Starting as a Talisman Master

Chapter 267 Qingming Continent (5.9k)

Lu Chi stroked the ancient token with his fingertips, murmuring softly, "Great Teleportation Token—"

The fact that our master bestowed this item at this moment must be closely related to the intercontinental array before us.

Chen Niwan stood with his hands behind his back and spoke calmly: "Intercontinental teleportation is extraordinary. When the formation is in operation, the spatial forces tear extremely hard. Without the protection of this Great Teleportation Token to protect the physical body, once a cultivator steps into it, he will be instantly torn apart by the spatial turbulence, ending up dead and dissipated."

"Keep this safe. With this token in hand, if you ever encounter such an ancient formation again in Qingming Continent, you can use it to pass through safely."

It turned out to be the case.

Lu Chi solemnly accepted the ancient token and bowed deeply: "Thank you for bestowing this treasure upon my master."

Chen Niwan nodded slightly, his figure rising into the air and hovering above the broken formation.

He looked down at him, his tone slightly somber: "Your journey to the Azure Sky will take countless years. Although you have mastered many of the supernatural powers and techniques of my Taiqing Palace, you must not flaunt them in this foreign land. In all things, you must prioritize protecting your life and preserving your own magical power."

"In the scroll of Nascent Soul cultivation insights I left you, there is another instruction. You will understand when your cultivation reaches a certain level."

At this point, Chen Niwan paused slightly, his gaze suddenly turning profound as he stared directly at the young man outside the formation: "Now that things have come to this, I will ask you one last question. Are you truly determined to abandon your old friends and companions here and venture alone into a foreign land where fate is uncertain?"

Lu Chi smiled slightly, his expression completely calm.

"The path to immortality is elusive, and I stand alone. The entanglements of the mortal world may bring fleeting pleasure, but a hundred years later I will only return to dust. All I seek is the path to eternal life. Though the road ahead is uncertain, I will go forth with unwavering resolve, my heart as firm as iron, without hesitation."

Chen Niwan gave him a deep look, but said nothing more.

Immediately, the old man waved his sleeve with a loud thud. A clear and melodious sound rang out, and dozens of dazzling spiritual lights flew out from his sleeve one after another, hovering steadily above the array plate.

The radiance dimmed slightly, revealing pieces of crystal-clear spirit stones. The spiritual energy contained within them was so dense that it almost condensed into mist on their surface.

Lu Chi was slightly shocked; they were all high-grade spirit stones—what a grand gesture!

Chen Niwan formed hand seals, his fingertips radiating magical power. The dozens of high-grade spirit stones transformed into streams of light, precisely landing within the broken grooves surrounding the ancient formation.

The array plate, silent for countless years, emitted a muffled hum, and the dim array patterns lit up with a faint glow from the outside in.

"This formation is decaying. Even with high-grade spirit stones to replenish its spiritual energy, it will still take the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to fully activate and operate." Chen Niwan stopped and stood still, observing the changes in the formation.

Lu Chi nodded silently and stood outside the formation, waiting quietly.

During his leisure time, the various records in the "Azure Netherworld Gazetteer" bestowed upon him by his master resurfaced in his mind. The vast and boundless land, the cultivation sects that were completely different from those in Huanyun Continent, and the extremely prosperous markets and products all flashed through his mind.

Crossing continents to a completely unfamiliar territory, his state of mind at this moment was a mixture of a faint hope of breaking free from old constraints and stepping into a wider world, and a degree of caution about the unknown situation.

The familiar Huanyun Continent was about to fade into the distance, while the Qingming Continent, with its completely different customs and traditions, where opportunities and dangers coexisted, was like a brand new world, waiting for him to set foot in. All sorts of thoughts intertwined in his heart, ultimately transforming into a condensed sense of aspiration for the Dao within his chest.

"Lu Chi".

Chen Niwan suddenly spoke up.

Lu Chi looked up at the sound, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Chen Niwan said, "Do you know why I didn't stay in Qingming Continent after obtaining such a great opportunity?"

Lu Chi was slightly taken aback.

Yes, Qingming Continent is rich in natural resources and has excellent spiritual veins, far surpassing remote places like Huanyun Continent.

My grandmaster is already a Nascent Soul stage cultivator. Even in Qingming Continent, such a level of cultivation would be enough for him to establish a sect and become its founder. Why then did he choose to cross the ocean and return to this war-torn Huanyun Continent?

Although cultivators seek the path to immortality, they are not merely plants, trees, or rocks. Even a Nascent Soul Ancestor might find it difficult to sever all worldly attachments. He pondered for a moment, secretly speculating.

