Chapter 46: Map

In the Immortal Sect, it’s generally not acceptable to openly probe someone’s cultivation level.

Chen Mobai had previously sensed his father’s spiritual power at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation. However, he felt that even Chen Xinglan did not exert as much pressure as this youth.

Could he be a Foundation Establishment cultivator?

Back home, Chen Mobai’s mind still replayed the image of the young man who had asked him for directions at the bus stop.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was amiss.

The young man's every word and action was extremely polite, even somewhat old-fashioned, a demeanor that perfectly matched the typical characteristics of hundred-year-old Foundation Establishment cultivators.

If he truly was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, then his act of asking for directions was exceptionally strange.

The Immortal Sect boasted three hundred million cultivators, yet those at the Foundation Establishment stage had truly embarked on the path of immortality. Consequently, it could be said that the majority of cultivators served the needs of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

While Danxia City was considered a frontier blessed land, it nonetheless housed a permanent population of over a million. Among these millions of Qi Cultivation cultivators, fewer than fifty were at the Foundation Establishment stage. These individuals held sway over Danxia City's economy, power, and resources; essentially, all cultivators in the city generated value for them.

For instance, the owner of the artifact factory where Chen Mobai’s father worked was both a Foundation Establishment cultivator and a second-tier artifact refiner.

Similarly, the owner of the talisman factory where Chen Mobai’s mother worked was a Foundation Establishment cultivator and a second-tier talisman crafter.

Although the Immortal Sect championed equality for all beings, in practice, after achieving Foundation Establishment, cultivators experienced a doubled lifespan and significantly faster learning due to their perfected divine sense. With diligent effort, they could generally accumulate vast wealth.

Qi Cultivation cultivators simply could not compete with those at Foundation Establishment. Even with complete fairness, they couldn't surpass them purely due to the advantage of time, not to mention that Foundation Establishment cultivators would typically go on to master one of the hundred cultivation arts.

Consider the same talisman: if one was crafted by a Qi Cultivation cultivator and another by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, most cultivators would choose to buy the one drawn by the Foundation Establishment cultivator, even if it cost a little more.

The same principle applied even more strongly to elixirs and artifacts.

In essence, the Foundation Establishment cultivators were the de facto masters of Danxia City. With the exception of Qingnu's master, who was rumored to be eccentric and reclusive, operating only a small pharmacy to sustain her craft, nearly all others were considered elite, with personal transport being the most basic amenity.

How then could a Foundation Establishment cultivator possibly need to take a bus and ask for directions?

Unless... he was an outsider.

As Chen Mobai's thoughts expanded, he wondered if the young man who had asked for directions was a friend of Qingnu's master. Given they were both Foundation Establishment cultivators, it was plausible he was merely visiting an old acquaintance.

However, he quickly snapped back to reality, lying down on his bed to practice the Serene Mind Incantation.

His divine sense, stimulated by the Moon-Treading Melody, became active once more, leading to an influx of thoughts that disturbed his inner calm.

Nevertheless, he did not cultivate the "Nurturing Thought and Forging Spirit Art."

He had already decided to fully utilize the cultivation room at school, and he planned to visit South Creek Market again that evening.

A silvery light flickered.

He found himself back in the Water Manor, and a glance around stirred a mix of emotions within him.

He was inside a side hall.

This meant the teleportation only returned him to his last departure point, rather than consistently relocating him to the Water Manor's main hall.

Still, it would be best to confirm this by teleporting from outside the Water Manor.

Chen Mobai changed into his ancient-style attire, then used a mirror to put on a wig, ensuring no modern traces remained. He then activated the Clear Water Array and stepped ashore.

Bi Yun Lake was not far from South Creek Market, yet even when employing his full agility technique, it still took him an hour to travel the distance.

If only he had a vehicle.

With that thought, Chen Mobai arrived at the market's entrance once more.

He spent that day familiarizing himself with the surroundings, refraining from any rash sales. He only departed when his allotted time was almost up.

This time, however, instead of returning to the Water Manor, he located an uninhabited mountain cave and activated the "return to city" function.

