“A Spirit Source?”
Gu Han was stunned.
“What is that?”
“It’s normal for a young brother like you not to know,” Chen Ping patiently explained.
When Cultivators Cultivate, using yuan crystals and Medicinal Pills as aids naturally greatly increases efficiency. However, yuan crystals are born within mineral veins, and when they form, they naturally become contaminated with a lot of miscellaneous Qi from the earth’s veins. If one uses them excessively without restraint, they will have to meticulously refine the miscellaneous Qi within their bodies every so often. Otherwise, it will place an immense burden on their Meridians, and in severe cases, it could even affect their Foundation.
As for a Spirit Source, it is the Spiritual Qi extracted from within yuan crystals, with Impurities refined out, leaving only the purest Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. When used, there are naturally no hidden dangers.
However, this item is precious.
Ordinary Loose Cultivators, let alone using it, haven't even heard of it.
For instance, the one in Gu Han’s hand, although it is only the lowest grade of Spirit Source, requires over a thousand yuan crystals to refine. If you add the cost of refining, the price would more than double!
The price doubled?
Gu Han pouted.
Isn’t that a huge loss!
In fact, his Meridians were unusual; he was born with the ability to filter all Impurities, so this item was like a chicken rib to him, naturally not something he valued. However, for ordinary Cultivators like Chen Ping, this item could save them a lot of Cultivation time, making it an extremely valuable Cultivation resource.
Of course, with Chen Ping's financial resources, he usually wouldn't be willing to use it.
“But…” Gu Han glanced at A Sha.
“A Sha can certainly make good use of it.”
Under his guidance for many days, A Sha had successfully gained a sense of Qi and was about to officially embark on Cultivation. Cultivating with a Spirit Source would naturally eliminate all hidden dangers.
“Young brother,” Chen Ping asked with some curiosity, “Judging by the direction you're heading, it seems you're going to… the Royal Capital?”
“That’s right,” Gu Han didn’t hide it from him. “I’m going to the Martial Academy.”
“I see,” Chen Ping said with some envy. “I was foolish. With your talent and Cultivation, the small Tianwu City would naturally limit your development! My name is Chen Ping. Young brother, you saved my life. When you arrive at the Royal Capital, if you have any instructions, you can come find me at Jubao Pavilion!”
“Jubao Pavilion?” Gu Han thought for a moment. “You should accept Yao Beast cores and Spirit Medicine, right?”
“Ah?” Chen Ping was momentarily stunned, then reacted. The five stewards Gu Han had killed each carried a large amount of resources. Combined with his own situation, a rough estimate suggested the total value was at least tens of thousands of yuan crystals!
This… was an enormous fortune!
“Of course we accept, but I don’t have that many yuan crystals on me…”
“No credit allowed!”
“…” Chen Ping was choked up again. “That’s not what I meant,” he quickly explained. “When we reach the Royal Capital, young brother can come find me. I’m willing to purchase them at a price 20% higher than the market price.”
At this price, not only would he not profit, but he would also lose some. However, he was merely repaying Gu Han for saving his life.
“Twenty percent?” Gu Han’s eyes lit up, and his form of address even changed. “Brother Chen, you truly are a straightforward person. It seems I didn’t save your life in vain!”
Chen Ping smiled bitterly. This young brother was good in every aspect, except for his excessive attachment to money.
…
Dr. Xue’s Medicinal Pills naturally had extraordinary effects. After only half a day, Chen Ping’s injuries were nearly half-healed, so he no longer lingered and bid farewell to Gu Han.
Gu Han did not try to make him stay. With Chen Ping constantly following him, it was naturally very inconvenient, especially since A Sha’s ability was too conspicuous. The fewer people who knew, the more secure they would be.
…
Time flew by, and another half month passed.
During this period, apart from some Vicious Beasts, Gu Han did not encounter anyone else. Thanks to A Sha’s ability, he found seven or eight more Spirit Medicines. Although they were far from comparable to that purple crystal vine, it was still a considerable harvest.
As for A Sha, under his continuous guidance, she was about to guide Qi into her body and embark on Cultivation.
“Did you remember?” Inside the cave, Gu Han gently placed the Spirit Source in A Sha’s hand. “All those Spiritual Qi circulation routes I told you about?”
“Yes! I remember!”
“Alright, begin!” A Sha obediently closed her eyes and, as Gu Han had taught, slowly guided the pure Spiritual Qi from the Spirit Source into her body.
After about half a day, her eyelids trembled slightly, and a layer of spiritual light suddenly appeared around her body! This was a manifestation of the Qi Condensation First Realm!
“So fast!” Gu Han secretly marveled. Back then, it took him three full days to go from guiding Qi into his body to the Qi Condensation First Realm. Even that was considered a Genius rarely seen in Tianwu City for decades. So, wouldn't A Sha be a Genius rarely seen in a century? As expected of someone with the Eye of Insight Bloodline!
Amidst his exclamations, he saw that A Sha had already entered a meditative state. He smiled silently, then sealed the cave entrance and took out the resources he had on him.
There was still a month until the Martial Academy opened. He had already covered most of his journey, so he was not in a hurry.
Before reaching the Royal Capital, he wanted to raise his Cultivation to the Acupoint Opening Realm!
