Chapter 253

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

The other side of the Changling Mountain Range belongs to the Eastern Region, and it is also the final destination of Shen Yao's group this time.

Originally they had spent three years traveling all the way here, intending to rest for a period of time, then take a Transmission Array to reach the Eastern Region to attend the Disciple Recruitment Conference held once every five years by the immortal cultivation sects.

Unexpectedly, due to a twist of fate (calculating against the unprepared), they simply decided to traverse the Changling Mountain Range horizontally — not only could this save a portion of Spirit Stones, but relying on the natural defenses of the Changling Mountain Range, they could also obtain a portion of spiritual object resources.

You must know that the Changling Mountain Range is extremely deep both vertically and horizontally; the various demon beasts and spiritual plants living inside are innumerable.

Almost every day, people from all directions enter the Changling Mountain Range to train.

Shen Yao inquired around, and it is unknown how she and Ren Chengzhou discussed it, but anyway, by the time Ren Yangyao and the other two returned, they had already finalized the plan to traverse the Changling Mountain Range horizontally.

"Calculating it this way, we indeed earned a lot," Ren Yangyao stroked his chin. Going in and out once, plus the specialty products of the Changling Mountain Range, they could even save up the travel expenses to enter the Eastern Region in advance.

It's not that entering the Eastern Region means everyone lives happily ever after; wanting to reach the site of the Disciple Recruitment Conference isn't just a matter of talking about it — one must also demonstrate absolute strength.

You should know that for many years on the Canglan Continent, the cultivation worlds of the east, west, south, and north each have their pros and cons; among them, the Eastern Region has been rising steadily, and the hardships involved are unimaginable.

And because the cultivation sects of the Eastern Region are in high demand, the corresponding recruitment standards are appropriately raised.

As fellow commoners of the cultivation world, after stepping onto the immortal path, they all certainly want a good future; this gleaming piece of fat meat that is the Eastern Region — who sees it and doesn't want to open their mouth and take a bite?

Things don't need to be said too plainly; just based on these matters, clever people often understand at a touch.

"Prepare, prepare. In half a month, we set off to traverse the Changling Mountain Range."

Shen Yao clapped her palms, and by the way, during this half month she would buy enough necessary items.

Not only Shen Yao, but Ren Chengzhou and his sons also experienced the joy of shopping.

Like some spiritual plants that don't exist in the Mortal World — in the Cultivation World they can be grabbed by the handful, yet every single type has miraculous uses and effects.

This is not unfamiliar to Shen Yao as a cultivator; when she was previously in the Cultivation World she had seen them, and the many Storage Bags in her space contain various spiritual plants and spiritual objects.

But the impact on Ren Chengzhou and the others was huge, especially walking and looking along the way — Ren Chengzhou thought he already had broad experience, but when it came down to it, good grief, turns out he was still a country bumpkin.

Fine then.

Being a country bumpkin isn't a big deal anyway; since he had Spirit Stones and Spirit Pearls on hand, he bought whatever interested him and could be traded, and unexpectedly this let Ren Chengzhou's cultivation advance considerably.

Shen Yao: ……Huh?

What principle is this again? How is Ren Chengzhou's cultivation method different from others? Shen Yao, facing the Ren Chengzhou whose cultivation had advanced, didn't know what to say, but judging from the result, there's temporarily no harm, so let it go then.

She didn't stop Ren Chengzhou's eagerness to learn and ask; even because of Ren Chengzhou's special performance, Shen Yao made a few trips to shops selling Jade Slips and classics to buy some common Jade Slips back.

They were all common basic cultivation methods in the Cultivation World, some even secret manuals only mortals would use — in the eyes of cultivators, not worth mentioning.

"If these Jade Slips could be delivered to Jiang Guo, both the royal family and the common people would benefit endlessly."

Ren Chengzhou flipped through the contents, his eyes shining with wonder.

"Pity the Transmission Array has already been destroyed; wanting to find a way back to Jiang Guo is very difficult."

Ren Chengzhou has the World Consciousness as a cheat; there are no fish that slip through the net.

And when they left, Ren Chengzhou had once passively accepted the World Consciousness's blessing; he could understand that he had already lost contact with Jiang Guo and even the entire world.

In his lifetime, wanting to return to his homeland of Jiang Guo, Ren Chengzhou exhaled lightly, no longer indulging in excessive reverie.

Ren Chengzhou doesn't want to, but that doesn't mean Shen Yao won't bring it up; in private, Shen Yao even bet with the System that Ren Chengzhou's thinking was a bit too pessimistic — based on the Mortal World's situation, whether that Transmission Array would be blown up or not is still an unknown.

'Why?' The System didn't understand. The last Transmission Array was entrusted by them to several forces in the Mortal World; after using it, they immediately blew it up with no other plans — could it be these people still dare to pretend compliance while secretly disobeying?

