Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

The gray clouds hung low, and the dark red sunlight leaked through the gaps, turning the wasteland into a deathly, blood-red color.

Ian walked at the front of the group, his boots crunching as they stepped on the dry, cracked earth.

He slightly raised his hand, and the group of more than a hundred people behind him immediately stopped, even their breathing became very soft.

"Brother?" Li Yao leaned closer, his little face tense.

Ian didn't speak, but just squinted and looked ahead.

About 300 meters away, on a relatively flat gravel beach, dozens of tall camels were munching on sparse, withered grass.

Those animals were bigger than horses, carrying bulging packs on their backs, and their fur was a docile grayish-brown.

Around the camel, about twenty people were busy.

Some people were inspecting the ropes of the goods, some were squatting on the ground whittling wooden skewers with short knives, and others were gathered around a small fire, cooking something in an iron pot, the steam rising into white mist in the cold wind.

Ian's pupils contracted slightly.

[Starlight Perception] spreads out silently, like an invisible net covering everything.

Those people... all had energy fluctuations emanating from them.

Each of them is quite capable.

A dozen or so of them were awakened, though most were still in the early or middle stages. Their auras were solid and their movements were skillful, clearly indicating that they were seasoned veterans who had been traveling around for many years.

There were also three who had reached the late stage of awakening; one of them was a bald man wearing leather armor.

He was squatting by the fire, holding a piece of dried meat in his hand, tearing at it and revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

But what caught Ian's attention most was the relatively "luxurious" carriage in the center of the caravan.

The carriage wasn't large, pulled by two exceptionally strong camels. The carriage was made of dark brown hardwood, with dark copper plating covering the corners.

The car windows were tightly closed, and the curtains were drawn tightly shut.

But the smell emanating from the carriage...

Like a slowly burning ember, it is restrained and heavy, yet it subtly exudes a sense of oppressive unease.

Condensation stage.

Ian made his decision in his mind.

In this world's cultivation system, the next level after awakening is solidification.

Once the threshold of solidification is crossed, a temporary "rune armor" or "bloodline phantom" can be formed, resulting in a qualitative leap in combat power.

In this wasteland, such a person would be considered a local governor, a minor city lord.

"Lord Li, shall we... go over there?"

An elderly man with a white beard approached, leaning on a wooden cane, his voice extremely low, his cloudy eyes revealing caution.

Ian remained silent for a few seconds.

He is currently leading a group of over a hundred able-bodied men, women, and children, and their food and water supplies are almost exhausted.

The few decaying rats I hunted yesterday had tough, fishy meat that barely filled my stomach, but it won't last two days.

The caravan ahead clearly has ample supplies.

"The past," Ian decided.

"Li Yao, you take ten men and stay behind to keep watch. The rest of you, follow me. Remember, don't look around or say anything out of line."

"yes!"

The procession moved forward slowly.

The camel caravan quickly spotted them.

The bald man threw down the meat in his hand, stood up, and placed his hand on the hilt of the knife at his waist.

The other guards also stopped what they were doing and looked over warily.

Ian stopped fifty meters from the camel caravan.

This distance is safe enough and also sufficient to express goodwill.

"A passerby who wants to make a deal." He raised his voice, his tone calm.

The bald man looked him up and down, lingering for a few seconds, especially on the iron sword at Ian's waist, which was stained with black blood.

"Hey kid, where are you from?" The bald man's voice was rough and hoarse, like sandpaper scraping against a stone.

"I escaped from Maple Leaf City," Ian said truthfully.

"The city has fallen, and I'm taking these people to Blue Cave Mountain to try and survive."

"Maple Leaf City?" The bald man raised an eyebrow, and the scar on his face that ran from his brow bone to the corner of his mouth moved slightly.

"I heard that it was breached by rebels and mutants working together from within and without a team some time ago, and a lot of people died."

"Yes." Ian nodded.

The bald man glanced at the group of people behind him; they were ragged, emaciated, and pale.

Many of them were still injured, but the will to survive in their eyes was still strong.

"What do you want to trade?" the bald man asked.

"Food, water, medicine," Ian said. "We have something to trade."

He gestured, and two fairly strong men behind him carried up a burlap sack.

Untie the rope, and a bunch of dark things are revealed inside.

The teeth and claws of various corrupted beasts, as well as several relatively intact pieces of carapace.

These were spoils from battles along the way, which Ian specifically had the team collect.

Although it has been contaminated, it is hard and can be used as a forging material or alchemy material in some places.

The bald man squatted down and fiddled with the knife a few times.

"The condition is alright, but they're all stained with rotten blood and need to be dealt with."

He looked up at Ian. "You killed them?"

"Um."

There was something else in the bald man's eyes.

There are many kinds of corrupted beasts on the ground, especially the burrowing beasts, which are among the more troublesome ones. They have hard shells, great strength, and are good at digging and ambushing.

This lousy team managed to take down a few, so they're not bad at all.

