Raise a sword!

early morning.

The morning glow casts its light on the mountains and forests, making the white frost of the night shine brilliantly.

A streak of light pierced the sky above the giant rock atop the mountain, transforming into a small sword blade and disappearing into Jiang Peng's sleeve.

"I've finally mastered the basics of the Jade Pavilion Sword Cultivation Technique."

Jiang Peng exhaled a breath of stale air, her divine sense falling on the exquisite sword in her sleeve. Feeling that she was becoming more and more proficient in controlling the flying sword, a slight smile appeared on her face.

Having mastered this sword technique means he has some ability to protect himself.

In the blink of an eye, half a year has passed since Jiang Peng turned the tables and killed Dan Laomo.

For the past six months, Jiang Peng has been cultivating in the mountains.

Jiang Peng picked up the long-lost body-refining technique, "White Ape Strength," again.

The Blood Transformation Pill left behind by the Old Demon Dan, which enhances blood energy, was refined by Jiang Peng using the Purple Gold Cauldron and transformed into a completely new pill.

Jiang Peng named it "Strengthening Body Pill".

With the help of these elixirs, Jiang Peng successfully cultivated the "White Ape Strength" to the highest level.

Of course, the fact that he had a body made of iron and steel must have played a part in this.

However, even though he had mastered the "White Ape Force," Jiang Peng could feel that his body seemed to become more agile after each practice session.

Therefore, even though the work seemed endless, Jiang Peng never gave up.

In addition, daily breathing exercises are essential.

The spiritual energy in the mountains of the mortal realm is not abundant, at least not as much as that of the Yin Sha land that has been destroyed.

Therefore, Jiang Peng relied entirely on the refined Qi Condensation Pill to improve his cultivation.

He has now vaguely reached the bottleneck of the third level of Qi Refining, and estimates that he will be able to break through in another two or three months.

There was also alchemy.

Although even a skilled cook cannot cook without rice, he had no alchemical materials on hand.

However, during these six months, whenever Jiang Peng had free time, she would constantly study alchemy techniques without ever slacking off.

If we're just talking about alchemy theory, Jiang Peng believes he's slightly better than the Old Demon of Alchemy.

The reason Jiang Peng dared to say this was not because he had any talent in alchemy.

Instead, after systematically learning the methods of alchemy, Jiang Peng was able to understand the images of alchemy in his mind and summarized a lot of experience from them.

Standing on the shoulders of the Purple Gold Cauldron, he can now even see many mistakes in the alchemy insights left by the Old Demon Dan.

Of course, it has never been put into practice; it's just theoretical.

However, Jiang Peng has indeed become quite proficient in using the "Danyang Fire Control Technique" left behind by the Old Demon Dan.

noon.

Jiang Peng awoke from her internal energy cultivation in the cave she had created.

Despite her cultivation level improving slightly, Jiang Peng was not happy.

"The spiritual energy in the mortal realm is scarce. We only have two Qi Condensation Pills left, and the Body Strengthening Pills have long been exhausted. It's time to make some plans."

Having experienced the speed of absorbing Qi through elixirs, he found it increasingly difficult to endure the arduous cultivation in the spiritually sparse mountain forest.

When he was imprisoned by Dan Laomo, he often heard Hao Lao mention the matter of demonic beasts.

But after so long in these ordinary mountains and forests, Jiang Peng has never seen a spiritual animal... It seems that even demons know to seek out places with abundant spiritual energy to stay in.

Once the thought of leaving started, it was impossible to suppress.

So, having hastily erased all traces of her life in the mountains, Jiang Peng, just as she had arrived, walked alone out of the forest.

......

I spent a year with Old Hao, and during that time I also had a brief conversation with Dan Nu, who had been captured from all over the country by Old Dan.

Therefore, Jiang Peng is not actually unfamiliar with this world.

This world is called the Cangxuan Realm, and it is roughly divided into four regions: east, south, west, and north, as well as the Central Continent.

Of course, the four regions of east, west, south and north are just simplified names.

These four regions are actually named the East Sea, the Southern Mountains, the Western Forbidden Zone, and the Northern Wilderness.

The East China Sea connects to the vast blue sea, and I've heard there's an endless outer sea beyond.

