Cultivating Immortality: Starting from Ferrying Passengers

Chapter 89 Entering the Valley to Search for Cicadas
A few days later, at the edge of the wilderness, in a small market at the front end of Fulong Valley, a male cultivator sitting cross-legged on a ferocious turtle arrived.

This place is about 5,000 miles away from Hongyefang. It is an area that truly borders the wilderness, so it is sparsely populated. Most of the people who can come here are monks.

The market here was also built spontaneously by some monks. Its main purpose was to provide a place for herbalists and monster hunters who came into the wilderness to rest and replenish their supplies.

Fang Jingxuan slowly came to the front of the market and first observed the situation. The market in front was very simple, and there was no large-scale formation arrangement. There were only some scattered wooden houses piled up in a mess.

Some cultivators were busy with their own tasks. Some were skinning and dismembering monsters, while others were drying and preparing elixirs. None of them carried others on their backs, and it was obvious that they were used to it.

After observing for a moment, Fang Jingxuan signaled Tuyuan to move forward. As they got closer, they finally attracted the attention of some cultivators.

But no one took the initiative to pay attention to him, and Fang Jingxuan was happy with that. He came to the only inn here and walked in.

"But you need to stay in a hotel? It costs one low-grade spirit stone a day, including dinner. You, a turtle, also need one low-grade spirit stone."

The inn was not big, with only three floors, and looked quite rough. The innkeeper was lazily leaning against the counter at the back. When he saw Fang Jingxuan come in, he just greeted him casually without showing any enthusiasm.

Hearing the price, Fang Jingxuan felt a pang of pain in his heart. The rent of two low-grade spirit stones a day was more expensive than that in the market town.

But remembering Wang Xinyu's previous reminder, it would be better to stay in a hotel here instead of choosing to find an abandoned house outside. After all, the shopkeeper was in the late stage of Qi Refining, and staying in his hotel would be safer.

"Then you can stay here for three days first. I will consider whether to stay longer after that. Here are the spirit stones."

Fang Jingxuan took out six low-grade spirit stones from his storage bag and placed them on the counter.

"Go up to the innermost room on the east side of the second floor. Remember, no fighting is allowed here. If you have any problems, go outside and solve them. If you don't follow my rules, I will let you know why I am the only one allowed to open a shop here."

Fang Jingxuan gave a smile and said nothing. This shopkeeper was also a strange person. According to Wang Xinyu, this person had been here for a long time and his cultivation had already reached the late stage of Qi Refining.

He just couldn't build a foundation, and probably became discouraged, so he chose to live in seclusion here. As for opening an inn, it can only be said to be his unique hobby, probably to find something for himself to do.

Fang Jingxuan took the key and prepared to go upstairs. At this time, the shopkeeper downstairs said:

"By the way, you, the turtle, need to be placed in the animal pen in the backyard. You should find a place yourself. It hasn't been cleaned in a long time. If you can help me clean it up, I'll let you stay one more day for free."

Oh, here comes the mission. Fang Jingxuan thought about it and agreed.

When Fang Jingxuan entered the backyard from the side door, the innkeeper curled his lips and muttered:
"Another casual cultivator dreaming of getting rich, without even a hint of murderous intent, yet still wants to hang around here? He'll be running away in a hurry in less than ten days. What do you think, Xuan Li?"

After the shopkeeper finished speaking, no one responded, but after a few breaths, he seemed to have heard something and said with a smile:

"You think so highly of him, okay? Let's make a bet. He'll definitely be gone within half a month. As for the stakes, let me think about it."

When he arrived at the backyard, Fang Jingxuan felt a little relieved. For some reason, he always felt uncomfortable facing the innkeeper.

It was as if a cold gaze was staring at him, and his own "sudden impulse" was slowly warning him, reminding him that there seemed to be something else here.

Fang Jingxuan took out a talisman to ward off evil spirits from his storage bag. After hesitating for a few moments, he was still reluctant to activate it and finally put it back.

A talisman to ward off evil spirits costs three low-grade spirit stones, which is enough to cover a day and a half's rent. It's better to use it sparingly.

Fang Jingxuan was looking at the animal pen at this time. It was indeed quite messy inside. It was obvious that no spirit beast had been in there for a long time.

"Xiao Yuan, clean up by yourself. Do it yourself and you will have enough food and clothing." Fang Jingxuan subcontracted this job to Tu Yuan. As a water-based spirit beast, Tu Yuan was also very good at cleaning.

Deliberately ignoring Tuo Yuan's gloomy eyes, Fang Jingxuan happily returned to his room. After checking around, he confirmed that there was nothing unusual.

Fang Jingxuan then took out a small talisman disk, inserted a low-grade spirit stone into it, and activated it.

Suddenly, the room was covered by a magic formation. Anyone who forced his way in would be counterattacked by the magic formation.

After the formation was set up, Fang Jingxuan finally felt relieved and felt much safer.

Fang Jingxuan came here with a caravan. The journey was a total of 5,000 miles and took them ten days.

When they were almost at the wilderness, Fang Jingxuan separated from the caravan and headed straight here.

The journey was safe and uneventful, after all, it was still human territory, and those wild monsters could not penetrate so far.

However, this place would be plagued by monsters from time to time, so the houses here were built randomly. This way, even if they were damaged, there would be no need to feel bad.

Fang Jingxuan just took a quick look and found that even in this inn, there were many claw marks and bite marks, which clearly showed that some monsters had been there.

Fang Jingxuan decided to observe here for three days, find out some information, and then go to the Fulong Valley to look for the remains of the golden cicada.

At present, the cultivators around here are all herbalists and monster hunters. No trace of robber cultivators has been seen yet, so it is indeed relatively safe.

Fang Jingxuan thought of Wang Xinyu's instructions, and now he only hoped to find the remains of the golden cicada as soon as possible and return safely.

Thinking of this, Fang Jingxuan touched his spirit bag, closed his eyes, and fell into a state of rest.

Three days later, early in the morning, Fang Jingxuan took Tuyuan out of the inn and walked towards the depths of Fulong Valley.

At this time, the shopkeeper had not gotten up yet, and Fang Jingxuan had not met him. It seemed that the promised extra day of free accommodation would not be fulfilled.

Fang Jingxuan didn't care. He took advantage of the fact that there were few people around early in the morning, took the topographic map he had bought in the past two days, and headed straight for "Liaozhi Forest".

'Liaozhi Forest' is the place where the most golden cicada remains are found. It is said that there is a golden cicada in the Jindan realm that has been dormant underground for hundreds of years and has never come out. Most of the first-level golden cicada remains are the products left by its descendants.

Only the remains of a second-grade golden cicada could be the remains of this golden elixir-level golden cicada. However, these are all rumors and no one can confirm them.

As for the third-grade golden cicada remains, they have not been found yet, which is why most cultivators believe that it is just a rumor.

Enter from the front end of Fulong Valley and walk east for seven or eight hundred miles, and you will reach "Liaozhi Forest".

The journey seemed short, but this was in the wilderness, and Fang Jingxuan didn't dare to walk fast, for fear of encountering unexpected situations.

However, the road to 'Liaozhi Forest' has been walked by many cultivators, and the topographic map that Fang Jingxuan bought also has safe routes marked. Therefore, although it was Fang Jingxuan's first time, he still completed the journey with some bumps and bruises.

It was not until three days later, when Fang Jingxuan saw the iconic mountain, that he confirmed that all his hard work in climbing mountains and wading through water had not been in vain. The remains of the golden cicada were right before his eyes.

(End of this chapter)