"These will be enough for three days' worth of dry rations for ten people, two cans of clean water, and a packet of basic hemostatic powder," the bald man quoted a price.

Ian quickly calculated in his mind that the real price was definitely more than that.

The bald man had pushed the price down quite hard, but he was no longer in a position to negotiate.

"Add five more pieces of compressed meat jerky," he said.

The bald man grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth: "Fine, you seem like a straightforward person."

The transaction was completed quickly.

Two guards carried over a small wooden box containing neatly stacked grayish-brown hard bread, dried meat wrapped in oil paper, and two sealed earthenware jars from which water could be heard when shaken.

Another small packet of hemostatic powder was wrapped in linen and emitted a faint herbal scent.

Ian gestured to his men to take the items and distribute them.

A suppressed cheer erupted from the crowd, along with the sound of people swallowing.

Several children stared longingly at the dried meat, and were quickly pulled into the adults' arms.

Seeing this, the bald man suddenly spoke up: "Kid, you guys are going to Blue Cave Mountain?"

"Yes."

"That place is not easy to get into." The bald man used a short knife to pick the dirt out of his fingernails.

"Blue Cave Mountain is the territory of the 'Crimson Cloud Merchant Alliance.' You have to pay taxes to enter and leave. People like you who have fled here need to either have a skill or have someone to vouch for you. Otherwise, you won't even be able to get through the city gates."

Ian's eyes flickered slightly: "The Crimson Cloud Merchant Alliance?"

"Look." The bald man raised his chin and pointed to the carriage.

"The man in the car is Elder Chen, the manager of our business alliance in this eastern region. This batch of goods is to be transported back to the Blue Hole Mountain branch."

It turned out to be the case.

Ian pondered for a moment, then suddenly pulled a small cloth bag from his pocket.

Once opened, six milky-white hexagonal crystals were revealed, gleaming with a warm glow under the dark red light.

Beside the crystal, there were dozens of fingernail-sized fragments, which were slightly lighter in color.

The bald man's eyes widened immediately.

"Elemental crystal? Or a standard crystal!"

His voice rose a notch, and several guards around him couldn't help but come closer, their eyes filled with greed and surprise.

In this wasteland, Yuanjing is the hardest currency among hard currencies.

Originating from relatively safe "pure" ley line nodes, or purified from the energy core of powerful aberrant entities, it contains pure primordial energy.

Awakened beings can directly absorb energy to accelerate their cultivation, while rune masters can extract energy to power magical artifacts. Furthermore, it is an essential energy source for maintaining purification barriers and forging high-level equipment.

One standard crystal is enough for a cultivator in the early stages of awakening to use for more than half a month.

Ian's six crystals, along with the dust crystal fragments, represent a considerable fortune for this small caravan.

"What do you want to exchange?" The bald man's voice became much more serious, and the disdain in his eyes completely disappeared.

Ian put away the bag, leaving five elemental crystals in his palm as a transaction.

"I want to exchange some... knowledge."

He paused, then uttered two words: "Potion formula."

The bald man paused, then understood, a meaningful expression appearing on his face: "You want to learn alchemy?"

"Yes." Ian nodded. "Do you have the formula for a purification potion or an anti-pollution potion?"

The surroundings suddenly became quiet.

Even the guards who were cooking in the distance stopped what they were doing and looked at Ian with strange eyes.

Purifying agents.

In this world corrupted by the abyss, this is one of the best-selling and most precious potions.

It can temporarily resist or slowly purify minor corruption and erosion, making it a lifesaver when exploring the wilderness and fighting aberrations.

The "purifiers" who can refine this potion are highly respected and are always honored guests wherever they go.

The bald man stared at Ian for several seconds, then suddenly turned around and strode toward the carriage.

He leaned close to the car window and whispered a few words.

A moment later, a voice, aged yet full of energy, came from inside the carriage.

"Let him come over."

The bald man turned around and waved to Ian.

Ian gestured for the group to wait where they were, and then walked over alone.

A corner of the carriage window curtain was lifted, revealing a withered hand, followed by a wrinkled face.

The old man was probably in his sixties, with gray hair, but his eyes were very bright, like two polished obsidian stones.

He looked Ian up and down, his gaze lingering on the standard crystal for a moment.

"Young man, what's your name?"

"Li Xing".

"Li Xing..." the old man repeated, a thoughtful look in his eyes, "You were once of noble blood?"

Ian felt a slight tremor in his heart, but his expression remained unchanged: "Yes."

"No wonder." The old man nodded, as if he had remembered something, and fell into a brief recollection.

"The noble bloodline of yesteryear is now... Never mind, let's not dwell on the past."

He paused, then cut to the chase: "You want the formula for the purification potion?"

"Yes."

"Do you know how much that thing is worth?" the old man asked.

"I don't know," Ian said honestly, "but this is all I have."

He opened his hand, and five standard elemental crystals gleamed faintly in his palm.