The Northern Wilderness is bitterly cold, and the people there are still divided into tribes. I heard from Old Hao that the tribes of the Northern Wilderness are skilled in body tempering.

The Western Forbidden Zone is a forbidden zone for humans, where a colossal entity known as the Demon Kingdom resides, though Old Hao knows little about it.

However, Jiang Peng found some records in "The Travels of Luochen" that said that selling human specialties to the west was a good way to get rich, but the prerequisite was that one had to be tough.

The travelogue does not provide details on the specifics.

The final Nanshan refers to the land beneath Jiang Peng's feet.

The Southern Region is mountainous, with the Earth-Ringing Mountain Range being the main one, which runs across the entire Southern Region. Countless other mountain ranges further divide the Southern Region into fragmented parts.

Jiang Peng was currently in the territory of the mortal kingdom of Cang, located north of the Earth-Ringing Mountains.

......

Jiang Peng didn't know the exact location of Cangshan Market, but he did know that the Earthly Roaring Mountains were the dragon vein of the Southern Region, and the closer one got to the main vein of the mountain range, the more abundant the spiritual energy became.

Moreover, Elder Hao once said that the Cangshan Sect is located on the northern foothills of the Diming Mountain Range.

Therefore, after finding a mortal city and confirming that he was within the territory of the Cang Kingdom, Jiang Peng began to travel south towards the direction of the Earth-Ringing Mountains.

The Cang Kingdom is the mortal power controlled by the Cangshan Sect.

As Jiang Peng traveled through the Cang Kingdom, he often heard that the royal family of Cang Kingdom would be replaced every few decades.

At first, Jiang Peng thought it was absurd.

The Cang Kingdom appears quite peaceful, hardly resembling a world about to be reopened in a few decades.

But Jiang Peng figured it out later.

It is estimated that the so-called royal family of Cang Kingdom is just a group of disciples of Cangshan Sect taking turns sitting and discussing things.

With the sects above them, they can't cause any trouble in the mortal realm.

Jiang Peng's journey was uneventful and without any major upheavals.

He was cautious and never caused trouble, treating himself as a mere passerby in the mortal world, and rarely even staying in mortal cities.

This series of thrilling but ultimately safe journeys lasted about a month.

Finally, he saw his destination: a mountain ridge that stretched as far as the eye could see—the remaining part of the Drumming Mountains.

"After walking for so long, we're almost there!" Jiang Peng thought excitedly.

Although he is now close to the third level of Qi Refining, when he really gets into a fight, with the mastery of the White Ape Force and his copper skin and iron bones, plus the Linglong Sword, he is not even afraid of cultivators in the middle stage of Qi Refining.

But he has never truly witnessed the real world of cultivation.

"The spiritual energy here is much denser. Just as the travelogue said, the closer you get to the Earth Rising Mountains, the more abundant the spiritual energy becomes. I can even clearly feel the spiritual energy converging towards the Earth Rising Mountains."

Jiang Peng tried to suppress her excitement, but she still subconsciously quickened her pace.

Half a day later.

He arrived at the foot of the mountain and saw a rather prosperous city.

Right in front of him, the four large characters “Cangshan Market” were clearly engraved on the plaque.

"We've finally arrived!" Jiang Peng breathed a sigh of relief.

If nothing unexpected happens, he will likely be staying here for quite some time.

With a touch of trepidation, Jiang Peng entered the market.

Apart from being stopped by the guards at the entrance and having my identity registered, the scene I had imagined of having to pay to enter the market did not happen.

But before he could take more than a few steps, he was stopped by a boy who looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old.

"Does the senior need a mentor?"

Looking at the slightly dark-skinned young man in front of her, Jiang Peng asked curiously, "Do I look like I'm new here?"

"I spend all my time here, working as a middleman in the market. I recognize most of the people who come and go. But you look unfamiliar, so I mustered up the courage to come and ask."

The boy smiled shyly.

"I suppose with the magnanimity of my seniors, even without guidance, they wouldn't blame a kid like me who's just trying to make a living."

"How much will it cost?" Jiang Peng raised an eyebrow slightly.

"One spirit stone, and I will serve you faithfully for the next three days."