(In fact, they did pretend compliance while secretly disobeying; the Transmission Array was strictly guarded and not blown up.)

'Because human hearts are greedy,' Shen Yao raised her head and narrowed her eyes, 'some people won't consider too much — whether it's immediate benefits or future gains, they want it all.'

These people will dare to do things that in their eyes seem extremely foolish.

'Do you believe me? The Transmission Array to Jiang Guo has not been completely destroyed.'

System: ……

The System didn't believe it, but in the face of ironclad facts, it had no choice but to believe.

The words were halting and vague; to Shen Yao's ears, it was the System incriminating itself without being pressed.

Her speculation came true — those audacious people really left a Transmission Array loophole.

'One day, Jiang Guo will ultimately cease to exist, but by that time, we will presumably have already gone to the next Task World.'

So, what does it have to do with her? People who court death should bear the possible consequences.

Perhaps from now on no one will be able to cross through that Transmission Array; perhaps before cultivators can grope their way in, the other side will have already killed their way into the Cultivation World relying on world feedback; perhaps this Transmission Array will ultimately bring wolves into the house, destroying the still-weak Mortal World; in short, everything is possible.

Shrugging her shoulders lightly, Shen Yao completely didn't take this matter to heart, and facing Ren Chengzhou she also didn't mention such mood-dampening words.

Soon, the half-month period arrived.

Xianyue Tower dispatched an escort team spanning across the Changling Mountain Range.

Ren Yangyao and Ren Yangzuo served as Bodyguards within it, mainly responsible for the team's safety issues — such as encountering demon beast riots, human attacks, etc., requiring them to act.

Of course, this "act" is quite broad; Xianyue Tower did not strictly require them to guarantee the team's safety — after all, they are Golden Core Cultivators; even if common in the Cultivation World, they are not Chinese cabbage that can be pulled up by the handful; the respect they deserve still exists.

For example, when truly outmatched, they have the right to turn and flee — you get what you pay for; you can't make someone work a gemstone's worry for a cabbage's price.

Ren Yangjue, because he had taken a relatively complex and time-consuming mission earlier, did not take this Xianyue Tower mission, but he also didn't pay out of pocket — the reason being his cultivation is Golden Core.

With such a customer delivering themselves to the door, Xianyue Tower would be crazy to charge money.

Helping look after the team on the road, occasionally solving troubles when encountered — isn't that more fragrant than those few hundred Spirit Stones? Xianyue Tower's people can all calculate precisely; their aim is to maximize benefits.

They have taken root here at Xianyue Tower for many years; their purpose is not just to make money.

However, these deep schemes and far-reaching plans temporarily have nothing to do with Shen Yao and the others.

Not paying money is great too; they save a bit, and later when they reach the Eastern Region, they won't have to go take daily missions and busy themselves with missions anymore.

Heaven knows that doing one thing for too long breeds a rebellious streak; Ren Yangyao and the others were young, and who liked to wake up every day to bitter, thankless labor?

Even if the work wasn't unpaid and they earned money, so what? Were they short of money?

Properly letting people relax their moods and not keeping that string in their minds wound too tight was also a way to regulate emotions.

Who said cultivation required eating wind and sleeping under the stars, neglecting everything just to cultivate various things?

Combining labor was a sound course of action no matter which world one was in.

Ren Yangjue was carefree this time, staying by Shen Yao and Ren Chengzhou's side every day, occasionally flying into the periphery of the Changling Mountain Range, which was temporarily not very dangerous, to carry out various gathering and digging work.

Ren Yangjue had Golden Core Stage cultivation, so no one dared to blindly come looking for trouble, and his presence also reduced some unnecessary interactions between Shen Yao and Ren Chengzhou, giving them more time to observe the situation throughout the Changling Mountain Range.

The Changling Mountain Range was famous for its many mountain forests, and within the range were several different demon beast nests.

To avoid unnecessary conflict, Xianyue Tower had its own safe route that they had walked for a very long time.

Although it took more time, it could ensure the team's casualties were reduced as much as possible, which also allowed Xianyue Tower, which passed through safely every time, to make a huge profit.

"Stop, the range of Colored Moon Mushrooms is just a few li ahead; we will rest here temporarily tonight, and those who wish to pick Colored Moon Mushrooms may leave on their own."

Xianyue Tower's steward jumped out to explain clearly, after all, some in the team wanted to go to the Eastern Region, while others wanted to make a fortune relying on the Changling Mountain Range.

The big spenders were all paying customers, so Xianyue Tower naturally would not treat them differently.

Setting the departure time for tomorrow morning equally for all, Xianyue Tower's steward began arranging the site.

Necessary defensive arrays could not be skipped, and some relatively important killing arrays also had to be arranged.

The Changling Mountain Range was not a place where one could casually deal with and leave unscathed; Xianyue Tower had always been both fearful and apprehensive of this place, but because of making money, Xianyue Tower had to take root here for a long time—truly a vicious cycle.

