Chapter 323: Chapter 322: Regret (Second Update, Seeking Subscription)
Beneath the black veil lies a woman’s body, but under the cloak, all traces of her presence and information are completely shielded. Her identity, whereabouts, and origins remain unknown,
upon entering here, Ye Linglong concealed her own aura.
Lu Xuanji couldn’t see her, yet she could see Lu Xuanji.
At their next meeting, Lu Xuanji had not changed much in appearance, still looking eighteen, wearing a white robe, elegant and serene, exuding a refreshing aura. He seemed uncompetitive, like a modest gentleman, only tinged with a faint sense of unease.
No one would assume he was weak.
To step into the realm of a Golden Core Cultivator, one must possess exceptional comprehension, talent, opportunity, effort, background, and luck.
A Golden Core Cultivator stands above a billion of the human race and atop a million cultivators. It cannot simply be achieved by saying "I will work harder than anyone" or "I possess an invincible Daoxin."
Reflecting on the past, upon faking his death to join the Divine Water Palace, he felt no regret but only a tinge of shame at the time of departure. Yet, three hundred years later, Lu Xuanji was already in the Golden Core Realm, his aura so powerful that even she couldn’t fathom it.
Lu Xuanji’s changes merely surprised her.
But Ye Wanyi’s transformation was astonishing.
After the astonishment came a slight pang of bitterness.
At that time, Ye Wanyi only had Water and Fire Dual Spirit Roots, with conflicting elements and inferior Spirit Root grade, her parents being born mortals without great pedigree, with only a two-layer chance to impact the Purple Mansion, maybe even less.
Now, upon seeing her, Ye Wanyi had proven her Dao in the Golden Core, transformed to an Ice Spirit Root, and condensed an Ice Soul Dao Body. Her foundational and inherent qualities were top-notch, with even a certain chance of stepping into the Nascent Soul Realm.
The once humble female cultivator now had the potential to transform into a phoenix.
Ye Wanyi’s fate had been virtually reversed.
Conversely, among the Ye family cultivators of the same generation, most had already passed away.
In the Ye family, among female cultivators, Ye Xiaoxiao perished during a deviation while at the third layer of the Purple Mansion; Ye Chenyu, who traveled abroad, remains missing, possibly having died during a calamity; while she managed to step into the Golden Core, it was merely a Middle Grade Core, needing to refine it to Upper Grade for a chance to enter the Nascent Soul Realm.
Three hundred years of change were met with altered circumstances.
Most cultivators of the same generation have perished, with only a few surviving.
At this moment, seeing two old acquaintances again, thoughts and emotions stirred within.
...
"Just three Spirit Medicines aren’t enough; more than a thousand Spirit Stones are needed!"
Li Fire Daoist spoke.
"Agreed!"
Lu Xuanji nodded, handing over three Spirit Medicines and then over a thousand Spirit Stones.
Li Fire Daoist smiled as he handed over a Storage Bag.
Inside the Storage Bag was a human-height stone, grey on the outside with silver spots, some golden light spots, green streaks, and cyan traces imprinting upon it. It was a top-grade Divine Material that could be refined into more Divine Materials and used for weapon forging.
After examining it carefully, Lu Xuanji placed it into the Storage Bag.
The trade completed, Li Fire Daoist departed.
Several other cultivators stepped forward, trading items.
Soon enough, most items were almost traded, and at this moment, Lu Xuanji slightly furrowed his brows, sensing a gaze fixed upon him.
He intended to look up but restrained himself.
After a moment, he nonchalantly raised his head to see a black cloak. Beneath the cloak, no features, background, or origin could be discerned. Seemed like a Demon Cultivator, perhaps a Demon Cultivator, or maybe an Overseas Cultivator.
During the barter conference, some Golden Core cultivators revealed their true appearances, while others concealed theirs, obscuring their background.
"Who is he, really?"
Lu Xuanji pondered as he stood, wandering aimlessly in the hall, inquiring at a small stall, "What’s the price for this White Shimmering Stone?"
"I need a Golden Core Pill for my son!"
True Master Long River spoke.
"Yet this White Shimmering Stone doesn’t equate to the price of a Golden Core Pill!"
"I can add two hundred Spirit Stones!"
"Five hundred Spirit Stones."
"Two hundred and fifty Spirit Stones!"
"Four hundred Spirit Stones!"
After bargaining, they settled at three hundred Spirit Stones, completing the trade.
Lu Xuanji continued to various other stalls, purchasing ores extensively, preparing for refining a future weapon.
Within range is all justice; within range is all truth.
In the Cultivation Immortality Realm, it is even more so.
Force can solve most problems, and if it cannot, more firepower should be added.
Next, he planned to refine a weapon [Decaying Celestial Cannon], one with an emphasis on explosive power, focused on attack.
As he walked, he approached the figure in black and asked, "Fellow Daoist, are you from overseas?"
"Yes!"
The black-clad Golden Core replied, voice somewhat hoarse, seemingly deliberately concealing something.
"The East Sea has many islands. It’s primarily chaotic, rife with killing and fighting, survival is challenging for the human race!" Lu Xuanji asked, "How much for this Deep Sea Silver piece?"
"The price is two hundred Spirit Stones!"
The black-clad man replied, with the stones here being Middle-Grade Spirit Stones.
"Agreed!"
Lu Xuanji nodded.
"I need one hundred fifty Spirit Stones, five Pure Yang Pills, and one Nirvana Pill!" the black-clad man said.
"Agreed!"
Lu Xuanji responded, bringing out one hundred fifty Spirit Stones, five Pure Yang Pills, and one Nirvana Pill, completing the trade that way.
After the trade, Lu Xuanji bade farewell and left.
The whole process was plain and uneventful, just a normal trade.
But back at his original position, Lu Xuanji’s emotions were fluctuating.
That black-clad figure was well-concealed; still, he noticed some peculiarities. The figure was female with Water Spirit Root and Gold Spirit Root, vigorous in Qi and Blood, filled with magical power, brimming with vitality, seemingly very young, not even five hundred years old.
This black-clad person recognized him.
"Who exactly is she?"
Curiosity piqued within Lu Xuanji, yet he forcibly suppressed the urge to explore further.
About three hours later, the trade ended.
People began to leave one by one, returning to their homes.
Back at the inn, Lu Xuanji greeted and entered the Fire Chamber, activating the array, instantly causing intense Earth Fire to surge forth, scorching the Heaven-Swallowing Cauldron.
After the Great Cauldron’s temperature rose, he started to toss in ores, melting them, commencing initial refining.
A month later, bright chunks of metal emerged.
After a brief rest, he resumed smelting.
About half a year later, as the Great Cauldron opened, a formidable cannon appeared, adorned with golden patterns, the barrel approximately one meter long and half a meter high, yet it wielded a faint formidable destructive aura.
[Decaying Celestial Cannon] crafting successfully completed.
...
PS: This is the second update.