After completing the tasks, Elian discovered that his skills in alchemy and artifact refining had greatly improved, even reaching the threshold of third-rank proficiency.
This progress was due to assisting in the production of numerous high-rank pills and artifacts, a natural result of repeated practice across various cultivation disciplines.
One day, as the two walked along the mountain peak, Jiang Linglong noticed his progress and smiled faintly, saying, "Your progress is quite remarkable. At this rate, after breaking through to the Purple Mansion stage, your skills in alchemy, formations, artifacts, and talismans will likely reach the third rank."
Elian responded calmly, "This progress is merely a result of observing your alchemy and refining methods repeatedly; practice makes perfect."
He then looked at Jiang Linglong and asked, "When do you plan to deal with the Sky Python Demon King?"
The fourth-rank water-elemental pearl in the Sky Python Lake's fourth-rank water vein was critical for Jiang Linglong to complete the final step of perfecting her spiritual root, making it an unavoidable task.
After some contemplation, Jiang Linglong replied, "The Sky Python Lake is its lair. Even a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator would struggle to kill it in a water environment.
I am unable to subdue it as of now. However, I've been cultivating the supreme divine ability, the 'Five Tribulations of the Void Divine Light,' for years. I'm just one step away from mastering it. Once perfected, the Sky Python Demon King will no longer be a threat. Let's wait a little longer."
Hearing this, Elian nodded and informed her that he planned to visit Yan Kingdom soon to see if he could acquire a Water Essence Crystal. With a third-rank immortal sword for tempering his spiritual energy, he could accumulate enough spiritual energy to attempt a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion stage without the decades-long process of refinement typically required at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment.
This meant that within a decade or so, he would likely reach the Purple Mansion stage and could assist Jiang Linglong in the battle against the Sky Python Demon King.
Before that, he wanted to forge the Green Lotus Platform, a water-element artifact for storing energy, to ensure a near-certain success in his advancement.
Jiang Linglong remained silent but stood quietly beside him as they gazed out at the vast wilderness. The journey to Yan Kingdom spanned a million miles, including 300,000 miles of demon beasts territory. As Jiang Linglong had to stay at Tianxu Mountain to guard against demons, she could only watch him leave alone.
After a long pause, she turned to him, took out a treasure box, and handed it over. When Elian opened it, he found a rare Gold Crystal inside.
"I acquired this from Dire Lion Ridge. It may be of use to you," she said.
Elian accepted without hesitation. He and Jiang Linglong had previously discussed refining his natal artifact. To refine the Yuan Magnet Bracelet into a natal artifact, it was best to combine it with both Metal Gold and Gold Crystals. This combination would maximize the power of the magnetic force, allowing it to counteract any gold-elemental artifacts or abilities.
…
After spending three days with Jiang Linglong at Tianxu Mountain, Elian eventually left. Upon returning to Yu County, he found that five of the family's eleven Foundation Establishment Pills had already been distributed. Three cultivators successfully advanced: Chen Nianfeng, Chen Nianzhen, and Chen Xianyu.
The remaining six pills were temporarily set aside, awaiting suitable candidates among the younger generation who could meet the requirements after reaching the ninth level of Qi Refinement and sufficiently refining their spiritual energy.
Shortly after his return, the Patriarch approached him with a grave expression.
"There is a matter that requires your input," he said.
"What could it be to make you so serious?" Elian frowned and asked.
The Patriarch handed him a letter.
"Take a look."
Reading through the letter, Elian quickly understood the situation. A Purple Mansion family sought to settle in Yu County. This family was the Pan Clan, the former rulers of Jiaoyang County.
During the battle in Jiaoyang County, the Pan Clan lost two of their three Purple Mansion cultivators, with over 70% of their members killed. Only Pan Boyuan, accompanied by a few family members and retainers, managed to retreat to Boyang County to recover.
After the beast tide subsided, Pan Boyuan realized his family had no place to call home. The once-great clan now consisted of only seven or eight Foundation Establishment cultivators, 300 Qi Refinement cultivators, and around 3,000 mortal dependents.
With no spiritual veins left and facing hostility from other Purple Mansion families in Boyang County, Pan Boyuan turned his attention to Yu County.
The recent annihilation of the Lin Clan left the high-grade spiritual vein of Green Ink Mountain unclaimed, and Yu County lacked a Purple Mansion family. Thus, Pan Boyuan expressed his intent to settle in Yu County and requested a meeting with Elian and the Patriarch to discuss the matter.
After reading, Elian folded the letter and said with a heavy expression, "Although the Pan Clan has suffered heavy losses, Pan Boyuan is a Thunder Spirit Root cultivator who has reached the fourth level of the Purple Mansion stage. If they settle in Yu County, it will undoubtedly dilute our family's interests."
The Patriarch nodded and replied after some thought, "However, having a Purple Mansion family in Yu County has its advantages and disadvantages.
Their presence will strengthen Yu County's overall power, attracting more rogue cultivators and families to establish themselves here. Additionally, the Pan Clan's connections in Yang Region could encourage other Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment families to relocate to Yu County. This influx of people would significantly boost the profits of Yuyang Market."
Hearing this, Elian fell into deep thought. While the Pan Clan's arrival would reduce Yu County's immediate resources, it would also bring a surge of cultivators and families, many of whom would spend their accumulated wealth to develop first- and second-rank spiritual veins.
Not only the displaced families from Jiaoyang County but also discontented families from Yunyang County and Boyang County in Yang Region were seeking to establish roots elsewhere.
These families, having grown disillusioned with Qingyang Sect, were gathering their wealth to rebuild in other parts of Chu Kingdom's eight regions.
For these families, Yu County, located near the border and supported by Tianxu Mountain, was an ideal choice.
It was foreseeable that the influx of families and cultivators would make Yu County increasingly prosperous in the near future.
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D