Shen Yao and Ren Chengzhou also arranged two simple protective arrays, but after finishing the arrays, they took the idle Ren Yangjue to gather Colored Moon Mushrooms not far away.

As for Ren Yangyao and Ren Yangzuo, they took money to do things and could not leave the temporary camp.

"The effect of Colored Moon Mushrooms is simple: they can dye items, and they are the most circulated dye on the Canglan Continent, with high utilitarian value as well."

Colored Moon Mushrooms were a specialty product of the Changling Mountain Range, with a fixed annual yield.

A single Colored Moon Mushroom, no bigger than a palm, could sell for dozens of spirit stones, because its color was unique and popular throughout the Canglan Continent.

Shen Yao's space also had this type of mushroom variant, only it wasn't called Colored Moon Mushroom, but Rainbow Cloud Mushroom.

Having Ren Yangjue confirm the safety of the surroundings, Shen Yao and Ren Chengzhou each took a storage bag and slowly picked the Colored Moon Mushrooms growing on the trees.

Not only the three of them, but others also arrived in dribs and drabs and then dispersed.

Until the light around them dimmed, Shen Yao pinched her fingers and cast an illumination technique, unexpectedly discovering a mushroom covered all over in a silver-white light halo beside the Colored Moon Mushroom.

Yo, it's a Moon Spirit Mushroom.

Carefully putting the Moon Spirit Mushroom away in a jade box, Shen Yao turned and tossed it to Ren Yangjue.

"It's beneficial for your cultivation; just wash it and consume it while bathing in moonlight."

Because Moon Spirit Mushrooms survive on moonlight, they contain moonlight essence within their bodies.

Such moonlight essence was very weak, and moonlight essence was not the precious moon radiance, so although valuable in the Cultivation World, it was not something that couldn't be bought with money.

Shen Yao had stayed in the city for some days and bought Moon Spirit Mushrooms, no more than a few.

Everyone took a few to try the effect, and the result was that they were very helpful to the three young ones; even Moon Spirit Mushrooms combined with the pills Shen Yao refined could be used to alleviate the aftereffects of a Fire Spirit Root erupting.

The jade box calmly landed in Ren Yangjue's hands, and he put it away into his storage bag, "Mother, I'll go look around."

Since there were Moon Spirit Mushrooms, he couldn't idle around; finding a few more could save many spirit stones.

Already impacted by the Canglan Continent's currency system, Ren Yangjue had broken free from his previous unworldly stage and formally entered the realm of ordinary commoners.

For things like saving money, Shen Yao didn't need to say much; he would consciously join in.

Ren Chengzhou watched his youngest son leave like a gust of wind, then turned and smiled.

"Thanks to Madam's patient teaching, I reckon that once they successfully join a cultivation sect, they will integrate even faster."

Who doesn't like a grateful disciple? Enjoying the entire sect's provision as a matter of course is something that easily makes one lose one's original heart.

Shen Yao had experienced so many worlds; demanding that she perfectly clear every world was somewhat difficult, but letting her guess the World Consciousness's thoughts, she could figure it out roughly.

The World Consciousness also had selfish motives; if she could help the World Consciousness, then Shen Yao's gains would be boundless.

The simplest was having children; children born in this world were natives of this world, they would create value for this world, and the World Consciousness would reward Shen Yao by evaluating these created values and giving back to her.

Shen Yao's cooperation with the system, the system's cooperation with the World Consciousness—the corresponding root cause appeared here.

It was just that later Shen Yao understood the principle that quality was the primary element; she no longer desperately gave birth to children, but climbed up by relying on her children's achievements, finally achieving the current harmonious situation between her, the system, and the World Consciousness.

"Hopefully their cultivation path is smooth; we can't do much," the World Consciousness was exclusionary, which was instinct, and not easily changed.

Shen Yao had worked hard to take a roundabout way for so long, also for the rewards after she left; not forgetting her dantian's condition, Shen Yao had at most a hundred years in this world.

……

The Changling Mountain Range was very long, the dense forest vast, and who knew how many demon beasts and spiritual plants there were.

The patch of Colored Moon Mushroom territory they had passed before was merely an appetizer; behind it were Jade White Spirit Pines, Yellow Stone Spirit Ginseng, and so on.

As long as there was time, Xianyue Tower would give them enough space to move around, but because casualties were not guaranteed, those who actually went to do this kind of work that wanted money but not life were not many.

Shen Yao and Ren Chengzhou were merely an inconspicuous wave in the crowd; occasionally if they had the mind, they would scoop up a bit, and if they had no ideas, they would stay in the camp to rest.

Walking and stopping all the way, by the time they came out of the Changling Mountain Range, the time had already reached August, with less than a month until the Cultivation Sect Disciple Assembly of the Eastern Region.