Starting at the Nascent Soul stage, a rogue cultivator is incredibly poor.

Qingyouzi flew back.

It brushed past the several streaks of light that had been chasing it, its speed undiminished, and disappeared from everyone's sight in the blink of an eye.

The early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators stopped in mid-air, exchanged glances, and all saw the same understanding in each other's eyes. Dao He was probably dead.

No one was chasing them.

Firstly, their speed is insufficient; secondly, the azure rainbow's escape speed is terrifying, indicating the cultivator is at least in the mid-Nascent Soul stage, or even higher. Offending someone of the same level for a mere 60,000 battle merits is not worth it.

Half a day later.

Heavenly Immortal City, Hall of Merit.

Qingyouzi presented Daohe's corpse and the wisp of Nascent Soul remnant energy. The Golden Core cultivator on duty verified that everything was correct and respectfully handed over a jade token.

"Senior, a total of 60,000 battle merits have been registered under your name."

Qingyouzi took the jade tablet and touched the communication jade slip, probing it with his divine sense.

The number in the "Battle Merit" column changed: from 23,000 to 83,000.

Sixty thousand battle merits in hand.

But there was no joy on his face.

The image of Daohe's eyes before he died, and the words he uttered so softly they were almost inaudible, still lingered in my mind.

"I...I really...am not a traitor..."

Qingyouzi gripped the jade tablet tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white.

After a moment, he released his grip, put away the jade token, and turned to walk out of the main hall.

Outside the palace, the sky was bright and clear, with sunlight shining on the layered eaves of the pavilions. The streets were bustling with people, including cultivators, mortals, and merchants.

He stood in the middle of the street, looking up at the sky.

The sky was clear and blue, and the white clouds drifted lazily by. Everything seemed so ordinary, as if the chase, the vanished nascent soul, and the 60,000 battle merits... had never happened.

Qingyouzi closed her eyes.

When I opened my eyes again, they were calm again.

"That's enough."

He muttered to himself and turned to walk towards the west of the city.

He was powerless to delve into the truth of the matter. The cultivation world had always been like this: a dog-eat-dog world where truth and falsehood were indistinguishable. All he could do was hold onto the resources at his disposal and strive to go further down this path.

The street was surrounded by layers of pavilions, courtyards, and shops, and he was walking among them.

The Heavenly Immortal City Battle Merit Exchange Center is located atop a solitary peak in the western part of the city.

The peak is named "Duiyue," towering thousands of feet high. From its base to its summit, it is divided into four levels according to cultivation level: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul. The higher you go, the fewer people there are.

At the foot of the mountain, the place was bustling with activity, with Qi Refining cultivators coming and going; the mountainside was a little quieter, with Foundation Establishment cultivators walking leisurely; further up, the Golden Core stage was already quiet and deserted, with occasional streaks of light falling down.

Qingyouzi flew straight to the summit.

Nascent Soul layer.

Upon landing, all was silent. An ancient, simple palace stood atop the peak, bells hanging from its eaves, silent as the wind passed.

He concealed his breathing and slowly stepped inside.

The hall was empty, except for one person sitting cross-legged in the deepest part.

The man appeared to be in his thirties, dressed in a blue robe embroidered with a giant tortoise whose shell patterns subtly evoked a certain Daoist aura. He sat with his eyes closed, his aura as deep and unfathomable as an abyss.

Qingyouzi felt a chill run down her spine.

At least mid-Nascent Soul stage, or even... late stage.

He strode forward and bowed respectfully: "Junior Qingyouzi greets Senior."

The man in the blue robe slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze was calm, like a still well, but when it fell on Qingyouzi, he felt an invisible pressure.

"I am Xuanwu Zi," the man in blue robes said in a gentle voice. "We are both Nascent Soul cultivators, so you may call me Fellow Daoist Xuanwu."

Xuanwuzi!

Qingyouzi's pupils contracted slightly.

One of the Four Saints of Tianxian City. Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, and White Tiger. Legend has it that Azure Dragon and White Tiger were Daoist partners, while Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise were fellow disciples. All four are late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators who have been guarding Tianxian City for nearly a thousand years, and their fame is illustrious.

I never expected to meet you here today.

His expression became even more respectful: "Greetings, Venerable Xuanwu."

Xuanwuzi nodded slightly and said no more.

Qingyouzi steadied himself and asked, "May I ask, Venerable One, is there a 'Forbidden-Breaking Cone' here?"