The old man smiled, a hint of amusement in his smile.

"Five standard elemental crystals for one purification potion formula? Young man, your price... is a bit too much for an old man who doesn't know anything about this stuff."

Ian remained silent.

He genuinely didn't know the market situation, but this was all he could offer.

"However..." the old man changed the subject.

"I find you agreeable. As a descendant of a bloodline family, you managed to escape with so many people after the city fell and even killed the Digging Beast... You've got some skill."

He stretched out his withered hand, pulled a dark yellow leather scroll from the carriage, and handed it out the window.

"This recipe for the [Basic Purification Potion] was copied from a relic many years ago. The materials aren't too hard to find, and the success rate of refining it... depends on individual talent."

Ian took the scroll; it felt slightly cool to the touch, and the leather was delicate, clearly indicating it had been handled very well.

"Thank you." He handed over the crystal.

The old man accepted the money, but then suddenly asked, "Are you going to Blue Cave Mountain?"

"Yes."

"We're going the same way." The old man lowered the curtain, and his voice came from inside the carriage.

"Follow us, it'll be safer on the road. When we get to Blue Cave Mountain, I can vouch for you and get you into the city."

Ian's eyes flickered: "Conditions?"

"Smart." The old man smiled.

"Once we enter the city, if you can truly refine the purification potion, 30% of the profits from the first month will be mine."

Furthermore, when our business alliance needs medicine, you must prioritize taking our orders.

Ian said almost without hesitation, "Deal."

"Great." The old man seemed quite satisfied. "Go pack up, we'll set off in an incense stick's time."

Ian turned and walked back to the group.

Li Yao immediately leaned closer: "Brother, how is it?"

"It's settled." Ian carefully put the formula scroll into his pocket.

"We followed the caravan, and they escorted us into the Blue Cave Mountain."

A collective sigh of relief immediately filled the crowd.

Being able to travel with such a well-equipped caravan, with a Condensed Realm expert in charge, significantly increases the safety factor.

Ian walked up to the white-bearded old man and whispered his instructions.

"Keep a close eye on the road, especially the guards of the caravans. Don't let our people provoke them."

"I understand," the old man nodded vigorously.

After an incense stick had burned, the procession set off again.

The camels of the Crimson Cloud Caravan walked ahead, their heavy hooves pounding the ground with dull thuds.

Ian's team followed behind, maintaining a distance of about fifty meters.

The bald man, riding on a camel, glanced back at Ian and suddenly grinned.

"Kid, you know how to suck up to someone powerful."

Ian didn't reply, he just walked on silently.

[Starry Perception] maintained maximum vigilance at all times, while a portion of his consciousness had sunk into his spiritual sea.

The recipe is being rapidly analyzed by the panel.

[New knowledge carrier detected: "Primary Purification Agent"]

[Analyzing...]

[Analysis complete]

【配方内容：净水500毫升、烈焰草3株、明月花花瓣5克、纯净星辉尘1克、基础稳定剂10毫升】

【Refining steps: 1. Boil water, add flame grass, simmer for 10 minutes until the liquid turns light red.

2. Add the petals of the moonflower and stir until completely dissolved.

3. Remove from heat and wait for the temperature to drop below 40 degrees Celsius. Add stardust and stir clockwise...

4. Add stabilizer dropwise and continue stirring until the liquid is clear and slightly blue...

[Key points for refining: The timing of adding stardust must be precise. Too high a temperature will cause energy to dissipate, while too low a temperature will prevent it from fully incorporating. The stirring speed must be uniform; too fast or too slow will affect the efficacy of the medicine.]

[Estimated number of practice sessions required to master: 3 (with panel assistance)]

Ian opened his eyes, a golden glint flashing deep within his pupils.

Why is it so simple? Naturally, it's because Ian himself is a potions master, and he understands basic potions extremely quickly.

This is still because the rules are different between the two worlds. If it were the wizarding world, Ian could freely innovate and improve basic potions.

As long as he has all the necessary materials, he can fail at most twice, and on the third attempt, he will be able to refine a qualified purification potion.

And once you succeed... then it's a 100% success rate.

In this world corrupted by the abyss, the Purifiers are like mobile gold mines.

He touched the Starfall Core on his chest, feeling its warm and ancient resonance.

Blue Cave Mountain.

Once you get there, find a place to settle down, break through to the Condensed Form stage, and further awaken the Star Guide bloodline.

At that time, perhaps we can glimpse a secret about "stellar gravity" from this bloodline.

That was the real goal of his projection.

In the distance, gray clouds churned.

Dark red slits of light, like veins, undulated within the clouds, casting a desolate glow over the wilderness.

The camel bells jingled as the caravan moved forward in silence.

Ian looked up and gazed at the horizon.

There, one could vaguely see a continuous black outline, like a giant beast lying prostrate on the earth.

Blue Cave Mountain.

Arrived.