Cultivation begins with alchemy and collecting runes.

Time flies, and the day to head to Blackwind City has arrived in the blink of an eye.

With sufficient pills and spirit stones, Li Xiuyuan completely stabilized his cultivation level at the sixth level of Qi Refining.

"I'm one step away from the later stage of dual cultivation of body and magic, and I have two magic artifacts on my body, one for offense and one for defense."

"I have the Heavenly Thunder Talisman as my protective trump card, and the Thick Earth Escape Talisman and the Hundred Mile Divine Speed ​​Talisman as my means of survival."

"In this cannibalistic world of cultivation, I finally have a sliver of power to protect myself."

Li Xiuyuan straightened his clothes in front of the bronze mirror, muttering to himself, a resolute glint in his eyes.

He then slowly walked out of the attic, preparing to go to Wuxu Mountain Villa.

As Li Xiuyuan stepped out of the Immortal's Abode, he looked at the remaining six hundred spirit stones in his storage bag.

He planned to buy some talismans for attacking enemies.

Due to the tense situation in the cultivation world of Chu, the prices of various items related to combat and capable of temporarily boosting combat power have risen.

This caused ordinary cultivators and independent practitioners to complain bitterly.

After leaving the Immortal Abode, Li Xiuyuan cautiously rushed into the market of rogue cultivators and circled around a few times, only to find that no one was following him.

He then purchased talismans and elixirs to enhance his cultivation from several reputable shops in batches.

He also took the opportunity to inquire about pill formulas for improving mid-stage cultivation, but without exception, the answer he received was that they were not for sale.

For various reasons, whether it's inherited or controlled by higher-ups...

"There's no way out for low-level cultivators!"

Li Xiuyuan shook his head and smiled bitterly. In the end, he spent three hundred spirit stones to buy five ice arrow talismans, five fire snake talismans, and a bottle of spirit-awakening pills.

This time, he did not purchase ordinary talismans such as fireball talismans, which are not suitable for a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

The fireball spell is still too weak to harm a cultivator in the late stage of releasing external qi.

Therefore, he prepared ice arrow talismans and fire snake talismans.

Ice Arrow is a Tier 1 high-grade spell that can summon dozens of frost arrows with armor-piercing effects.

Its attack speed is extremely fast and its sharpness is unparalleled; if one is not careful in dodging, one can easily suffer severe damage.

Although its power is not as great as the Fire Serpent Technique, which summons a swarm of snakes to attack, it is extremely effective against protective spells such as protective auras.

The normal price of an Ice Arrow Talisman is eleven spirit stones, but the tense situation has caused the price to rise to thirteen.

Li Xiuyuan bought five tickets at a price of thirteen yuan each.

Li Xiuyuan also spent fifty spirit stones to purchase a mid-grade storage bag, thus concluding his pre-departure shopping mission.

The previous storage bags were of low quality, with only one-fifth the storage space of mid-quality bags.

Furthermore, the storage bag cannot be placed inside another one, otherwise it will cause a spatial collapse.

All the items disappeared into the spatial turbulence.

Li Xiuyuan first went home and transferred all the items from his low-grade storage bag to his mid-grade storage bag.

He planned to use the old, low-grade storage bag for "fishing".

If you encounter a cultivator you can't defeat, abandoning your valuables as bait to buy time to escape is a good option.

As an alchemist, Li Xiuyuan's spiritual strength far surpasses that of others of the same level.

With his current spiritual strength, he can barely control two high-grade magic artifacts.

For ordinary mid-stage cultivators, controlling one mid-grade magic weapon is already the limit. Late-stage cultivators may be able to control two magic weapons at the same time, but they absolutely cannot control three high-grade or even top-grade magic weapons. Otherwise, their divine sense will be insufficient, and they will suffer a backlash that will either kill or injure them.

With Li Xiuyuan's current strength, as long as he doesn't encounter a Foundation Establishment cultivator or unfortunately stumble into a second-tier demon beast's lair, he can go to Black Wind City.

Even if a cultivator at the peak of Qi Refining were to stand before him, he would still have the ability to protect himself.

He usually uses the Green Bamboo Sword to confuse outsiders, which is enough to deal with ordinary cultivators.

Putting aside his complicated thoughts, Li Xiuyuan got up and took all the valuables in the courtyard with him.

He left two letters: one to Xiao Huo, briefly explaining that he had gone out to "seek an opportunity to establish his foundation" and would not return for ten years.

The other letter was given to Chunsheng, asking him to contact the demon hunters in Blackwind City on his behalf.

Black Wind City is deep within the demon clan's inner mountains, rich in resources for body refinement. Establishing connections in advance will facilitate his future body refinement cultivation.

As for Lingbao Pavilion, there was no need to remind him; he believed Du Wuxin had already made the arrangements.

Suddenly, the communication jade talisman on Li Xiuyuan's body flashed, "Assemble in the inner city."

Li Xiuyuan stood up cleanly and walked out the door.

As he was leaving, a ray of moonlight shone on his lonely and resolute figure, casting an endless sense of desolation.

Li Xiuyuan's mission is to go to Blackwind City to garrison it, where there is a small gold and iron ore vein.