Before Lu Chi could reply, Chen Niwan had already turned his gaze away and looked up at the endless gray miasma at the top of the abyss.

"The vast expanse of the Azure Sky is indeed a blessed land for cultivating immortality."

"But I entered Taiqing in my youth, and received the kindness and righteousness of my master, forming a bond of life and death. Although Huanyun Continent is barren, it has my old friends with whom I used to drink tea and discuss the Dao, and the cenotaph of my master who taught me."

"A tree may grow a thousand feet tall, but its leaves will eventually fall back to its roots. Even the blessed land of immortals on the other shore cannot compare to a handful of yellow earth in my hometown. My magical powers have come to an end here in this life. For the rest of my days, I only wish to guard this plaque of Taiqing and settle the karma of half a lifetime."

Lu Chi could easily understand the profound meaning behind his master's heartfelt words. He was being advised not to become so attached to the prosperity of Qingming Continent that he would forget his homeland and sect.

Lu Chi straightened his clothes, his expression solemn, and bowed deeply to Chen Niwan in mid-air. "I understand my master's intention. Although I seek the Great Dao, I am by no means a person who betrays his roots and forgets righteousness. Regardless of whether I am rich or poor in the future, I will eventually return to my roots. I will never forget the Great Purity of the Universe."

The journey to this foreign land is fraught with uncertainty, and I truly do not know if I will ever return to my homeland. But since my elders are here in person, I should answer in this way to put their minds at ease.

Chen Niwan nodded slightly and said no more. The bottom of the abyss returned to deathly silence, except for the spirit stones on the array plate shining even brighter.

Time slips away quietly, like the burning of an incense stick.

Suddenly, the great formation emitted a deep, muffled hum, and the void trembled. Chen Niwan shouted, "Enter the formation!"

Lu Chi leaped into the formation. As soon as he stood still, the remaining formation erupted with a pillar of light that shot into the sky, completely enveloping his figure.

He gripped the Great Teleportation Token tightly. The surrounding spatial power surged wildly. Looking down, he saw the array plate beneath his feet cracking inch by inch, its runes breaking one after another. Dozens of high-grade spirit stones in the array's core had exhausted their magical power and turned into dust one after another. This ancient array was completely collapsing.

As space distorted, Lu Chi looked up. Outside the formation, Chen Niwan stood with his hands behind his back, the two of them meeting in a flash of light. The old man's eyes were as still as a deep well, revealing an extremely profound tranquility.

A violent spatial force crashed down, and the Great Teleportation Command emitted a layer of yellow light to protect him. Lu Chi felt the world spin, and then his vision was plunged into boundless darkness.

The bottom of the abyss.

The radiance vanished. The ancient formation had completely collapsed, leaving only a pile of grayish-white rubble, with not a trace of magical energy remaining. Chen Niwan stood alone before the ruins, motionless for a long time.

Qingming Continent, Canglan Mountain, Cuiwei Valley.

The long silence and emptiness finally faded away.

Lu Chi's consciousness began to clear, and he slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a few withered vines hanging from the dark stone ceiling. He struggled to sit up, supporting himself on the cold, hard stone bed, feeling soreness and swelling in his meridians, and his internal energy flow was particularly sluggish.

My five senses gradually returned. First, I caught a faint "plop" sound in my ears, the soft sound of water dripping from the rock wall into a puddle, followed by the faint, clear chirping of birds outside the cave.

The air was filled with the unique scent of damp earth in early spring, mingled with the delicate fragrance of unknown wildflowers. A cool mountain breeze blew through the vines at the cave entrance, brushing against my cheeks and bringing a touch of life.

He took a deep breath, circulated his magic power to regulate his breathing for a moment, and then focused his attention on examining the cave.

The cave was carved into the depths of a valley, barely a few feet in circumference. The stone tables and chairs inside were weathered and damaged, bearing the indelible marks of time.

"Have we arrived at Qingming Continent?"

Lu Chi's gaze swept across the surrounding stone walls, then suddenly stopped.

Following the natural flow of stalactites, intricate patterns of gathering and concealing spirits are outlined on the wall.

This array formation technique is ancient and restrained. Even after hundreds of years of erosion, the residual magical rhythm at the array's core nodes still originates from the same source as the array formation of Taiqing Palace.

Without a doubt, all these arrangements are the secret cave dwelling where Grandmaster Chen Niwan once stayed and cultivated during his travels in Qingming Continent.

Lu Chi looked down and saw that the guiding array beneath his feet had also completely collapsed, turning into a pile of broken stones and debris, with no trace of magical power remaining.

