Cultivating Immortality: Starting from Ferrying Passengers

Chapter 136 The true solution to the profound abyss
Shen Yuwan addressed Fang Jingxuan as Fellow Daoist Chen because Fang Jingxuan was using a fake name to avoid unnecessary trouble if his real name were known.

In the cultivation world, there are techniques for casting spells and curses, as well as corresponding supernatural powers. Although they are rare and not mainstream, one should still be wary of them.

Shen Yuwan was elegant in her demeanor, possessing the air of a great lady. She was composed and unhurried in her interactions with others and in her speech.

If Fang Jingxuan didn't know the ins and outs of this matter, he would really be led by the nose the whole time.

“It’s alright, a little time is nothing. I can wait a little longer for the next transaction.”

Fang Jingxuan smiled faintly and spoke, then stood up and returned the greeting with clasped hands.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, you've had a long and arduous journey from Baishan to the South China Sea. You must be here to obtain Foundation Establishment Pills, right?"

"Hmm, Foundation Establishment Pills are rare indeed."

After Fang Jingxuan said those words, he saw a smile in Shen Yuwan's eyes. He was suddenly startled and realized that he had given himself away.

That was Shen Yuwan's bluff, but he actually admitted it.

However, he quickly composed himself, not forgetting his purpose. So what if he knew? He held the initiative in this matter. Then, he looked at Shen Yuwan seriously and said:

"We can talk about Manager Shen's gossip later. Let's get down to business now."

Shen Yuwan nodded slightly upon hearing this, and then said:

"We can talk business, but I need to confirm first whether the magical artifact encased in that Void Sphere is intact."

"Of course, I trust Manager Shen won't act recklessly here."

Fang Jingxuan said with a serious expression, then patted the storage bag at his waist, took out the metal sphere, and placed it on the table in front of the two of them.

Shen Yuwan's eyes narrowed, and she slowly began to stroke and caress the metal sphere. After only a few breaths, the metal sphere that Fang Jingxuan couldn't understand began to crackle and open slowly.

"Wait a minute, we haven't agreed on a price yet."

Fang Jingxuan waved his hand to signal Shen Yuwan to stop, and Shen Yuwan obediently stopped what she was doing and pushed the ball over.

"Shopkeeper Shen is indeed a trustworthy person. So, what price are you willing to pay to get this item back?"

Fang Jingxuan turned the conversation to Shen Yuwan. He only knew that it contained a [Golden Disc and Jade Bone Plate], but he couldn't find out its specific value or grade.

But here's the problem: since we don't even understand it, it only proves one thing: this item is most likely not something a Qi Refining cultivator can use; it's probably something a Foundation Establishment cultivator would need.

Therefore, Fang Jingxuan's expectation was whether to sell this item as a second-tier magic weapon, or as a mid-to-high-grade second-tier magic weapon.

"That depends on what you need, fellow Daoist. Our Datong Trading Company has branches all over the Baishan, South China Sea and Qiyun regions. As the manager of one of our branches, I can probably meet your needs as long as you ask."

When Shen Yuwan said this, her eyes shone with confidence, clearly indicating that this was not just empty talk.

Fang Jingxuan understood that Shen Yuwan could say that, but if he really made exorbitant demands, she would have to consider whether it would be easier to satisfy her own needs or to kill him and then silence others.

Now that things had come to this, Fang Jingxuan didn't want to beat around the bush anymore, and he said directly:

“Then let’s barter. I’ll use this to exchange for three cultivation techniques. I think if you have the ability, you can find suitable cultivation techniques for me. I don’t need your spirit stones, magic tools, pills, or talismans, just the cultivation techniques.”

As the manager of a branch, Shen Yuwan must have a high level of authority, and she has access to many high-grade cultivation techniques.

As for cultivation techniques, they are a form of knowledge transmission, which is precious, but they can be copied and backed up to give Shen Yuwan a copy. So, for her, it's not a big loss.

"Cultivation techniques? Fellow Daoist Chen certainly knows how to choose. But I wonder, what kind of cultivation technique are you looking for?"

Shen Yuwan's attitude softened, and Fang Jingxuan could clearly sense that she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems that Shen Yuwan was prepared to be taken advantage of before she came, but Fang Jingxuan's request made her plans vanish.

"Simple: a secret technique for refining the body, a body-refining cultivation method, and a scripture for cultivation."

Among them, the grade of the refining secret techniques cannot be lower than the upper-grade Yellow level; the grade of the body refining techniques should primarily focus on improving combat power; and the scriptures to be practiced must be at the level of a true disciple of a Golden Core sect.