He needs to ensure that the mine is not disturbed by cultivators and demonic beasts.

This gold and iron vein can produce gold and iron ore worth 600 spirit stones per month.

The gold and iron extracted from it are materials for making inferior ritual implements.

Magical artifacts forged from gold and iron sell well among lower-level cultivators.

This gold and iron ore vein can increase the sect's income by five to six thousand spirit stones every year, so the sect naturally attaches great importance to it.

In the past few days, Li Xiuyuan has collected a lot of information about Black Wind City and its surrounding environment.

The market is a typical "resource-based" market, built on a vein similar to a gold and iron ore vein.

Although they were deep in the second layer of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, there were no large-scale cultivation forces in the surrounding area.

Only three Qi-refining families and various large and small business associations are stationed there.

Apart from the monsters deep in the mountains, no one else posed a threat to him.

Upon entering the inner city, Li Xiuyuan headed straight for the square.

Although it was late at night, many cultivators heading to the front lines had already gathered in the Mission Hall square.

There are about five or six hundred people; this is a small part of the second batch of people supporting the front lines.

The open square was filled with flickering figures, and a sense of fear and unease permeated the air.

Some Daoist couples embraced and wept bitterly, their eyes red with tears as they bid farewell; some mothers cried out in despair; some cultivators said goodbye to their relatives and friends; and some even stood there blankly, staring at the starry sky, their faces ashen.

A surge of emotion welled up within Li Xiuyuan, giving rise to boundless feelings.

"How many warriors have returned from ancient battles?"

Millions went forth, but only a handful returned.

After a while, he calmed down.

He first went to the mission hall to report, indicating that he was ready to depart at any time.

Du Wuxin somehow changed his identity to that of an outer disciple of the Blazing Fire Sect, issued him a mission certificate, and gave him a year's salary.

His subsequent salary will be delivered to him through a special channel.

Li Xiuyuan could only manage a wry smile. "Is this just a little bit of the capriciousness of power? A Core Formation cultivator's disciple truly wields power like a celestial being!"

As far as he knew, the annual salary for an outer disciple was forty-two low-grade spirit stones, plus twelve Qi-refining pills for mid-grade cultivation.

The combined value of the spirit stones and the pills is close to one hundred spirit stones.

This treatment is enough to make countless independent cultivators envious, and it is comparable to that of the major forces in the market.

With enough money to maintain normal cultivation, one can save up enough to buy a mid-grade magic weapon in just a few years.

After storing his hard-earned money in his newly purchased storage bag, Li Xiuyuan changed into a crimson robe, the attire of an outer disciple.

He stood with his arms crossed in a corner of the mission hall, waiting for his two teammates to arrive.

Half an hour later.

A kind-looking man walked over.

Wu Wen immediately spotted the aloof and mysterious Li Xiuyuan from the mission log and quickly walked over.

He sensed Li Xiuyuan's cultivation level, bowed deeply, and bent over slightly, adopting an extremely humble posture.

The two exchanged brief pleasantries and names.

This man, named Wu Wen, had dark skin and a strong build; he was an ordinary outer disciple.

Approaching thirty this year, he has been stuck at the third level of Qi Refining for several years due to bottlenecks or lack of cultivation aptitude.

In the eyes of the Blazing Fire Sect, anyone who fails to reach the late stage of Qi Refining before the age of thirty-five will become an inner disciple.

There is no hope of establishing a foundation, and naturally there is no value in cultivating it.

"Senior Brother Li is the leader of this mission. I hope you will take good care of me during these ten years."

Wu Wenxiu had been at the third level of Qi Refining for many years, and his magic weapon was a mid-grade flying sword, which was barely acceptable among outer disciples.

With his early-stage Qi Refining cultivation, he was able to establish connections within sects and secure a safe gold and iron mine, which earned him Li Xiuyuan's high regard.

Wu Wen may seem honest and simple, but he is actually shrewd and resourceful.

When you're out and about, even if there's no competition for profit, try your best to make friends and unite all forces that can be united.

Recalling the information in the jade slip, Li Xiuyuan pondered and made up his mind, a friendly smile appearing on his face.

"Junior Brother Wu, there's no need to stand on ceremony. We are fellow disciples, and we should help each other when we're out in the world."

Li Xiuyuan, showing some goodwill, smiled and patted Wu Wen on the shoulder.

Wu Wen understood immediately and stood half a step away from Li Xiuyuan as a sign of respect.

"Junior brother understands. I hope senior brother can take care of me on this trip to Black Wind City. Junior brother will go through fire and water for senior brother Li."

Wu Wen patted his chest and gave a firm guarantee, but whether it was true or not, only heaven knows.

Li Xiuyuan and Wu Wen chatted for a few minutes, exchanging insincere compliments and flattery.

But once he leaves this place, with his cultivation level comparable to the late stage of Qi Refining, dealing with a few early stage cultivators will be a piece of cake!

Li Xiuyuan didn't care whether they submitted or not. He knew that if he failed to complete the task assigned by Du Wuxin and offended a Golden Core disciple and a Foundation Establishment seed, his future would be difficult.