The destruction of this formation meant that he had completely cut off his retreat, truly bidding farewell to his homeland, crossing the boundless sea, and settling in this Azure Continent.

"After wandering around and traveling alone, I've now become a helpless rogue cultivator in this foreign land." He shook his head slightly, inwardly mocking himself.

Clearing his mind of distractions, Lu Chi frowned slightly and carefully extended his divine sense.

His divine sense covered an area of ​​ten miles, but it was all deep valleys and desolate trees, and there was no trace of anyone else.

He then carefully examined the cave, which was several meters in size. Apart from the broken array patterns, the cave was empty and there was nothing worth exploring.

Lu Chi brushed the dust off his robes, then put away the Great Teleportation Token and slowly walked out of the dark cave.

Stepping out of the cave, one is greeted by the vibrant early spring scenery of budding plants. A gentle mountain breeze dispels the chill of the abyss that clings to one's clothes.

Lu Chi's heart stirred slightly. In Huanyun Continent, thousands of miles away, it should be late autumn, when the grass and trees are withering. The two places are so far apart that even the seasons are different.

He looked up at the sky; the sky was a clear, blue expanse, without a single cloud. The light in this foreign land was no different from that in his homeland.

After pausing for a moment, Lu Chi regained his composure. He flicked his sleeve and released several streams of magic, drawing the surrounding vines and rocks together to completely conceal the entrance to the cave, leaving no trace behind.

Having done all this, Lu Chi formed a hand seal with his fingers together. With a low hum, the Xuan Yuan Sword quietly left its sheath and hovered in front of him.

He leaped onto the sword's spine, and with the power of his magic, he transformed into a dark sword light, silently disappearing into the mountains and leaving the secluded valley.

"Such a rich spiritual energy."

As he flew through the air on his sword, Lu Chi immediately sensed the unusual spiritual energy of the place.

The spiritual energy surrounding this wilderness is so rich that it surpasses even many spiritual veins in Huanyun Continent.

"Next, I need to find a safe place to settle down, refine the Dust-Reducing Pill, and break through to the Golden Core stage." He already had a plan in mind.

The cultivation world of Qingming Continent is bustling and prosperous, with numerous high-level cultivators. While a Foundation Establishment cultivator might be considered a powerful figure in Huanyun Continent, their status here is far lower. Without the support of a Golden Core cultivator, their future endeavors will undoubtedly face immense difficulties.

After fleeing dozens of miles, he extended his divine sense and quickly detected human activity along the mountain path below. A brief sensing revealed that a group of mortals was trekking through the area.

Lu Chi hesitated for a moment, then lowered his sword and quietly landed in the dense forest beside the road. He concealed the fluctuations of his magical power and looked ahead in the direction of the sound.

Through the gaps in the trees, the line below came into view.

This was a caravan of about thirty people. The supplies were not pulled by ordinary horses, but by several large, low-ranking beasts covered in blue scales.

The several cargo wagons were all made of rough ironwood and were quite heavy.

Most of the entourage wore short, coarse, gray-brown clothes, their faces were dark and thin, and their expressions showed signs of weariness from their journey.

The dozen or so guards patrolling the perimeter carried wide-shouldered long swords at their waists, their steps steady. Although these men possessed no magical power, their blood and energy were abundant, indicating they were skilled martial artists among mortals.

Surrounded by these guards, a large carriage with a blue cloth canopy was traveling smoothly in the center of the procession.

Lu Chi pondered to himself, "The fact that mortals can command low-level demonic beasts proves that the ancient texts about the mortals and immortals living together in Qingming Continent are indeed true."

"Having just arrived in this foreign land, we are unaware of its boundaries or the various powers that entrenched around us. Perhaps we can use the words of these ordinary people to inquire and make some plans."

Lu Chi slowly emerged from the woods and walked straight to the mountain path.

A figure suddenly appeared in the wilderness, and the caravan guards immediately became alert. More than ten burly men stopped in unison, gripped the long swords at their waists, and looked at the newcomer with wary expressions.

Lu Chi, dressed in a blue robe, had a calm expression. He did not deliberately release his magical power, but simply stood quietly by the roadside. His otherworldly demeanor was completely different from the dusty mortals around him.

The head of the guards was a burly man with a thick beard. He glanced at Lu Chi briefly and noticed his spotless robes and indifferent expression, and his heart suddenly tightened.

In Qingming Continent, where immortals and mortals mingled, he had traveled far and wide for many years and naturally possessed this kind of discernment.

