingchi came specifically to remind him to stay away from trouble. Besides those like him who had a sect background and couldn't refuse, there were two other ships that were also given the same warning.

Sure enough, on another white second-tier spirit ship, two Foundation Establishment siblings from a certain dynasty in the Tongming Domain were also speculating about Lin Zhao's identity.

For them, being able to board the Bihai Chamber of Commerce's ship was already an advantage due to the royal family's Core Formation background, so they naturally paid more attention to Lin Zhao, who was also special.

Lin Zhao didn't care about this.

He was just hitchhiking; if he weren't a disciple of the Yunhai Cangming Sect, the Bihai Chamber of Commerce probably wouldn't have let him join the mission.

Now that we know the inside story, we can simply observe from the sidelines.

-----

More than ten days later, the fleet approached the area of ​​fierce winds that inspired awe.

Before they had even truly entered, the raging turbulence had already caused the Azure Scale's protective shield to sway slightly.

In the distance, dark gray gales clashed violently in the air, emitting a shrill sound.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, please stay at least fifty miles away from the battle." Lan Jingchi's voice transmission entered the spirit boat through a special magic artifact, his tone solemn.

Lin Zhao followed instructions and brought the Azure Scale to a steady stop, hovering at the edge of the relatively calm airspace, his gaze fixed on what lay ahead.

Suddenly, the formation of the Azure Sea Chamber of Commerce fleet changed.

Thirty-six second-tier spirit ships quickly dispersed, taking the third-tier spirit ship Azure Sea as the core, occupying specific positions, and their spiritual light connected, forming a spherical battle formation covering several miles in a short period of time!

At the same time, several airships flew out from the fleet and dropped dozens of crimson crystals down towards the area where the gale was strongest.

The crystal fell into the gale, but instead of being shattered, it exploded with a bang, releasing huge plumes of eerie red dust.

The dust spread with the wind, turning the originally gray-black gale into an ominous dark red, and the area continued to expand.

"roar--!!!"

A furious roar that shook the very soul suddenly erupted from the depths of the crimson-tinged gale below! The roar, filled with pure rage and violence, pierced straight into the sky!

The next instant, a terrifying claw, as large as a hill and covered in dark purple scales, tore through the red gale and, with a speed beyond the comprehension of ordinary cultivators, fiercely grabbed at a second-tier spirit boat on the outer edge of the battle formation!

If this claw strikes firmly, the second-tier spirit boat will likely disintegrate immediately.

However, the battle formation suddenly shone brightly! The attacked spirit ship instantly received support from the formation's power, and a solid barrier appeared.

"Clang—!!!" A dull, deafening sound rang out as the claws gripped the barrier, causing it to sway violently. The spirit boat was pushed sideways for dozens of feet by the immense force, but it did not shatter.

The attack failed, and the enormous being deep within the gale seemed to be completely enraged.

A purple aura of malevolence surged into the sky, parting a large swath of fierce winds.

A colossal creature, over a hundred feet long and resembling a giant lizard, slowly appeared. Its entire body was covered in thick purple armor, and a row of menacing amethyst-like bone spurs grew from its back.

It is indeed the Purple Fiend Crystal Armored Dragon Lizard!

Its cold, vertical pupils were fixed on the largest and most powerful third-tier spirit boat in the center of the battle formation, its eyes filled with rage.

Almost simultaneously, a vast and majestic aura rose from the spirit boat! The pressure of a Core Formation cultivator!

Another violent and chaotic aura erupted from the dragon lizard!

Two extremely powerful forces collided violently in mid-air!

"boom--!!!"

A deafening roar, as if the very heavens and earth were being compressed, caused a powerful energy surge that swept outwards!