Lu Changsheng was currently using the time that he was allotted to prepare to use his life savings on Talismans and life saving artifacts.
He truly did not take the demonic sect's threat lightly.
As for Wujin Ji, he was engrossing himself within the books that he had obtained from Elder Fu.
Separate pages of the book were ripped out and sprawled across the walls of his cave dwelling.
There were many different marks he had made, underlines, lines through text, and even comments were made.
Most of his time was spent studying the theoretical book that was given to him in an attempt to find a way to have his body cultivation breakthrough to the next level.
"It's almost coming together.. but I don't expect to solve this mystery in one day.." he murmured in the cave alone.
"If I had some ancient knowledge, I truly wonder what kind of ideas I could cook up mixed with my cultivation novel experience.." Wujin Ji smiled.
Instead of being like Lu Changsheng and being terrified of this mission, he was truly excited!
Not only was he going to be able to venture out from this cramped sect, but he could uncover mysteries that even the top scholars in this world might not be privy to!
The sect being cramped was mostly because he was a recruit up until now, but this one day of being an inner sect member hasn't shattered his previous world view just yet..
—--
"What do you mean this will cost 1 mid grade spirit stone!?" Lu Changsheng slammed his fist down on the merchant's table and shouted.
Nearby inner sect disciples looked at him strange, some even muttering words about how 'it seems just anyone can be promoted nowadays'.
"Now now.. sir.. if you truly wish to be safe as you said, then this is what you need! As for the price, I'm already giving you a discount seeing as you're a newly promoted inner disciple!" The merchant replied as he played theatrics, acting as if tears were going to form any time now.
"Cut the crap! I saw you sell this Lightning Escape talisman to another person for half the price! Now do you dare say you are giving me a deal?!" Lu Changsheng, who was normally quite calm, was furious.
Not only did he spend so much time to reach his position, not only was he being sent on a dangerous mission before he could even enjoy himself, but one of the elders suspected him of cheating?!
Really!
And now to top it all off, he's being fleeced just because this merchant thinks he's green!
The merchant's emerging tears immediately began to flow.
"Sir, have mercy! Please don't attack me! I'm sorry, this is my best price!"
A group of inner sect disciples wearing a darker shade of blue with cloaks on began to eye the area suspiciously.
Lu Changsheng immediately noticed this.
"The inner sect patrol!" He whispered as he read the plaques hanging down from their waists.
The merchant's eyes sparkled as he began to put even more effort into his play.
"I am but a simple merchant who has chosen to take residency, selling my family heirlooms for you young masters to use, and I am being extorted constantly, I plead you young hero, have mercy!"
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that the merchant was screaming at this point. He was even sobbing and blowing his nose into an undrawn talisman!
"Hey, what's going on over there!" The taller guard of the two asked as he began to walk closer.
Sweat dripped down Lu Changsheng's forehead.
If he was nabbed and put into questioning, it would only serve to further discredit himself in front of the elders!
"Fine, fine! Take it! I'm never coming back here again!" Lu Changsheng shouted as he slammed his spirit stone down on the table and snatched the talisman and walked away, stomping into the ground.
A sly smile erupted from the merchant and the guards smiled similarly.
After Lu Changsheng left, the guards quickly made their way to the merchant.
"How much did you make?" The taller guard asked with a grin.
"Double the normal amount! Here's your cut.." The merchant handed spirit stones to the two 'guards' and went back to his booth.
They were in on it the whole time!
A nearby older looking man witnessed the event and followed Lu Changsheng who stormed into a tavern, sat down, and sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair aggressively.
"May I sit?" The older man asked politely.
"Do what you want." Lu Changsheng said.
"What's wrong young one?" The man asked as he sat at the table, across from Lu.
"It's just.. I had put in a lot of time and effort into reaching this position. There has been lots of twists and turns, sure, but I handled them!" Lu Changsheng vented quietly.
"Trust me, I completely understand. I have no talent for cultivation and had to spend quite a few years to arrive here.. heh." The old man accepted Lu Changsheng's venting and the two confided in each other.
"And now that I'm finally here, I have to undertake this dangerous mission, be suspected of cheating, have all of my spirit stones fleeced, and a junior who has been in the sect for a month has easily surpassed me in every way!" Lu Changsheng huffed.
"Yeah, it's not easy. But that's the path of cultivation isn't it? There are times when you have to stand and be willing to remain unmoved when tested. We all undertake trials every day, some are just given differently." The older man sighed as he motioned for a worker to come closer.
Lu Changsheng waited to say anything until he was done ordering.
"Two spirit wine cups for me and my friend here." The old man smiled.
"Coming right up!" The beautiful waitress replied and walked away.
"Hey thanks man, you didn't have to do that. By the way, what's your name?" Lu Changsheng asked as he was a bit flustered from the man suddenly paying for him and not even knowing his name.
"I am called Bu Liu." Bu Liu said and nodded.
"I see, nice to meet you Bu Liu. I am Lu Changsheng."
"I know who you are. I was there during the arena. You are very talented, you know? It won't be long until you are a core disciple.." Bu Liu had a complicated expression.
Lu Changsheng felt pity for the man before him. But it seems he misunderstood something.
"Don't be mistaken Senior Bu Liu, I am not talented, I just had a talented teacher." Lu Changsheng said as he thought of Wujin Ji.
