Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improving Spiritual Root Aptitude

The Hengyue Mountains stretch across the southwest of the Chu Kingdom, with the main ridge extending for tens of thousands of miles through the entire territory, and the branches winding around like dragons, completely enveloping the entire Chu Kingdom.

This terrain only leaves a plain exit in the southeast.

Although the states of Chu and Jiang are clearly separated by mountains, ordinary people who wish to travel between them must detour through the southeastern state of Yan, passing through four states in total.

Even for Foundation Establishment cultivators, it would take three or four months to fly directly across the Chu Kingdom's territory. For ordinary people to travel on foot, without natural disasters or man-made calamities, it would take a full twenty years.

Although cultivators can fly over mountains, the Hengyue Mountains are infested with monsters and are connected to the legendary Ten Thousand Mountains, where spiritual energy is chaotic and danger lurks everywhere.

Even cultivators with considerable strength wouldn't dare to cross it alone.

Although the State of Chu was constantly threatened by demonic beasts, it was able to maintain peace thanks to the existence of Falling Star Valley.

This valley is located in a secluded valley under the main vein of Hengyue Mountain. Since its establishment, the monsters on the mountain have never had the opportunity to set foot in the territory of Chu.

The Falling Star Valley is hidden deep in the mountains and forests, and it is difficult for ordinary people to see its true face. Over time, many rumors of "immortals living in seclusion" have emerged, giving this valley a mysterious veil.

Ordinary people may not know whether the rumors are true or false, but Wu Fan, as a Qi Refining cultivator, had already arrived near the legendary Falling Star Valley.

Unlike the tranquility of the surrounding mountains and forests, Mount Yuelu near Falling Star Valley is bustling with activity.

A clearing several hundred feet wide was opened up on the mountaintop, with several palace-style pavilions standing in the center. Except for the main pavilion in the very center, which was magnificent and heavily guarded, no one entered or left. People came and went in front of the other pavilions. Cultivators dressed in all kinds of strange robes either hurried in or chatted and laughed as they came out.

In the square next to the pavilion, dozens of cultivators set up temporary stalls. Some were loudly hawking their magical artifacts and talismans, some were sitting cross-legged to conserve their energy, and others were carefully studying ancient texts. Occasionally someone would come forward to inquire about the price, but very few people actually made a purchase.

More monks went to the pavilions with their doors open.

"So this is the trade fair for rogue cultivators during the Star Ascension Tournament?"

Wu Fan's lips curled up slightly as he couldn't help but recall the tourist market he had seen in his previous life. "It's much simpler than the Falling Star Valley Market. I suppose these are all temporary stalls set up for the Star Ascension Conference. Once the conference is over, they'll be deserted."

As his thoughts raced, Wu Fan had already come up with an idea.

If they can join Falling Star Valley in the future, these rogue cultivators will be an excellent source of customers for low-grade pills.

He stopped lingering there and went straight to an inn nestled in the mountains, perched on a cliff. Once inside, he knocked on the empty counter.

Suddenly, a middle-aged cultivator with a goatee jumped out from under the counter, looked directly at Wu Fan, and asked in a calm tone:

"Are you here for a meal or to stay overnight? If you're staying overnight, the room rate will double during this Star-Up Ceremony, and you'll need to book for at least one month..."

"It's a four-month package."

Wu Fan glanced at the price list behind the counter, then tossed out about ten low-grade spirit stones. "I need a secluded superior room, the kind with a private room and a hall."

A flicker of surprise flashed in the goatee-bearded cultivator's eyes. He quickly collected the spirit stones from the table and handed over a wooden plaque engraved with his room number.

"You're very kind, sir! The superior room you requested is on the third floor, the innermost room. It's absolutely secluded, and no one will dare to disturb you."

Wu Fan took the wooden plaque, nodded slightly in acknowledgment, and then turned and went upstairs.

After entering the room, he activated the room's built-in protective barrier. Several light blue barrier lights instantly enveloped the door and windows. He then set up a warning jade talisman, a protective barrier, and a soundproof barrier before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

After settling in, he released Zhaofu from his storage bag.

