Chapter 33: Preparations Before Departure

Time passed quietly, and three days flew by.

In his courtyard, Lin Tianming tightly gripped a golden sword, channeling his energy to complete the recognition process. After an hour, he released the sword, which immediately began to orbit around him.

After five continuous days of refining, Lin Tianming had successfully bonded with all twenty swords.

He laid out all the swords before him; each was a top-grade first-tier spiritual weapon. The combined value of these swords, if auctioned, could easily exceed twenty thousand spirit stones.

The swords, crafted from second-tier Qingling Bamboo and various precious materials provided by Lin Shilu, had taken nearly a month to complete. Their collective worth was nearly equivalent to a small Foundation Establishment Pill.

Holding one of the swords, Lin Tianming couldn't help but admire its craftsmanship. Naming it "Disha Sword" in honor of the Disha Sword Array it was meant to complement seemed fitting.

Having finished the bonding process, Lin Tianming couldn't wait to test their power.

He sheathed the twenty Disha Swords and left his room, flying towards the familiar valley where he had once practiced the Fire Origin Technique.

Half an hour later, he stood in the valley, eager to test the Disha Sword's capabilities.

Channeling his energy, Lin Tianming launched the first Disha Sword into the air. The sword's intense energy shredded the surrounding flora, reducing it to fragments. The power was astonishing.

Overjoyed, he summoned more swords into the array. One by one, the Disha Swords joined the swirling formation, amplifying the array's power. The valley was engulfed in a fierce wind, uprooting trees and scattering debris.

After ten breaths, Lin Tianming, sweating profusely, reached his limit. The array now included fifteen swords, forming an impenetrable barrier. The destructive force was immense, reducing everything within the array to dust.

He moved the array towards a nearby boulder. "Shatter!" he commanded. The boulder disintegrated instantly, leaving a deep crater in the ground.

Lin Tianming recalled the swords, storing them back in his pouch. Although he could only control fifteen swords at once and maintain the array for half an hour, the power was formidable. Even a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator would struggle to escape without significant effort.

Satisfied with the results, he returned the swords to his pouch and headed to the family Merit Hall for further preparations.

The journey to Qianchuan Market, three thousand miles north of Qingzhu Mountain, required passing through Luoyun Market, a small marketplace managed by five Foundation Establishment families and several Qi Refining clans. It was far from being as significant as Qianchuan Market, a renowned medium-sized market in Wei State, frequently visited by Core Formation cultivators.

With the journey taking over ten days and potentially lasting up to a year, Lin Tianming needed to ensure he was well-prepared. Though he already possessed numerous spiritual weapons and talismans, additional supplies were necessary.

He headed to the Merit Hall.

Inside, Lin Shixin was assisting family members with their exchanges. Lin Tianming waited patiently.

After a short while, Lin Tianming greeted Lin Shixin.

"Uncle Shixin, I need some supplies," he said.

Lin Shixin, with a knowing smile, replied, "What do you need, Tianming? With your current status, I assume you're well-equipped already."

"Do we have any Xuanteng Flowers?" Lin Tianming inquired.

"Yes, we have some in stock. Ten spirit stones each. How many do you need?"

"I'll take five Xuanteng Flowers, two Fire Yuan Grasses, two Golden Flower Grasses, and four Shuiyun Grasses. Are these available?"

"Yes, we have them. That will be one hundred and thirty spirit stones."

Lin Tianming had some ingredients for the Marrow Cleansing Pill and needed these to complete the set. He also needed additional materials for Barrier Breaking Pills, though he still needed the primary ingredient, Dragon Yuan Fruit, which he hoped to find in Qianchuan Market.

After the transaction, Lin Tianming stored the herbs and headed home.

At his courtyard, he found Lin Tianyue meditating. Seeing him, she jumped up and embraced him.

Ruffling her hair affectionately, he asked about their mother.

"Mother has been in seclusion recently," Lin Tianyue explained. "She's been dedicating her resources to us, and now she's using the spirit pills you gave her to catch up on her cultivation. Father left for Luoyun Market ten days ago but should return soon to see you off."

Lin Tianyue, though still at the third level of Qi Refining, seemed more robust. Over the past month, she hadn't slacked in her cultivation.

The siblings meditated in the courtyard, with Lin Tianming guiding his sister, waiting for their mother and grandfather to emerge from seclusion.