Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improving Spiritual Root Aptitude

Wu Fan nodded slightly and took out a low-grade spirit stone, handing it over directly.

"Find a good place to rent, and then recommend a few reliable large shops."

"Don't worry, big brother!"

The boy's eyes lit up immediately. He took the spirit stone with both hands, carefully put it away, and then turned to lead the way, explaining as he went:

"The most reliable spiritual material shop in the outer city is Juling Pavilion. The shopkeeper is a Foundation Establishment cultivator who never cheats his customers. If you want to buy good magic artifacts, go to Tianqi Pavilion. Their magic artifacts are the most reputable, but the prices are a bit high. Brother, would you like to stay in a restaurant or a detached house? If you want a house, the ones in the East Alley are mostly prepared for visiting cultivators. They have strong restrictions, are quiet, and the rent isn't too expensive."

Wu Fan listened quietly, occasionally nodding and asking a few questions, which the young man answered fluently, showing that he was indeed very familiar with the situation in the city.

Before long, the two arrived at East Alley. The alley was very quiet, quite different from the hustle and bustle of the main street. On both sides were small, detached houses, each with simple protective barriers carved on the door.

The young man pointed to one of the unassuming little buildings and said respectfully:

"Brother, this is the place I just agreed to rent with the manager. You can check the restrictions first. If you're not satisfied, I'll go and find you another one."

Wu Fan raised his hand and placed it on the door frame, a wisp of spiritual energy slowly probing in to carefully sense the stability of the restriction, then slowly nodded:

"This is fine."

He took out a few spirit stones and gave them to Hyacinth, asking her to pay a month's rent on his behalf, before sending the boy away.

Stepping into the small building, the interior is not large, but it has a one-bedroom, one-living room layout. The furnishings are simple, but clean and tidy.

The room was also engraved with protective barriers, which, though not particularly sophisticated, were sufficient to prevent ordinary Qi Refining cultivators from spying on or harassing it.

After closing the door, Wu Fan did not dare to be negligent. He immediately set up several simple restrictions of his own and took out two sets of array flags, setting them up in an orderly manner.

One set is the Five Directions Trapping Formation, and the other is the Bewildering Formation.

This illusion array is the only array that Wu Fan can set up independently. It was originally a simplified version of a first-tier high-grade magic array.

However, when setting it up, Wu Fan deliberately reduced the effects of the other four attributes of the Five Elements, retaining only the mist restriction of the water attribute. Strictly speaking, it can no longer be considered a true first-order high-grade formation.

However, this simplified illusion array, when used in conjunction with the Five Directions Trapping Array, can produce an excellent effect in trapping the enemy.

Once the enemy is lured into the formation, even if they are a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining, and even if they wield powerful magic weapons and talismans, it will take them far more than a few breaths to forcefully break through the formation. Moreover, it can also obscure their vision and spiritual sense.

In those few short breaths, Wu Fan had enough time to prepare a variety of countermeasures, and even if he wanted to activate the Dangkang Banner, it would be more than enough.

Seeing that both sets of formations were properly set up, Wu Fan activated the concealment effect of the Misdirection Formation, completely hiding the two sets of formation flags within the formation's aura, before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

He had been traveling day and night for the past few days and was already exhausted. He didn't want to think about it anymore and planned to rest well for the night before visiting the shops recommended by the boy.

He currently has several thousand low-grade spirit stones in his storage bag.

This was his savings from years of alchemy, more than enough to buy a small bottle of spiritual liquid to aid in foundation building.

He came to Zhongtianxu City with two purposes: first, to purchase spiritual liquid to aid in foundation building, and second, to find spiritual materials useful for the Five Elements Beads.

Within the Five Elements Bead, the five fundamental elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth circulate. Among them, the petals formed by the power of the fire element have already unfolded more than halfway, and only need the final touch to fully bloom.