"Stay here. Don't run around, move around, or sniff around."

Wu Fan gently patted Zhao Fu's head and solemnly instructed, "I'll feed you something delicious after I'm done with my work."

Zhao Fu seemed to understand but not quite, rubbed against his palm, flicked its tail, and darted into the empty room next door.

Back in the main room, Wu Fan sat down cross-legged and took out a slightly yellowed book from his storage bag. The six large characters on the cover, "Five Elements Array Dao Foundation Explanation," caught his eye.

Since killing Fu Qianyu and Sun Leiluo, he had been traveling without stopping for a moment. Only when he arrived near Yuelu Mountain did he find a secluded cave to recover his magic power, adjust his condition, and take stock of his spoils.

The two men weren't particularly wealthy; together they only had a few hundred low-grade spirit stones, a few mid-grade first-tier magic artifacts, and three high-grade magic artifacts.

Apart from those first-tier high-grade magic artifacts that were still usable, Wu Fan no longer looked down on the rest.

Apart from that, there were only some common cultivation techniques and low-level talismans, nothing special.

What really caught Wu Fan's attention were the talismans in the specially made jade box on Sun Leiluo's body, and the five array flags left by Fu Qianyu.

The "Spirit Gathering and Power Enhancement Talisman" is a top-grade first-tier talisman that can temporarily amplify a cultivator's spiritual power and magical power. It is particularly effective for Qi Refining cultivators, and the lower the cultivation level, the stronger the amplification.

"No wonder Sun Leiluo's magic power was almost comparable to that of an eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator back then."

Wu Fan stroked the jade box with his hand and muttered to himself, "It's a pity that the duration is too short; it's not very useful to me."

His current fire-based spells are comparable to those of the ninth level of Qi Refining. Even with the amplification of talismans, they are still difficult to reach the Foundation Establishment level. In fact, they are not as effective as Kang Xuying's attack.

Even so, Wu Fan carefully put the talisman away.

With more assistance, the spell becomes more powerful and more secure. Even if you don't need it yourself, you can sell it for a good price at a trade fair later.

Compared to talismans, the five-sided, five-directional binding array flags and this book, "The Basic Explanation of the Five Elements Array Dao," are the real treasures.

The Five Directions Binding Formation Flags are based on the principle of matching the five directions (east, south, west, north, and center) with the five elements (wood, fire, metal, water, and earth). By linking the five key points of the formation, a sealed space is formed, restricting the movement, spiritual power, and perception of those who enter the formation.

Although it has no direct killing power, it is an excellent means of trapping the enemy and protecting oneself.

This Five Directions Trapping Formation comes from the "Five Elements Formation Dao Foundation Explanation".

Among the various arts of cultivation, alchemy, talisman making, artifact crafting, and array making are collectively known as the four most important. Alchemy, talisman making, and artifact crafting are closely related to the daily needs of cultivators, and low-level inheritances are readily available. As long as you pay tuition, you can learn from cultivators or shops that specialize in these arts.

However, array formations are different. Low-level cultivators rarely use array formations. Only large families and large shops need array formations to protect their clans, courtyards, and store goods. The demand is extremely narrow.

More importantly, the art of array formation is extremely difficult to learn and places great emphasis on talent.

Even with mediocre talent, one can master alchemy, talisman making, and weapon crafting as long as they put in the hard work. Even if they don't achieve great success, they can still make a living.

However, in the art of array formations, without talent, even getting started is as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Moreover, the inheritance of array formations is mostly controlled by large clans and families, and very few of them are leaked out. Even if they are, they are mostly incomplete and extremely superficial.

Although this book, "Five Elements Array Dao Basic Explanation," is only a basic array Dao classic, recording mostly basic arrays common in the cultivation world, with weak power and limited function, it contains a second-order array.

That's a clan-protecting array that only Foundation Establishment families can possess!

For Wu Fan now, even if this book is not a particularly profound inheritance of formation techniques, its value has already surpassed the sum of everything those two people possess.

In his mind, the value of this book was comparable to that of Dangkangqi.