The burly man immediately loosened his grip on the hilt of his sword, strode forward, and bowed deeply: "I am Zhao Hu, and I was unaware that the Immortal Master was in person. I have offended you greatly and hope that the Immortal Master will forgive me."

Upon hearing this, the surrounding guards all lowered their heads and lowered their gazes, not daring to look directly at him. The curtain of the blue cloth carriage in the center was also carefully lifted, revealing the face of an old man with a look of reverence in his eyes.

Lu Chi nodded slightly, his tone calm: "No need for formalities. I have long lived in seclusion in the mountains, and only recently emerged from seclusion. I am largely unaware of the affairs of the outside world. Tell me, what place is this? And where are you all going?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hu breathed a slight sigh of relief and respectfully replied, "Replying to the Immortal Master, this place is the western border of the Great Li Kingdom. We are a caravan from the Wanlong Trading Company in Cangyuan City, and we are transporting this batch of goods back to the city."

Lu Chi secretly memorized "Da Li Kingdom" and "Cangyuan City," then asked, "Are there any places for cultivators to stay or cultivation sects near Cangyuan City?"

Zhao Hu dared not be negligent and reported truthfully: "There is indeed a Cloud Mist Mountain outside Cangyuan City, and there is a cultivation sect in the mountain called Luoxia Sect. There are also streets and alleys in the city where immortal masters trade, which we mortals would never dare to approach on ordinary days."

The name of the Luoxia Sect is quite similar to that of the Qixia Sect.

Lu Chi smiled slightly, collected his thoughts, and began to consider his current situation.

Having just set foot in the Azure Sky, he knew nothing of the terrain or the people around him. Even though his master had left behind some ancient texts, they were from hundreds of years ago. He was completely unaware of the current situation surrounding Cangyuan City, or the depth of the Luoxia Sect's power.

If one rashly activates their magic power to fly on a sword, the light of their escape in the air will inevitably attract attention and easily expose their background as an outsider cultivator.

It would be better to blend in with the ordinary merchant caravans, conceal our tracks, and subtly inquire about the current situation along the way.

Lu said slowly, "I've just left the mountains and am planning a trip to Cangyuan City. Would it be alright if I could accompany you?"

Knowing that mortals revered cultivators, he added calmly, "If we encounter bandits or ferocious beasts along the way, I will take care of them myself."

A hint of joy flashed in Zhao Hu's eyes.

For merchants roaming the wilderness, risking their lives, having a celestial master accompany and protect them is an invaluable blessing.

However, he was only a guard leader and dared not act on his own authority. He respectfully said, "It is truly a blessing for our business that the Immortal Master is willing to travel with us. However, this matter still needs the manager's decision. Please wait a moment, Immortal Master."

Zhao Hu quickly retreated to the blue cloth carriage and reported in a low voice through the curtain.

The carriage was silent for a moment, then a few muffled coughs were heard.

A withered hand lifted the curtain, and the old man from before leaned out halfway.

He looked ill, but his demeanor was extremely respectful: "I am the manager of Wanlong Trading Company. It is truly an honor for my company that the Immortal Master would deign to travel with us. Our carriage is simple; if the Immortal Master does not mind, please get in and rest."

Lu Chi nodded slightly, did not refuse, and stepped onto the carriage.

The carriage was quite spacious, with thick animal hides lining the floor, and a low wooden table in the center. Beside the table, besides the old man, sat a girl in a cloth dress who looked to be about thirteen or fourteen years old.

Upon seeing Lu Chi enter, both men sat up straight, their expressions revealing undisguised reverence.

Lu Chi, with his keen senses, already knew there were other people in the carriage. He sat cross-legged in the empty space to the side, concealing his aura, and said in a calm tone, "Since we've met, you're all guests; there's no need to be so formal."

The old man nodded repeatedly in agreement, but his body remained tense, his hands clasped on his knees, not daring to relax even slightly.

The girl initially kept her head down, but after a while, seeing that the immortal master had a calm demeanor and did not have the eccentricity of those cultivators in the rumors, she became a little bolder.

She blinked, then mustered her courage to look at Lu Chi and whispered, "Are you really a Celestial Master? Are you like the storytellers in the city say, able to fly and disappear into the earth, incredibly powerful?"

The old man's expression changed drastically, and he immediately rebuked her: "Girl, don't be so insolent. With the immortal master in front of you, how dare you speak out of turn—cough cough, cough cough cough—" Before he could finish speaking, he clutched his chest and let out a violent cough.

Lu Chi smiled slightly, but had no interest in continuing the conversation. He casually closed his eyes and said no more. The girl, having been reprimanded and seeing the immortal master resting with his eyes closed, obediently shrank back into the corner, not daring to utter another sound.