All it takes is to find a small piece of spiritual material containing the essence of fire to nourish the Five Elements Beads, and the Fire Element Petals will bloom in full glory.

At that time, he will be able to condense twenty-nine strands of spiritual energy within his body, further increasing his chances of successfully establishing his foundation.

This is also one of the most important purposes of his trip.

As for the other four types of spiritual materials originating from the five elements, he wouldn't let them go if they were of decent quality and priced acceptable.

If he can't find it, or if the price is too high and beyond his means, there's no need to force it.

Right now, Foundation Establishment is the most important thing. Only by breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage can he gain a foothold in Falling Star Valley, have more ability to find the Five Elements Origin Spiritual Materials, and go further.

Thinking this, Wu Fan fetched a bucket of water, washed himself to cleanse himself of the fatigue and dust of the past few days, changed into a clean set of clothes, and meditated for several hours as usual to stabilize his cultivation. Only when the night deepened did he lie down on the bed and fall into a deep sleep.

......

Wu Fan slept soundly through the night and woke up on time the next morning.

All the fatigue in my body has dissipated, the spiritual energy in my dantian has returned to its peak, my meridians are smooth, and I am in excellent condition.

He first carefully disguised himself in front of the bronze mirror, concealing his face and putting on a bamboo hat. After putting away the two sets of formations he had set up the night before, he pushed open the door and walked out of the small building.

The East Alley remained deserted, with only a few cultivators hurrying by. Each of them looked wary, clearly newcomers cautiously navigating the Zhongtianxu City.

Following the directions given by the boy yesterday, Wu Fan headed straight for Wanshanglou, the most famous shopping mall on the main street.

As soon as you step out of this alley, the bustling atmosphere of the main street hits you.

This time, he had no intention of lingering and looking around. He simply scanned his surroundings with a steady gaze, paying attention to the movements around him, and then slowly moved forward.

After walking for about the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, the gilded signboard of Wanshanglou came into view in the distance.

Two cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refining stood at the entrance, their expressions solemn, their eyes warily scanning the passersby. They were clearly the shop's guards, keeping a close watch on anyone causing trouble.

Upon seeing this, Wu Fan couldn't help but feel secretly surprised.

A Qi Refining Level 9 expert is already a powerful figure in Qingxi County, and would be considered an elder in the Bai family. Yet, in this Wanshang Tower, he is merely a gatekeeper.

He slowly walked forward, about to enter the store, when one of the guards reached out and stopped him.

While the tone wasn't exactly polite, it wasn't deliberately difficult either.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait. You need to show your city entry token to enter the shop."

Wu Fan took out the crimson jade token from his storage bag at his waist and handed it over.

The guard took the jade tablet, quickly scanned the runes with his spiritual power, and after confirming that everything was correct, returned it with both hands and stepped aside to make way.

"Fellow Daoist, please come in."

Upon entering the lobby of Wanshanglou, the outside noise immediately subsided, and a delicate fragrance filled the air.

The shop's interior was also extremely elegant, with neatly arranged shelves displaying various spiritual materials, magical artifacts, and elixirs, each labeled with its name and price in spirit stones.

There were quite a few cultivators in the shop at this time, but no one made a loud noise, and the atmosphere was orderly.

At this moment, a waiter in white robes stepped forward with a smile, showing no surprise at Wu Fan's disguise to conceal his face.

Within Zhongtianxu City, there are countless cultivators who conceal their faces, and there are even male cultivators dressed in women's clothing.

The waiter was already used to this, and simply asked respectfully:

"What would you like, sir? Would you like me to introduce a few things to you? Our shop has a full range of spiritual items and magical artifacts for both Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages. Our elixirs for aiding cultivation, healing, and detoxification are of superior quality and reasonably priced."

Wu Fan's gaze swept lightly over the shelves in the lobby before he spoke calmly:

"I need a spiritual elixir that can aid in Foundation Establishment. Does your shop have any?"