—-
Wujin Ji smiled as he looked at the writing in front of him.
He had put together a hypothesis regarding the current state of his body.
It wasn't wrong to say that he has a body similar to a foundation establishment realm, but it was also not the same.
While their entire being was made up of Qi due to the nature of the breakthrough, his was more similar to his cells being tempered by qi constantly.
While he looked like he was in that realm, his power fell far short in contrast.
Shortly after, the three met up and began to make their way to the Crimson Forest.
"Alright, have either of you learned any escape techniques to make this traveling any faster?" Fang Wei asked as he walked in front of the two.
"Senior, we've just recently been promoted, we don't have access to those techniques in the outer sect.." Lu Changsheng said feeling a bit embarrassed.
"When do we get our flying sword techniques?" Wujin Ji asked.
Escape techniques? Using a flying sword was everyone's dream!
Fang Wei and Lu Changsheng stopped and stared at Wujin Ji.
This fellow is a bit uneducated isn't he?
Lu Changsheng wasn't as surprised as Fang Wei, as he knew that Wujin Ji was a recent recruit, but he should have at least read the introductory manual!
"Are you joking junior brother? Sword flight is only capable in the nascent soul realm.." Fang Wei was confused more than anything.
"..." Wujin Ji wasn't embarrassed, in fact he was pissed off!
You mean to tell me this world doesn't have flying sword techniques for lower realms?
Not even foundation establishment?
What kind of logic was this!?
In some of the novels he read, they began to learn it in just the qi Refining stage!
"H-how do they use the flying sword in that stage if I may ask?" Wujin Ji stammered forward.
"They use their nascent soul to levitate the sword, obviously." Fang Wei answered and Lu Changsheng shook his head.
… what..
"Why don't they just use their qi?" Wujin Ji said outright.
"That's a good question but one that has already been answered. Nobody has the qi control and precision needed to be able to accomplish such a feat. All the tests from pioneers only resulted in injury or death." Lu Changsheng answered this time.
Wujin Ji was surprised. Was this truly a cultivation world?
To be so wasteful and use a nascent soul for a platform instead of qi manipulation? No!
Wujin Ji internally decided what he was going to do when he entered Qi Refining.
"Don't even attempt it." Lu Changsheng said as he knew exactly what Wujin Ji was thinking.
Wujin Ji huffed at Lu Changsheng's preemptive reply and ignored his advice.
"So.. Lu Changsheng, what did you do to prepare?" Wujin Ji asked, trying to break the silence.
"I procured several life saving Talismans, and I even have this." Lu Changsheng pointed to his belt.
The belt was a criss cross pattern of different types of blues, a slight aura emanated off of it.
"What is it?" Wujin Ji looked at the sparkly belt and felt an urge to have one himself.
"This is a spirit treasure. The specific function of this one is to unlatch and protect me from one attack that is of the foundation establishment realm." Lu Changsheng scratched his cheek.
"You really bought that.." Fang Wei sighed as the image of Lu Changsheng slightly altered in his mind.
"Better alive than dead!" Lu Changsheng yelled back with a flushed face.
"What's wrong, I don't get it." Wujin Ji was truly confused.
"If his belt were to suddenly jump off of him, what do you think would happen to his pants?" Fang Wei said and smiled.
"Oh…" Wujin Ji chuckled.
"This is precisely why I was able to get such a powerful artifact with my measly funds! Don't bully me over this.." Lu Changsheng sighed, dejectedly.
"Alright, enough joking around, lets fasten our pace. If we keep it up like this we won't be able to reach our destination until a few days have passed." Fang Wei said seriously, the two nodding.
They then each channeled their qi down into their legs and sped up.
Hours passed and they needed to have a break, walking once more.
"Senior, what is your cultivation level by the way? I feel it is important to know for planning." Wujin Ji looked at Fang Wei and asked.
Fang Wei was currently setting up a small tent and didn't respond, acting as if he was not asked.
"Wujin, it is very rude to ask about realms." Lu Changsheng interrupted as he began to meditate and regain his qi.
"Why is that rude? Can't it be sensed anyway if you are around the same realm?" Wujin Ji was puzzled.
"Cultivation levels can easily be disguised or faked with artifacts or techniques. The reason it is rude is that a lot of loose lipped disciples once spread other's cultivation, leading to those cultivators getting ambushed by stronger people." Lu Changsheng explained and then closed his eyes, seemingly finished talking.
Wujin Ji absorbed the words and stood in silence for a moment and organized his thoughts.
There was truly so much that he did not yet know about the world.
Inwardly, he vowed that he would take the time to learn once he was back in the sect.. as long as it did not interrupt his foundation training too much.
In a couple hours the three were rested and ready to continue their journey.
And slowly, they began to notice the surrounding area changing.
Instead of the pleasant greenery and wildlife surrounding them or fields of tall grass, the ground became dead and seemed to be made of a material similar to charcoal.
A strange energy emanate from the ground, a deep black miasma spilling out from each of their foot steps.
"We're getting closer. I remind you two to remain cautious and we are only here for reconnaissance, do not do anything unnecessary!" Fang Wei looked at Wujin Ji with a stern face.
Lu Changsheng just nodded even though he knew it was more or less directed at Wujin.
"Yeah yeah, I know. I'll be very careful." Wujin Ji nodded and the three took another step forward.