Chapter 440 - 248: Vicissitudes
Just like the rest of the Southern Barbarian lands.
Entering Sand Lake Oasis also required an entrance fee—a "security fee," as the locals called it. The powers that be here had given it that name, as if to justify it.
At one Spirit Stone, it wasn’t expensive.
Lü Zhong paid the Spirit Stone and strolled into the city. Once he passed through the city walls and a thin protective barrier, the once dry, scorching air instantly grew moist and humid.
At the same time, the Spiritual Qi became abruptly richer.
Compared to the harsh environment outside, the interior of the oasis was indeed far more habitable.
It seemed to coincide with some festival in the Celestial Blade Domain.
The streets were packed shoulder-to-shoulder with people, a sea of dark-haired heads as far as the eye could see. The festive atmosphere was exceptionally thick.
Banners from all sorts of shops fluttered in the wind on both sides of the street ahead. It also had a touch of the Celestial Blade Domain’s local flavor; cultivators here loved to hang horizontal banners, so the space above the streets was a riot of colorful signs and slogans.
Firefly Spring Water in stock, buy now while supplies last!
Sand Scorpion Caravan now recruiting! All talented individuals welcome to apply! (A line of small text was noted to the side:) Priority given to those who cultivate Water Element Magic Skills and Cultivation Techniques.
Matchmaker’s Office, helping bridge the love between cultivators and mortals!
Lü Zhong gave them a few extra glances, finding them rather interesting.
The last slogan in particular was another of the Celestial Blade Domain’s unique features. Compared to other parts of the Southern Barbarian lands, intermarriage between cultivators and mortals was significantly more common in the Celestial Blade Domain, where mixed communities were the norm.
He ambled along, stopping here and there to buy a number of local snacks.
Soon, he arrived before the Celestial Derivation Mansion.
The flow of people was endless here. Foundation Establishment True Cultivators were a common sight, and even Golden Core Masters could occasionally be spotted. This not only startled Lü Zhong but also made him sigh in admiration at the Celestial Derivation Lineage’s business prowess.
He didn’t rush inside, choosing instead to gather some information first.
He found that if you wanted the Celestial Derivation Mansion to perform a divination, you first had to state your request. Only after the Mansion assessed the associated risks would they quote a price. If the risk was deemed too high, they might even refuse the request altogether.
Not all the cultivators who came here were able to get the results they desired.
Most people only received a vague, obscure prophecy.
Having gotten the lay of the land, Lü Zhong strode into the Celestial Derivation Mansion and stated his request. He received a swift reply: the fee would be one hundred thousand Spirit Stones.
He was stunned for a moment. ’This cheap?’
But then he realized, ’I’m just used to spending extravagantly.’
To an ordinary cultivator, one hundred thousand Spirit Stones was an absolutely staggering sum. It was enough to raise a Junior Cultivator who had just succeeded at introducing Qi into the body all the way to a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator.
In other words, the price should have been considered extremely high.
Once Lü Zhong agreed, a Steward presented him with a Spirit Contract. Its clauses were remarkably detailed, stipulating the obligations of both parties and how liability would be divided in the event of unforeseen accidents.
"Please wait a moment, honored guest. We will make the arrangements for you immediately."
With that, the Steward took the signed Spirit Contract, bowed, and withdrew from the room.
The wait lasted for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
Just as Lü Zhong was growing impatient, an old man in a black Dharma Robe entered, cupped his hands in apology, and said, "My apologies for the long wait, fellow Daoist. Here are the results you requested."
"Oh?" Lü Zhong took the document and read it, his expression turning uncertain.
For a moment, he couldn’t tell if he should consider himself lucky or unlucky.
The Celestial Derivation Mansion had provided a clear location for the half-page: within Shaxuan Valley in the Western Realm. According to the information, Shaxuan Valley was in the West Extreme Sword Domain. After so many years of heaven-and-earth upheavals, there was no telling what that place had become. Obtaining the fragmented page would be no easy feat.
Despite this, Lü Zhong didn’t choose to give up.
’I’ll just have to take it one step at a time...’
He was only this final half-page away from completing the Outer Body Incarnation Divine Techniques. To give up now out of fear would be an unbearably bitter pill to swallow!
...
The first step in heading to the Western Realm was to repair the Cross-border Transmission Array.
After returning from the Celestial Blade Domain, Lü Zhong first made a trip back to the Bihai Sect to collect a large amount of Array Materials. Then, carrying the Azure Sky Stone, he set out for Poisonous Insect Valley.
On the way, he passed through Green Jade Market.
Thirty years was enough time for the world to change completely.
Due to the eruption of the Demon Beast tide, the place had long ago fallen into utter ruin.
What was left of its former prosperity?
All one could see was a vista of green mountains. A few ruined walls lay hidden among the overgrown weeds, and it wouldn’t be long before even these traces vanished, with everything reverting to its primordial, untamed state.
From this point on, Lü Zhong descended to the ground.
The Northern Great Forest Sea had now become a haven for Demon Beasts and a forbidden zone for Human Race Cultivators. To avoid unnecessary trouble, he decided to use Concealed Breath and sneak inside.
Following his old route, he soon arrived at the edge of a Poisonous Swamp.
’By my estimate, I should still be at least a thousand li from Poisonous Insect Valley, right?’ Lü Zhong thought, looking out at the boundless Poisonous Swamp. He was surprised, and a faint sense of worry began to creep in.
’With no one to control them for so long, who knows what the Insect Swarm has become.’
’There might even be Tier Three individuals by now.’
’No matter. I’ll head in and see for myself,’ Lü Zhong thought. He popped a Five Treasures Pill into his mouth. It was a Tier Three Pill capable of neutralizing most poisons in the Southern Barbarian lands.
A single Five Treasures Pill was worth nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones, but to conserve his Magical Power for any surprises, the expense was well worth it.
The Pill took effect quickly.
The feeling of discomfort from contact with the toxins receded like a tide.
Once he confirmed he was safe, he concealed his figure and hurried toward Poisonous Insect Valley.
Along the way, he encountered several swarms of Poisonous Insects, each numbering in the hundreds. From a distance, they formed dense, dark clouds, either carrying prey back to their nests or spewing venomous saliva everywhere.