Fang Jingxuan put forward his three requests in one breath. After listening, Shen Yuwan frowned slightly. "Fellow Daoist Chen, I'm afraid I can't fulfill all three of your requests. This transaction is not fair. I can only grant you the first two of your requests, but I cannot give you the last one: the cultivation method of a true disciple of a Golden Core sect."

"That means there's nothing to talk about?"

Fang Jingxuan stood up, spoke coldly, and then continued:

"Shopkeeper Shen, you don't want the news of the [Golden Disc Jade Bone Plate] to be lost and for the cultivators of Baishan Lianshui City to find out, do you? Why don't you reconsider?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuwan bit her lip and finally nodded with difficulty:

"I'll give you the first two methods first. As for the last one, give me some time so I can think of a way."

This level of cultivation technique is never easily leaked, except perhaps to a fallen Golden Core sect whose inheritance might have been leaked. If you are interested, I can print a copy for you.

Upon hearing this, Fang Jingxuan seemed to be deep in thought. In the cultivation world, many Golden Core sects would fall into lower ranks over time, some quickly and some slowly.

The kind of rapid death is when one's own Golden Core Ancestor suddenly dies. Whether it's due to fighting or going into a demonic state, without the Golden Core combat power, the sect will be quickly swallowed up by surrounding forces.

The slower ones are those below the Golden Core Ancestor, who can only cultivate Foundation Establishment cultivators at most. After a few more generations, even Foundation Establishment cultivators cannot be produced stably. By the last generation, they directly reach the Great Perfection of Qi Refining.

The cultivation methods Shen Yuwan mentioned are those from these sects. Compared to other prestigious Golden Core sects, the cultivation methods of these declining Golden Core sects probably have significant flaws, otherwise the younger generations wouldn't be getting worse with each generation.

However, there is another possibility: it's not that the cultivation method is bad, but rather that it's too good, causing no one below the Golden Core Ancestor to be able to cultivate it to perfection, thus the sect can only become more and more dilapidated.

"Alright, that's what I want. Give me a list, I'll pick three from it, and then we'll go our separate ways and call it even."

Fang Jingxuan made a decision; he wanted to resolve the matter as soon as possible to avoid any unforeseen complications.

"Alright, this is a jade slip listing cultivation techniques and secret arts. Please take a look, Fellow Daoist Chen."

Shen Yuwan took out a jade slip from her storage bag and handed it to Fang Jingxuan.

Fang Jingxuan carefully took it, first using his divine sense to examine it and confirm that there were no problems, before probing it with his divine sense to extract the information stored inside.

In just a moment, a large amount of information rushed into Fang Jingxuan's mind. He couldn't help but close his eyes and ponder for a moment to digest this information.

Half an hour later, Fang Jingxuan suddenly opened his eyes and said directly to Shen Yuwan:

"I need the three manuals: 'Sacrifice to Gods and Refine Souls,' 'Nine Revolutions of the Azure Sea Technique,' and 'True Explanation of the Profound Abyss.' Thank you, Manager Shen."

Shen Yuwan's eyes lit up when she heard Fang Jingxuan's choice. As the manager, she naturally knew about the three cultivation techniques.

These three techniques are among the top ten even within the Lian Shui Alliance's major branches.

Because within the territory of the Lian Shui Alliance, the cultivation techniques collected by the Lian Shui branch are mostly water-based.

In particular, the last one, "The True Explanation of the Profound Abyss," was passed down by a Golden Core sect in the White Mountain region more than two thousand years ago. Unfortunately, although this sect was once very prominent, after its patriarch passed away, no one in the sect ever mastered this technique again.

Shen Yuwan also studied the reasons and concluded that the seven kinds of innate true water required for cultivating this "Mysterious Abyss True Explanation" are now very difficult to find.

However, since this was Fang Jingxuan's choice, Shen Yuwan couldn't say anything more. So she took out three jade slips and pushed them in front of Fang Jingxuan.

"Here are the copies of the three cultivation techniques. Can you give me the Void Orb now?"

Fang Jingxuan gently probed each of the techniques with his divine sense, confirming that they were indeed cultivation methods. He then readily handed the Taixu Sphere to Shen Yuwan and said:

"From now on, we will not recognize each other, Manager Shen. Goodbye forever."

After saying that, Fang Jingxuan rolled up the three jade slips and strode out the door without any hesitation.

After Fang Jingxuan left, Shen Yuwan breathed a sigh of relief, reached out and took back the Taixu metal sphere, a smile appearing on her lips.

'Fool, you have no idea what opportunities you've missed. The White Mountain cultivators have such narrow-mindedness.'

(End of this chapter)