The following day, after school, when he attempted to teleport, a prompt appeared on his screen.

"Uncommon location detected (unnamed). Do you wish to proceed with teleportation?"

The Turtle Treasure software displayed a new interface, and Chen Mobai selected "yes."

A silvery light flashed, and Chen Mobai opened his eyes to find himself not in the Water Manor, but on the desolate mountain where he had returned the previous day.

Now it was confirmed.

The teleportation destination was indeed the last location from which he had departed.

However, Chen Mobai noticed another new feature: this time, when he initiated teleportation through the Turtle Treasure software, a map-like interface appeared. It was still quite basic, displaying only a tear-shaped lake icon, which presumably represented the Water Manor, and a newly emerged earthy-yellow triangle, indicating his current position.

Tapping on the icons on the map with his phone, he discovered they were namable.

He then labeled the blue teardrop as "Water Manor" and the earthy-yellow triangle as "Desolate Mountain."

He mused that if he ever traveled throughout the entire Tianhe Realm, this blank map would surely be filled.

Chen Mobai thought to himself.

After spending some time exploring the new features, he headed to South Creek Market once more. Given its proximity, the walk took only twenty minutes.

This time, beyond his usual spot, he also browsed the larger shops.

These establishments, unlike the stalls, did not accept gold; spirit stones were the minimum currency.

However, the quality and grade of the goods sold there vastly surpassed anything found at the street stalls.

Inside a pharmacy called the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, he spotted familiar bottles identical to the one he had received from the old man. Upon inquiring with a clerk, he learned they were "Gathering Yuan Pills," used by mid-Qi Cultivation cultivators to enhance their spiritual power, with each bottle containing twelve pills and priced at one spirit stone.

He also tried to locate the type of bottle carried by the Flying Needle Sect disciple, but failed, speculating it might be an internal product of their sect.

"Senior, would you like to purchase some Gathering Yuan Pills? Our Hundred Herbs Pavilion's elixirs are personally concocted by the grand alchemy masters of Reverting Heaven Valley, making them exceptionally renowned throughout the entire Eastern Wasteland."

The clerk, a cultivator at the third level of Qi Cultivation, noticing Chen Mobai's attire, believed a sale was imminent and enthusiastically launched into a detailed introduction.

"Gathering Yuan Pills are no longer effective for me."

"Then we also offer Spirit Gathering Pills, which are designed for late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators to advance their realm. They're quite affordable, just eight spirit stones per bottle."

"I just took an elixir to break through my cultivation realm and am currently in the process of stabilizing it..."

Chen Mobai could no longer maintain the charade and, finding an excuse, quickly slipped away.

He then spent some time browsing other artifact and formation flag shops.

In a bookstore, he picked up "An Introduction to the Major Sects of the Eastern Wasteland" to familiarize himself with local common knowledge. He stayed until the clerk, growing impatient, began to hint at his departure, at which point he finally left South Creek Market.

As he intended to base himself here for the foreseeable future, he did not return to the Water Manor this time either. Instead, he went back to the unnamed desolate mountain and clicked "return to city."

It was just getting dark when he returned.

After dinner, he strolled out to the Evergreen Pharmacy.

He entered the shop, waited briefly, and then Qingnu emerged from the back, her face showing confusion upon seeing him.

"Why are you dressed like that? I barely recognized you!"

"I have a fondness for ancient styles."

Chen Mobai had been too lazy to change out of his ancient-style attire upon returning, so he simply went out in it. After all, such fashion was not uncommon in the Immortal Sect.

"Oh, by the way, I have a few bottles of elixirs I picked up from a blind box market. Since you're the professional, could you take a look for me?"

Before leaving, Chen Mobai retrieved the four bottles of elixirs he had kept tucked away at the bottom of his cabinet. Although he already knew three of them were Gathering Yuan Pills, he still wanted a professional opinion to confirm them.

"These elixirs are poisonous!"

Qingnu's conclusion, however, caused Chen Mobai's expression to change dramatically.