Chapter 71: Teleportation Array

Walking on his own would waste too much time, and Chen Mobai didn't know the way.

Chen Mobai wanted to experience the teleportation array, but its price of 10 spirit stones was simply too expensive. That left him with only the option of joining a caravan. It only cost 1 spirit stone, but it was slow, requiring five days on the road.

The Nanshxi Market had four major cultivation families: the Liu family, the Wu family, the Lou family, and finally, the Luo family, which specialized in raising spirit camels. Only Foundation Establishment cultivators could fly on artifacts for extended periods. However, these individuals were the pillars of their cultivation families, so it would be undignified to have them transport goods. This led to the cultivation of spirit camels. These spirit beasts could grow up to the second tier, possessed great endurance, could travel a hundred li a day, carry thousands of jin of goods at once, and even run non-stop for seven days and seven nights. Relying on this skill, the Luo family had monopolized most of the logistics business in Nanshxi Market.

Due to the unique environment of Yunmeng Marsh, spirit rice could not be grown there. Therefore, supplies had to be sourced from major markets in nearby Yun Kingdom periodically. Besides their own cultivated spirit rice, the Luo family also packaged and sold the Liu family's spirit fish, the Wu family's spirit wood, and the Lou family's spirit medicines. Naturally, they also offered paid transportation for people traveling to Yunmeng Marsh.

After paying the deposit, Chen Mobai received a ticket. Checking the time printed on it, he found it was for three days later. Could He Qun also be taking this caravan? To be safe, Chen Mobai asked the attendant at the counter. The attendant did remember He Qun, as booking six tickets at once made him a significant customer. After confirming that He Qun was indeed on the same departure, Chen Mobai frowned. After some consideration, he decided to cancel his ticket for safety, earning a roll of the eyes from the Luo family cultivator. However, this was 1 spirit stone, and since Chen Mobai no longer intended to travel with them, he certainly wanted a refund.

After getting his deposit back, he wasted no more time. With only a month left until the Dao Academy's entrance examination, he had to master the Frost Spell within that month. Gritting his teeth, he walked towards the teleportation array within the market. This was a small teleportation array, set up by the Five Elements Sect. However, during the internal strife fifty years ago, it was seized by the Divine Wood Sect. After several conflicts between the two factions, they grudgingly reached a consensus. Although the teleportation array nominally still belonged to the Five Elements Sect, the revenue from each transmission was split fifty-fifty with the Divine Wood Sect.

Chen Mobai painfully paid 10 spirit stones and then waited for nearly an hour until a group of ten people was assembled. Amidst a flicker of silver light, he noticed something strange. This felt remarkably similar to when the Turtle Treasure had transported him from Earth Star to the Celestial River Realm. Could it be? Is this Turtle Treasure a mobile teleportation array? Chen Mobai felt he had hit upon a crucial insight. Just then, a bright flash enveloped his vision, and his group found themselves in the Yunmeng Marsh Market.

"Everyone's here." A guard counted them, confirmed all ten were present, and nodded, placing a checkmark on a form.

Chen Mobai followed the majority out of the teleportation array's location and found himself on an island. All around were endless lakes, rich with water vapor. He took a breath and felt at least a mid-grade first-tier spiritual energy in the air, nodding involuntarily. He walked around the island and found the market wasn't large, similar in size to Nanshxi Market. However, he had already mentally prepared for this. Lu Shu had told him that due to the numerous islands and vast lakes in Yunmeng Marsh, many markets were scattered across various islands, collectively known as the Yunmeng Marsh Markets. The island they had teleported to was merely a foothold for the Yun Kingdom's cultivation world. The deeper one ventured, the more prosperous the markets became. Near the very center of Yunmeng Marsh was the main base of the Five Elements Sect's Water Vein, Fengyuwu. However, that was also where the fiercest battles occurred. If not for the suppression by the Seven Great Sects, those third-tier demonic beasts would have long since surged out and wreaked havoc across the Eastern Barrens.

Chen Mobai didn't linger there. Following Lu Shu's instructions, he found a boat marked with the Liu family's emblem at the dock and headed to the largest nearby island, Qingguang Island Market, which was managed by the Divine Wood Sect. On this island, rows of neatly planned wooden houses stood above spirit fields. This was one of the cultivation sites for cultivators in Yunmeng Marsh. The Divine Wood Sect provided protection, and the island was a blessed land with a high-grade second-tier spiritual vein, allowing for both rest and cultivation without hindrance.

Chen Mobai inquired about prices and found that places with abundant spiritual energy cost 10 spirit stones a month. Being short on funds, he could only rent the cave dwelling with the least spiritual energy. The steward didn't mind, cheerfully accepted 1 spirit stone, and led him to the lowest point on the back of the island. "Fellow Daoist, this place might accumulate water when it rains, but the spiritual energy is still decent," the steward said. Chen Mobai sensed the surrounding spiritual energy and found it was surprisingly high-grade first-tier, which somewhat eased his mind.

After seeing the steward off, he activated the cave dwelling's formation. Immediately, a green light illuminated a stone by the entrance, indicating that someone had taken residence and was under the protection of the Divine Wood Sect. Chen Mobai surveyed the interior. The wooden house was a single-story structure with a bed, a table, and three stools—quite spartan. He went out to observe his surroundings again and found that nearly half of the dwellings here were occupied. However, his specific location wasn't ideal, with the wooden houses to his left and right remaining empty. But that was fine; he preferred quiet.

After tidying up with a cleaning spell, Chen Mobai went out to explore the market on Qingguang Island. Due to the high foot traffic, there were surprisingly more goods available here than in Nanshxi Market. However, the prices were higher. Chen Mobai inquired about "Blackwater." Fortunately, the Divine Wood Sect's spiritual medicine shop had it for sale, but at 15 spirit stones, he couldn't afford it. It seemed that before honing his combat skills, he first needed to earn money. He could only return to his old profession: setting up a stall.

Setting up a stall here was different; there was no fee to pay to the Divine Wood Sect. He just needed to find an unoccupied spot. Chen Mobai laid out the blanket he had brought from Nanshxi Market in a corner and arranged a stack of talismans on it. Initially, he worried that, like Nanshxi Market, there wouldn't be anyone knowledgeable enough to appreciate his wares. However, he soon discovered that cultivators in Yunmeng Marsh were entirely different. As the people here frequently battled demonic beasts, talismans were in high demand, and almost every cultivator could discern their quality. Naturally, Chen Mobai's talismans were of excellent quality. Soon, half of the low-tier talismans he had acquired from the Wood Spirit Talisman Shop a few days prior were sold, and all of his mid-tier talismans were gone. Even his sole high-grade first-tier Revival Talisman was bought by a ninth-level Qi Condensation cultivator for 3 spirit stones.

Holding 13 spirit stones and a gold note worth twenty thousand taels, Chen Mobai immediately went to the Divine Wood Sect's spiritual medicine shop and bought a bottle of refined "Blackwater."