A strange light flashed in Xuanwuzi's eyes, but he did not ask any questions. He simply raised his hand in a feint.

A jade platform beside the hall shimmered with light, and a jade box flew over and hovered in the air.

The lid opens automatically.

Inside lay a cone-shaped magical artifact, about three inches long, bronze in color, with fine cracks covering its surface and its spiritual light dimmed, clearly severely damaged.

"This item is a relic from ancient times, and its power is only one-tenth of what it once was," Xuanwuzi said calmly. "Furthermore, it can only be used once. It costs 20,000 battle merits to exchange for it."

Qingyouzi frowned slightly.

Its power is greatly diminished, and it can only be used once... No wonder they were willing to exchange it. If it were a fully intact Forbidden-Breaking Cone, even a million battle merits might not be enough to exchange for it.

He weighed the options in his mind.

If what Cangming said is true, then beyond that ancient teleportation array lies a vaster world and more abundant resources. Twenty thousand battle merits in exchange for a possible escape route and opportunity... it's worth it.

"This junior will take it," Qingyouzi said in a deep voice.

Xuanwuzi nodded, and the jade box fell into Qingyouzi's hands.

"You have 63,000 battle merits left," Xuanwuzi asked. "Is there anything else you wish to exchange for?"

Qingyouzi had already made a plan: "This junior would like to exchange for a 'Nascent Soul Pill'."

The Nascent Soul Condensation Pill can solidify the origin of the Nascent Soul, greatly benefiting cultivators in the early stages of the Nascent Soul realm. In comparison, while the ten-thousand-year-old spiritual jade can accelerate cultivation, it is not the most urgent matter.

Another jade box flew in.

Inside the box was a pill the size of a longan, the color of solidified fat, with patterns like clouds, and faintly emitting the sound of an infant's cry.

"Nascent Soul Pill, 50,000 Battle Merit."

Qingyouzi took it and put it into her storage bag.

Xuanwuzi stopped speaking and closed his eyes to sit quietly again.

Qingyouzi, knowing the proper etiquette, bowed respectfully and withdrew from the main hall.

After leaving Duiyue Peak, Qingyouzi did not linger in the city. He went straight out of the city and transformed into a blue rainbow, flying towards the Boundless Sea.

Half a day later.

Above the deep sea, Qingyouzi hovered in the air, scanning the sea area below with his divine sense to confirm that no one was following him before he calmed his breath and entered the water.

Stepping into the ancient ruins once again.

The main hall remained empty, with eight stone pillars standing silently, and the golden screen above the sinkhole shimmering with light.

"You're back so soon?"

Cangming's voice came from the depths of darkness, tinged with surprise.

Qingyouzi walked towards the sinkhole and placed the jade box at the edge of the barrier: "The barrier-breaking cone is here."

The jade box was opened, revealing a small bronze cone.

From the darkness, a figure slowly emerged. Cangming's crimson eyes stared at the Forbidden-Breaking Cone, his brows furrowed.

"Looks like only a tenth of its power remains... and it can only be used once?" He sneered. "Celestial City certainly knows how to do business."

Qingyouzi remained silent.

Cangming reached out and grasped, and the Breaking Cone flew into his hand. Demonic power poured in, and the cracks on the cone shone faintly, but it had no real power.

"It's worse than I thought." Cangming shook his head. "With this item, it would take several years to nurture and repair before it could even be used to break the ancient divine seal."

He looked at Qingyouzi: "Can you afford to wait?"

Qingyouzi said calmly, "I can afford to wait a few years."

Cangming grinned, his scales gleaming with an eerie light: "Alright. I won't notify you once I break the seal."

He paused, his scarlet eyes fixed on Qingyouzi.

"I won't wait for you when the teleportation array opens. Opportunity knocks, so each of us must rely on our own abilities."

Qingyouzi nodded: "That's how it should be."

Cangming said no more, gripping the Forbidden-Breaking Cone, he turned and disappeared into the darkness. Beside the sinkhole, the golden barrier remained, but faintly, a wisp of demonic power seemed to be slowly seeping in.

Qingyouzi watched for a moment, then turned and left.

The azure rainbow broke through the sea and flew towards Zhenhai Pass.

Behind them, the ruins lie submerged in the deep sea, silent as a tomb.

Time is long.

A few years have passed in the blink of an eye.