He didn't believe that Du Wuxin, who had risen from the bottom of the cultivation world to become a Golden Core disciple after advancing from the Five Sects Ascension Conference to the Upper Sect, was someone easy to get along with.

"I hope everything goes well!"

Li Xiuyuan was filled with emotion.

As the two chatted idly, the remaining two arrived late.

One male and one female.

A person named Zhou Li, dressed in the outer disciple's robes, with an average appearance and ordinary looks, and whose cultivation level was at the third level of Qi Refining.

The other person, Sophie, is plain-looking and has a third level of Qi cultivation.

The two gave an average impression, with nothing particularly special about them.

Li Xiuyuan couldn't figure out the trick in a short time, but the two were extremely polite.

He greeted Li Xiuyuan politely, introduced himself to each other, and went to the mission hall to collect his annual salary.

The two noticed that Wu Wen was closer to Li Xiuyuan. As they walked, they subtly moved closer together, seemingly excluding Wu Wen, an outer disciple.

Li Xiuyuan took it all in without saying a word.

He noticed that the couple looked too indifferent after receiving their salaries, as if they didn't care about them at all.

Indeed, those who can get the mission to guard the mine must have some background; forty spirit stones is a huge sum of money for an ordinary outer disciple.

But in their eyes, it seemed nothing special.

The two walked out of the mission hall and nodded to Li Xiuyuan.

"Senior Brother Li, we are ready, we can set off."

Just as Li Xiuyuan was about to speak, he saw an incomparably powerful spiritual pressure spread out from the sky.

He stumbled back several steps before regaining his balance.

This oppressive force was far more powerful than the Fire Heaven he had ever seen.

It was as if there was a huge chasm between the two.

Li Xiuyuan looked up at the sky and his pupils contracted involuntarily.

A huge Dharma boat, several tens of feet long and eight or nine feet wide, came into view.

The Dharma Boat has thousands of rooms of various sizes.

It was like a savage behemoth, with a magnificent aura that made it impossible for anyone to feel any desire to resist.

"Flying Magic Ark!"

moment.

All the monks in the square looked up in awe.

They were all in a state of utter shock.

"The sect's Fiery Magic Boat!"

Many people were seeing a flying artifact for the first time, and a stir swept through the square.

Looking at the flying magical artifacts suspended in mid-air, Li Xiuyuan couldn't help but feel a sense of longing.

At the same time, one notices the Golden Core cultivator standing above the Dharma Boat.

Behind him were more than ten inner disciples wearing robes with crimson flame and cloud patterns.

Each of them was imposing and spirited, exuding an aura no less powerful than that of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

"I didn't expect even Elder Wang to get involved. Could it be that the battle for that spirit mine has escalated to this point?"

Wu Wen, standing beside him, muttered to himself, his expression flashing with relief at surviving the ordeal.

Li Xiuyuan naturally heard Wu Wen's mutterings and asked, "Junior Brother Wu, what exactly is Elder Wang's background?"

"Elder Wang's full name is Wang Hua. Before he formed his core, he was already famous throughout the Chu Kingdom. While he was still in the Foundation Establishment stage, he killed Ye Aotian, the chief disciple of the Demon Flame Sect, who was known as the Demon Flame Burning the Heavens, with a single sword strike. This caused Ye Aotian's Dao Heart to be clouded, and he has not dared to form his core since. As a result, our Blazing Fire Sect became famous far and wide and became a force to be reckoned with in the Chu Kingdom."

Upon hearing this, Wu Wen offered an explanation. Su Fei and Zhou Li, who were standing beside him, also heard this and their eyes flashed with realization. Their gazes toward the leader were filled with longing and admiration.

Li Xiuyuan nodded slightly, his eyes showing more approval as he looked at Wu Wen.

I never expected him to know such a secret of the immortals. He is indeed no ordinary outer disciple.

"It's just that my cultivation level is too low!"

Li Xiuyuan sighed inwardly.

"So noisy!"

A thunderous roar filled the sky, and the crowd in the square fell silent instantly.

Fortunately, Wang Hua only warned them and had no intention of killing them, otherwise they would probably have been annihilated long ago.

At this moment, everyone realized that the person in the sky was a Golden Core Immortal, and they remained as still as a chicken egg.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator, who was stationed in the market, flew into the air using his magical artifact and said sternly, "Disciples who have been sent to the front lines, please board the flying boat with us. Anyone who disobeys will be severely punished."

The crowd hurriedly lined up to board the ship.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator bowed to Wang Hua and said with a fawning smile, "Reporting to Uncle-Master Wang, all the disciples who are going to the front lines have arrived. We can depart now."

Then a group of more than 500 people boarded the flying boat, and the next moment...

The flying boat disappeared into the horizon in the blink of an eye, its speed unimaginable to cultivators of Qi Refining.

The four withdrew their gaze; naturally, they did not receive the escort of a Golden Core cultivator as they headed to Black Wind City.

"The situation at the spirit mine is already so dire that even a Golden Core cultivator has intervened? It seems this war won't end easily!"

Li Xiuyuan collected his thoughts, glanced at the three of them, and said with a focused gaze, "Let's go!"