Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improving Spiritual Root Aptitude

The next day.

early morning.

As dawn broke, Wu Fan got up.

After a quick wash, he left Fengxie Tower alone and headed towards the bustling area of ​​Luoxing Valley Market.

He also had a sum of spirit stones in his storage bag.

He had a plan in mind before he came out.

First, find a precious spiritual material with the fire attribute to activate the Five Elements Beads.

With the remaining spirit stones, I will purchase another batch of medicinal materials to refine first-grade high-quality cultivation pills, to help me break through to the late stage of Qi Refining.

If there is any surplus, then find some more ingredients for the Spirit-Feeding Pill.

Although the Spirit Feeding Pill is a low-grade pill, its use is quite special; it is used to feed spirit beasts.

Because of its small audience, it is rare to find stock in ordinary market shops, and Yunxi Market is no exception.

However, the Falling Star Valley Market is backed by the Nascent Soul Sect Falling Star Valley, which is far larger than Cloud Creek Market. It should be possible to find such medicinal materials there.

With his plans made up, Wu Fan quickened his pace, weaving through the streets and alleys of the market.

He went from shop to shop, carefully identifying the properties and value of various spiritual materials.

Before we knew it, the sun was gradually setting in the west, and the sky was getting darker and darker.

The streets of the market were already brightly lit, with strings of lanterns hanging under the eaves, illuminating the entire street as if it were daytime.

Surprisingly, the number of cultivators coming and going did not decrease; on the contrary, it was several times more than during the day.

Even the usually quiet stall area was now filled with all kinds of stalls, with shouts and bargaining sounds rising and falling, creating a lively atmosphere.

Upon seeing this, Wu Fan couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

During the day, the number of cultivators who came because of the Star Ascension Conference had increased the foot traffic in Falling Star Valley Market several times over, and he thought that was the peak.

Unexpectedly, after nightfall, the market became several times more bustling, truly a sea of ​​people, shoulder to shoulder.

It seems that no matter the world, people prefer to stroll around at night and enjoy the unique atmosphere of everyday life.

However, Wu Fan had no interest in lingering over the lively scene today.

He spent the entire day wandering around, visiting almost every shop in the market, but still couldn't find a suitable fire-attribute spiritual material.

Either the attributes don't match, or although the Five Elements Beads are receptive, the value of the spiritual material is not proportional to the strength of the receptiveness, making it a losing proposition.

However, it wasn't entirely without gains.

He had already purchased all the medicinal herbs needed to refine cultivation pills, as well as the materials required for Spirit Feeding Pills.

With a slight sigh, Wu Fan turned around and prepared to return to Fengxie Tower to first go into seclusion and attempt to break through to the late stage of Qi Refining.

But just as he took a step, a clear shout suddenly came from behind him:

"Brother Liu! What are you doing here?"

The voice was so familiar that Wu Fan's heart skipped a beat.

He turned around abruptly and saw Fu Qianyu walking briskly towards him under the lights not far away, her eyebrows curved and her face still bearing that innocent smile.

The surrounding noise continued, but Wu Fan's heart sank instantly.

He deliberately got up early to come to the market, hoping to avoid Fu Qianyu and reduce unnecessary interactions, but unexpectedly bumped into him in the bustling night.

What a coincidence!!!

Fu Qianyu walked up to Wu Fan in a few steps, looked him up and down, and said with a smile, "Brother Liu, you have quite the refined taste, enjoying strolling through the market at night. I spent the whole day there and bought a lot of fun things, and I was just wondering who to share them with!"

As he spoke, he patted the bulging storage bag at his waist.

Seeing his naive and unsophisticated appearance, Wu Fan's inner turmoil subsided, but he showed no sign of it on his face. He simply cupped his hands in a respectful bow and said, "Brother Fu, you seem to be in high spirits. I was just taking a stroll and was about to head back to my lodgings to rest."

"Back to our lodgings?"

Fu Qianyu's eyes darted around, and he said eagerly, "Brother Liu, why are you in such a hurry to go back? If you don't mind, how about coming with me to have a couple of drinks?"

Wu Fan's eyes flickered slightly, and he was about to refuse when Fu Qianyu suddenly took a step closer, cupped his hand to his lips, lowered his voice, and said with a touch of mystery:

"To be honest, I met several fellow cultivators with profound cultivation during the day, all of whom are here to participate in the Star Ascension Ceremony. We've temporarily formed a mutual aid group for independent cultivators, and we've even prepared a small exchange event tonight. Brother Liu, would you like to take a look? Perhaps you can find something that suits your taste."

Upon hearing the words "exchange meeting," Wu Fan's heart stirred slightly.

He had visited all the larger shops in the market today, but hadn't found many spiritual materials useful for the Five Elements Beads. Since he still had some time before breaking through to the late stage of Qi Refining in seclusion, he might as well try his luck.

Thinking of this, he abandoned his refusal and bowed with his hands clasped in greeting:

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Fu."

"We're all fellow travelers, Brother Liu, there's no need for such formalities!"

Fu Qianyu smiled even more broadly and gestured in the direction.

"Come with me, it's not far."

Wu Fan followed closely behind, passing through the bustling crowd and turning into a quiet alley.

At the end of the alley stood a small pavilion made of blue bricks, with two lanterns hanging under the eaves. There was no one guarding the pavilion.

As soon as the two entered the pavilion, a middle-aged man dressed in black tight-fitting clothes quickly came to greet them.

This man was burly, with broad shoulders and a thick back. His face bore the marks of hardship, but his eyes were extremely bright. He didn't look like a cultivator, but rather like a chivalrous hero from the martial world. He was clearly a person of cheerful and straightforward character.

"Brother Fu, we've been waiting for you! Hurry inside, the exchange will begin in a moment."

As Gao Xu spoke, his gaze fell on Wu Fan, scrutinizing him from head to toe. His eyes held a hint of scrutiny, but no malice.

"Who is this?"

"Brother Gao, this is Brother Liu Xi, my good friend, who is also here to participate in the exchange meeting."

Fu Qianyu quickly introduced, then turned to Wu Fan and added, "Brother Liu, this is Brother Gao Xu, the initiator of our Loose Cultivator Mutual Aid Association and the leader of this exchange meeting. His cultivation level is at the eighth level of Qi Refining!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Fan nodded to himself.

With a cultivation level of the eighth stage of Qi Refining, he is already an outstanding individual among independent cultivators, no wonder he was able to gather a group of people.

He bowed to Gao Xu with a composed expression.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Gao."

Gao Xu waved his hand and laughed heartily:

"Fellow Daoist Fu, you flatter me. I only gathered a few like-minded fellow Daoists to form this small group because I saw that in previous Star Ascension Conferences, rogue cultivators were often bullied and isolated by the scions of aristocratic families. I just wanted to look out for each other. My cultivation is a little higher, so I temporarily took on the responsibility of leading this group. It's nothing special."

He looked at Wu Fan and said sincerely, "Fellow Daoist Liu's willingness to come is already an honor for us. As for whether or not to join the mutual aid association, it is entirely up to you. You are also welcome to participate in the exchange meeting. Come, let me introduce you to some of the fellow Daoists who will be participating in the exchange meeting."

Wu Fan nodded slightly:

"Thank you for your help, Fellow Daoist Gao."