The Predicament of the Loose Cultivators

Wei Zhong emerged from his cultivation session with a sigh. "I didn't realize half a year had passed," he murmured.

He checked his status panel:

Name: Wei Zhong

Cultivation Base: Foundation Establishment, 1st Layer (12%)

Cultivation Techniques: Spring and Autumn Water Refinement Manual - Proficient (51%); Body Nourishing Art - Proficient (88%)

Lifespan: 116/240

Techniques:

Invisibility Technique - Master (43%)

Breath Concealing Technique - Grandmaster (1%)

Cloud Soaring Technique - Grandmaster (1%)

Flying Throwing Technique - Grandmaster (11%)

Geng Sword Art - Master (68%)

Over the past six months, Wei Zhong had diligently pursued both cultivation and technique practice. He focused solely on mastering the Breath Concealing Technique and Cloud Soaring Technique, and through relentless effort, both had successfully reached the Grandmaster level.

To Wei Zhong's delight, the Grandmaster-level Breath Concealing Technique had acquired a unique attribute: the ability to resist detection by divine sense. This reminded him of the day Lu Yibin had discovered him in the mine, likely due to the power of divine sense.

As for the Cloud Soaring Technique, it had undergone a subtle yet profound transformation that Wei Zhong struggled to fully comprehend. It left him marveling at the enigmatic and wondrous nature of techniques.

The Grandmaster-level Cloud Soaring Technique was no longer merely about riding clouds; it allowed direct manipulation of spiritual energy for flight, creating a fleeting illusion of teleportation. This led him to ponder the profound mysteries of the Dao of Techniques, which were both profound and ineffable.

Wei Zhong's escape speed had drastically improved, though he wouldn't know exactly how fast until he tested it against other Foundation Establishment cultivators.

His cultivation progress, however, was somewhat disappointing. He understood that advancing in cultivation became increasingly difficult as one progressed further.

His innate talent, once an advantage, was now a significant hindrance.

No wonder Core Formation was so rare; ordinary cultivators couldn't even glimpse the path to advancement without extraordinary fortune.

Fortunately, Wei Zhong was no ordinary cultivator.

After swallowing a High-Grade Qi Nourishing Pill, he shook his head. "These pills have truly become mere candy for me. To rapidly advance my cultivation now, I need to acquire Qi Harmonizing Pills suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators."

With a spirit ground providing external resources and medicinal pills providing internal support, he would be cultivating both his inner and outer strengths.

The Second-Tier Brewing Inheritance he'd obtained from Hu Yang included a spirit wine recipe that enhanced cultivation. He hadn't had time to gather the required Spirit Medicines or brew it yet, so its effects remained unknown.

Wei Zhong concluded his cultivation, left his Grotto-Heaven, and stepped onto the spiritual energy in the air, heading toward the Market. He needed to bolster his strength before venturing to Sea Moon Lake.

Moments later,

Wei Zhong's face twitched as he clutched a Second-Tier Magic Sword, staring at the shopkeeper before him. "Fellow Daoist, can't you lower the price just a bit more?"

The White-Browed Daoist shook his head. "Please don't trouble this junior, Senior. This is the absolute lowest price within my authority. I simply can't go any lower."

"If you were a Guest Elder of our sect, Senior, I could offer you a further discount. But alas..." The shopkeeper trailed off, gesturing helplessly.

Now that I've reached Foundation Establishment, the Azurewood Sect's true colors are clearer than ever. They've concocted this Guest Elder system just to squeeze out any rivals. No matter where you go, Loose Cultivators are always having their survival space encroached upon.

With no other choice, Wei Zhong pulled out his spirit stones. "I'll take it!"

Moments later, Wei Zhong left the shop clad in a Second-Tier Magic Robe and carrying a Second-Tier Magic Sword.

Spending spirit stones was unavoidable. Magic tools were indispensable to a cultivator's strength. Though Wei Zhong primarily relied on spells in combat, a magic tool could still prove useful in certain situations.

Gazing at the heavy magic sword in his hand, Wei Zhong sighed. The blade is pitch-black and looks rather ominous—not a typical choice for a magic sword.

Wei Zhong had purchased this particular sword specifically to counter the Candle Daoist's Blazing Stone Treasure Shears. While Li Haowen's words couldn't be entirely trusted, the claim about the Treasure Shears' existence seemed credible. Therefore, Wei Zhong had specifically chosen this thick, heavy sword, hoping it could withstand a few extra strikes from the magic tool during a clash.

As Wei Zhong wandered through the Market City, a hint of heartache still lingered on his face. The two Second-Tier magic tools had cost him over four thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

The high price of Second-Tier Magic Robes was undoubtedly a factor, but it also spoke volumes about their true value.