Slowly closing his eyes, the mountain of yuan crystals piled beside him lit up for a moment, and Spiritual Qi mixed together, surging into his body with a rather violent momentum!
Previously, he had already opened over three hundred collateral Meridians throughout his body. He was only a little short of the Meridian Opening Ninth Realm!
Inside his body, with such abundant Spiritual Qi replenishment, the spiritual liquid within his Meridians continuously surged towards the remaining collateral Meridians!
One, two, ten…
Meridian Opening Ninth Realm!
As if sensing that the external Spiritual Qi was somewhat insufficient, he didn’t hesitate. He took out a large amount of yuan crystals, then casually grabbed two Spirit Medicines and directly stuffed them into his mouth! In the blink of an eye, the Spiritual Qi became violent again! As each collateral Meridian was opened, he could faintly perceive the starry mist hidden at the end of the collateral Meridians. However, there seemed to be a membrane between the starry mist and the collateral Meridians. Even with his extremely sensitive spiritual sense, he couldn’t fully perceive the specific condition of that starry mist.
He understood that these starry mists were the body’s acupoints. Corresponding to each collateral Meridian, there were exactly three hundred and sixty of them! As long as he broke through this membrane and poured spiritual power into them, he would reach the Acupoint Opening Realm. And for every acupoint he opened, the amount of spiritual power he could store in his body would increase. By the time he reached the Acupoint Opening Ninth Realm, his spiritual power would be twice that of the Meridian Opening Realm!
It was at this moment that his last collateral Meridian was also opened! “Now!” His mind tensed. With his Meridians fully opened, and the spiritual power within his body flowing freely, a tremendous surge of force would be generated in an instant. This was the best time to Break through to the Acupoint Opening Realm! If he missed this opportunity, it would undoubtedly be much more difficult to Break through later.
Boom! Without the slightest hesitation, he moved his mind, guiding that surge of force to crash against a membrane! Crack! A faint sound seemed to come from within his body. That membrane shattered in response, and a vast ocean of spiritual power surged into the acupoint! At this point, although the impact force had weakened, it was still present! Crack! Crack! … He broke through twenty-seven layers of membranes in one go before the impact force completely dissipated. Due to the continuous influx of spiritual power into the acupoints, the spiritual power remaining in his Meridians also became much thinner.
Next, to break through more membranes, he could only rely on continuous effort. The Acupoint Opening Realm was also a Realm where ordinary Cultivators spent a considerable amount of time. In fact, for ordinary people breaking through, that impact force could at most break through seven or eight layers of membranes, which was their limit. But Gu Han had cultivated to the Extreme Realm, and his spiritual power had liquefied, so he naturally far surpassed ordinary people.
“Hoo…” He let out a soft breath and opened his eyes. The subsequent Cultivation would not be an overnight affair, and besides, the remaining time was simply not enough.
Beside him, A Sha watched him with wide eyes. The Spirit Source in her hand had been partially consumed, and her Cultivation had already entered the Qi Condensation Third Realm.
Gu Han felt a sense of relief. Who would have thought that a little girl who was naturally a bit slow-witted would possess such high Cultivation talent?
“Let’s go,” he slowly stood up. “It’s about time.” Besides Cultivation, he had naturally dedicated a portion of his mind to calculating the time. There were still ten days until the academy opened, and at his speed, he could easily make it.
Just as he was about to reach out, his expression suddenly changed. A wisp of dust suddenly fell from the stone blocking the cave entrance. Something was wrong! His heart suddenly pounded. Immediately after, more and more dust fell, and even the stone began to tremble!
“Young master…” Even A Sha noticed something was amiss.
“Go!” Without hesitation, Gu Han split open the cave entrance with a palm strike and rushed out with A Sha!
At this moment, it wasn't just the cave; even the ground beneath their feet began to tremble!
“Ah!!!” Suddenly, a faint roar came from the depths of the Barren Forest. The sound was full of tyranny and madness! This sound… wasn’t from a Yao Beast; it was human! “Oh no!” Gu Han’s face changed drastically. He immediately carried A Sha on his back and instantly fled.
Although he couldn’t guess who the owner of the voice was, he had a vague premonition that if they stayed any longer… there would definitely be immense danger!
“Woo!” “Roar!” “…” As if to confirm his guess, countless beast roars echoed behind them, filled with more agitation and fear! A Yao Beast rampage!
Boom! Boom! … The ground tremors grew more intense, and Gu Han was horrified to discover that the Yao Beasts were actually chasing him! Unlucky! He cursed inwardly, his spiritual power surging wildly as he continuously weaved through the dense jungle! Even though he was now in the Acupoint Opening Realm, if he were caught in a beast tide, it would essentially be a certain death scenario!
He scanned his surroundings with his peripheral vision. Figures continuously darted out of the dense forest from all directions, frantically fleeing forward. He wasn't the only one being chased!
“Roar!” The beast roars sounded again, with even more anxiety and fear in their voices. Gu Han seemed to understand something. Perhaps… these Yao Beasts weren't trying to chase him at all! They seemed to… also be being chased by someone, and the reason they were running in this direction was simply to escape the Barren Forest, just like him! And that person! Was the culprit behind all of this!