The journey thereafter was peaceful. Several days later, the caravan arrived safely outside Cangyuan City.

At the city gate, Lu Chi stepped down from the carriage. He nodded slightly to Zhao Hu and the old man, then casually tossed two small, rough porcelain bottles into their laps.

"Having met, we must part ways here. The elixir in the bottle can strengthen the body and cure mortal ailments; consider it payment for your journey these next few days."

Lu Chi spoke calmly, and before the two could recover from their shock and joy and thank him, he turned around and stepped into the towering city gate.

Within Cangyuan City, wide streets crisscrossed, and the city was bustling with noise.

Lu Chi walked with his hands behind his back on the long bluestone street, his pace unhurried, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings, his expression revealing a hint of interest.

On both sides of the street, ordinary inns and semi-open-air stalls selling low-level talismans were set up side by side, with ordinary people and low-level cultivators huddled together without any regard for each other.

In mid-air, faint streaks of light could be seen flashing by from time to time.

Lu Chi looked up and saw a gray-robed cultivator in the Qi Refining stage skillfully weaving between the eaves and brackets on a dimly lit flying sword.

He would occasionally toss out tightly wrapped letter boxes, which would land precisely in the courtyards of the various businesses below. It turned out that he was a professional errand boy who delivered letters for ordinary merchants.

Further on, a magnificent restaurant was just opening.

On the rooftop, a cultivator was channeling his magic power, causing two brightly colored magical artifacts to hover in mid-air.

The magical artifact trailed a long, illusory trail of spiritual light at its end, which condensed in mid-air into several large, glowing characters—"Guests from all directions come, special offer on new wine"—attracting the mortals passing by below to stop and watch, marveling at its wonder.

As Lu Chi passed by the blacksmith shop on the street corner, he even saw a ragged cultivator carefully manipulating a wisp of elixir fire with a fire-avoidance incantation, assisting the bare-chested mortal blacksmith in quenching pig iron.

"This is where immortals and mortals mingle. Within Huanyun Continent, immortals and mortals are on different paths, with a very deep divide. However, judging from the people running around on the streets, they are all low-level cultivators at the early stage of Qi Refining, with meager magical power, who are just trying to make a living by mingling in the marketplace."

"The old man from the caravan just now noticed something unusual about my demeanor and felt a sense of awe. It is evident that in Qingming Continent, even though immortals and mortals live together, those with profound magical power remain aloof and rarely associate with ordinary people."

Lu Chi pondered to himself, slowly walking through several long streets, and finally stopped in front of an ancient pavilion.

He subtly extended his divine sense and immediately sensed a hidden spiritual light emanating from between the bricks and tiles of the pavilion, and a concealment array was clearly set up around it.

Lu Chi remained calm and stepped inside. As soon as he crossed the threshold, a cultivator in a blue robe came forward to greet him.

This person exuded the magical power fluctuations of the mid-stage Qi Refining realm. His gaze swept over Lu Chi and he felt that Lu Chi's aura was as deep as the ocean and unfathomable. His expression immediately became solemn.

The cultivator in the blue robe bowed respectfully and asked in a low voice, "Senior, is your presence an honor? Are you heading to the market?"

Lu Chi nodded slightly.

The cultivator dared not delay and quickly led the way, guiding Lu Chi through the back hall of the pavilion to a blue stone wall engraved with array patterns.

He swiftly formed hand seals, unleashing several beams of magical light. The stone wall immediately rippled like water, revealing a wide passage.

Lu Chi stepped in casually, and after passing through the passage, the view suddenly opened up before him.

Looking around, the market hidden in the city is extremely large, with towering buildings and crisscrossing stalls.

Those coming and going were all cultivators with magical powers, some stopping to select spiritual items, others negotiating in hushed tones. The air was filled with the faint glow of magical artifacts and the clamor of voices, making it a rather bustling place.

Lu Chi released his divine sense slightly, quietly covering the entire market. After a few breaths, he calmed his mind, a determined look flashing in his eyes. Although the market was a melting pot of all sorts of people, there was no aura of a Golden Core cultivator lurking within.

"The Dust-Clearing Pill is a third-tier pill. Now that I have reached the Pseudo-Core stage and have obtained a new exotic fire to assist me, I can use my magic power to open the furnace and refine it. Since this place is safe and there is no one to hinder me, I might as well go into seclusion here and try to break through to the Golden Core stage."

Lu Chi made a silent decision. He had longed for the Golden Core Path for a long time and was unwilling to wait in vain any longer.