With such exorbitant costs, it was no wonder Liu Neng and his companions hadn't possessed a single Second-Tier Magic Artifact among their trump cards.

Perhaps another reason was that Qi Refining cultivators lacked sufficient spiritual energy to fully activate such advanced artifacts.

Wei Zhong shook his head and headed to the Spirit Pill Pavilion to purchase Qi Harmonizing Pills.

After inquiring, he learned that low-grade Qi Harmonizing Pills sold for 300 spirit stones, mid-grade for 500, but both were limited in supply. High-grade pills, however, were simply unavailable to loose cultivators like Wei Zhong.

Well, back to Guest Elder privileges, Wei Zhong thought. The Azurewood Sect really knows how to play this game.

After buying several bottles of pills, Wei Zhong checked the mission board. Numerous messages had already been left beneath his posted spirit ground quest.

All the offers mentioned First-Tier Spirit Lands. Wei Zhong skimmed through them, noting a few barely passable options in case the Sea Moon Lake venture proved impossible.

Returning to his small courtyard, he refined his magic tools and thoroughly prepared himself.

Time to explore Sea Moon Lake.

The Li Family's Sea Moon Lake lay north of the Azurewood Sect, not too far away. Wei Zhong's enhanced escape speed allowed him to reach it in less than half a day.

This Grandmaster-level Cloud Soaring Technique is astonishingly fast, but it consumes significantly more spiritual energy than before.

Finding a secluded corner, Wei Zhong entered his Grotto-Heaven and retrieved the Medicinal Pills he had just purchased to replenish his spiritual energy.

He swallowed a low-grade Qi Harmonizing Pill and immediately noticed its medicinal effect was significantly better than that of a Qi Nourishing Pill. Trying a mid-grade pill next, Wei Zhong frowned.

While the mid-grade pill was indeed superior to the low-grade one, the improvement was far less pronounced than the difference between Qi Nourishing Pills consumed during his Qi Refining stage. Considering its price, however, he felt somewhat resigned.

By the time he finished adjusting his cultivation, it was late at night. In the realm of cultivation, time held no meaning, nor did the distinction between day and night.

Under the cover of darkness, Wei Zhong made his way to the Li Family's Clan Grounds.

In the dead of night, scattered lights twinkled below, while most of the Li Family's territory remained shrouded in darkness.

Mortals were already asleep, taking advantage of the night's respite, and cultivators had immersed themselves in their practices. Only night watchmen and guards carrying torches patrolled the narrow alleys between the residential compounds.

The two most towering Second-Tier Spirit Islands stood in pitch darkness, devoid of light.

As Wei Zhong knew, the island with the mid-grade Second-Tier spirit vein had been seized by the Candle Daoist, who used it exclusively for his personal cultivation. The slightly inferior island with the low-grade Second-Tier spirit vein had been converted into a spiritual treasure nursery, where he cultivated various spiritual treasures and strictly forbade any Li Family members from cultivating.

Forced to huddle on the remaining First-Tier Spirit Islands, the entire Li Family had no choice but to endure this oppressive situation.

To monopolize two Spirit Islands like that... how domineering, Wei Zhong thought.

With a swift movement, he sped toward the Candle Daoist's Spirit Island.

Wei Zhong halted abruptly mid-flight, his keen senses detecting ripples of spiritual energy ahead.

A formation, but its grade seems low, far inferior to those of the Azurewood Sect.

In Wild Plains Prefecture, the Formation Dao was conspicuously underdeveloped, as evidenced by the Azurewood Sect's mere three halls dedicated to pills, artifacts, and techniques. Cultivators skilled in formations were exceedingly rare, especially among Loose Cultivators, most of whom only knew basic illusion formations to deceive mortals.

Wei Zhong was astonished to discover a formation enveloping the entire island. Yet sensing no immediate threat, he concluded it was likely a perimeter defense system.

Staring at the eggshell-like barrier, Wei Zhong frowned slightly. Suddenly, inspiration struck.

Cloud Soaring Technique - Grandmaster

In a flash, Wei Zhong pierced through the formation, leaving only faint ripples in the air without triggering its defenses.

He now understood the true nature of the Grandmaster-level Cloud Soaring Technique. It wasn't teleportation, but an ultra-fast traversal imbued with a subtle ability to bypass formations.

It was as if an invisible hand parted the formation's layers, allowing Wei Zhong to speed through before seamlessly smoothing the path behind him.

This Grandmaster-level technique was truly remarkable. Perhaps it could even be used to evade weaker offensive spiritual techniques.