Chapter 488

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

Soon, the Golden Miner followed Lin An together to Dongqing City.

Success or failure depends on the final result.

The only thing Xu Zhangqing could do was wait patiently in the immortal sect.

During this period, he specifically helped Lao Zhao inquire about the various spirit tools, spirit talismans, and spirit pills needed for a water spirit root to break through to an earth-grade Golden Core.

He discovered the quantity was extremely large, and the types were also extremely numerous.

The benefit of a single spirit root was reflected to the fullest at this moment.

As everyone knows, the more spirit roots, the more turbid thunder.

While a single spirit root has only one.

Of course, if one wants to break through to an earth-grade Golden Core, one must absorb the core parts of demon beasts of five attributes; this goes against heaven and will increase the power of the turbid thunder.

Equivalent to a single spirit root enduring the thunder might of dual spirit roots; if one has not made foolproof preparations, there is a very high probability of failure, ultimately resulting in a mortal-grade Golden Core.

Look at the former little genius Qiu Feng.

Everyone thought he could break through to an earth-grade Golden Core.

But what was the result?

He failed!

He couldn't even bear this blow himself, leading to demonic qi entering his body and giving birth to a heart demon.

From this it can be seen that no matter how high the talent, how good the aptitude, or how heaven-defying the comprehension, there is still a possibility of failure; therefore one must treat it with caution.

The core parts of demon beasts of five attributes, Lao Zhao has already gathered.

Therefore, Xu Zhangqing paid more attention to spirit tools, spirit talismans, and spirit pills.

Currently speaking, the mainstream best spirit tools for a water spirit root to cross the tribulation are five types.

They are respectively: Xuan Shui Spirit Shield, Qingping Water Sleeve, Liujin Heart-Protecting Mirror, Lingxi Jade Pendant, Thunder Pattern Avoid-Electricity Bead.

These are all results verified through repeated attempts, so there is absolutely no problem.

It's just that because they belong to mainstream tribulation-crossing spirit tools, the prices are extremely expensive.

Normally speaking, a spirit tool's price is around several hundred spirit stones; the higher the quality, the more expensive. But these few, regardless of quality, are all above one thousand.

As for spirit talismans, the price of a single sheet may not be high, but the price of a set is simply exorbitant.

For example, the water spirit root tribulation-crossing talisman set promoted by the Rain Water Pavilion Master consists of Water Curtain Defense Talisman, Qingling Purification Talisman, Ding Shen Control Lightning Talisman, Protect Pulse Consolidate Origin Talisman, Gather Spirit Guide Qi Talisman.

Added together, totaling over fifty sheets.

Regardless of whether they can be used up, they just sell this many.

Six hundred middle-grade spirit stones a set, do you buy or not?

As for spirit pills, the types and quantities are even more numerous; any that relate to crossing tribulation or avoiding lightning, a single one's price starts at hundreds of middle-grade spirit stones.

Want to cross the tribulation?

Want a Golden Core?

If you want, then buy!

Xu Zhangqing couldn't help but sigh: "No wonder many cultivators go bankrupt after one tribulation crossing; even immortal sect disciples are like this, one can imagine how difficult it is for loose cultivators."

Of course, taking a step back or even several steps back, the selectable spirit tools, spirit talismans, and spirit pills would become more numerous, and at the same time prices would drop.

It's just that the effects definitely cannot compare to those mainstream ones.

For Lao Hu, Lao Zhao, or rather the people around him, Xu Zhangqing's thinking was very simple.

Within his ability he would help if he could, but whether they succeed ultimately depends on themselves.

When it comes down to it, except for Xu Zhangqing, everyone else's ending was already determined from the moment of birth.

Some don't live past Foundation Establishment stage.

Some at most reach Golden Core stage.

Still others have already disappeared without a trace halfway.

Hu Bugui, Zhao Ziyue, Li Sancai, Li Lingbi, Senior Sister Yu, Xiao Linglong and others are merely udumbara flowers on Xu Zhangqing's lonely road; sooner or later they will disappear from before his eyes.

The only thing he can do is let these people exist for a longer time, so they can accompany him a while more.

But in the end, one person is still one person.

……

……

A few days later, Xu Zhangqing called Lao Hu and Lao Zhao over.

He specially made a full table of dishes.

Five Elements Spirit Vegetable Soup

Yin Yang Soup

Spirit Mushroom Stewed Chicken

Spirit Spring Steamed Fish

Wine Lees Red Braised Pork

And so on and so on, adding up to over ten types.

As for rice, it was still top-grade spirit rice; this point has never changed.

There were two kinds of wine: one was Spirit Rice Wine, the other Yellow Rice Wine.

Hu Bugui rubbed his hands excitedly: "Lao Xu, I've really been craving a sip of this."

Zhao Ziyue nodded slightly, echoing: "The three of us really haven't gathered in a long time."

Xu Zhangqing gestured for the two to sit down, then poured them each a cup of Spirit Rice Wine, smiling: "I thought so too, and since I had some free time, I called you all over."

"Lately, my business in Ling Beast Valley has been going well—I bought more Spirit Land!"

"I'm still the same as always, just finding some place to fish."

"Speaking of which, you're both Core Disciples now—can't you go to Xianfeng?"

"Don't mention it, our master is simply a freak among freaks……"

"Hahaha!"

The three ate and drank at the same time.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes.

Xu Zhangqing gave Hu Bugui a look, then turned to Old Zhao and asked: "Judging by your recent appearance, did something happen?"

Hu Bugui followed right after: "Right, Old Zhao, you look downcast, not very happy."

Seeing the two care for him so much, Zhao Ziyue had no choice but to tell the truth: "My father passed away."

Xu Zhangqing and Hu Bugui exchanged a glance: "Speaking of which, we don't really know anything about your background or origins."

Zhao Ziyue downed the wine in his cup in one gulp, saying with a half-smile: "I was born in Fengrao Commandery of the Great Yue Dynasty, courtesy name Jing Xing."

My great-grandfather was a jinshi, rising to Compiler of Wen Hua Dian.

My grandfather set up an academy to teach disciples, and several Giant emerged from his door.

My father once served as a school official of Fengrao Commandery; though he never entered officialdom, he had considerable prestige in the local literary world."

Therefore, he was held in high regard by his family from a young age.

He began his studies at four and a half, recognizing characters like accumulating millet, reciting texts like eating meals.

At six he was already proficient in memorizing the Thousand Character Classic.

At seven he was sent to his grandfather's Jingxing Academy.

At fourteen he took the Child Examination.

At twenty he took the Provincial Examination.

And then……he failed.

Hu Bugui exclaimed: "So Old Zhao, you only started cultivating after twenty?"

Zhao Ziyue nodded slightly, then continued: "After failing, my father ordered me to keep taking the exams, and to work even harder, with even more dedication."

"But those days of rising at mao hour to recite texts, reading along at chen hour, practicing calligraphy at wei hour, listening to lectures at shen hour, and reviewing at you hour—I was truly sick of them."

Xu Zhangqing blinked: "You didn't run away, did you?"

Zhao Ziyue chuckled: "Correct, I had a big argument with my father and sneaked away in the middle of the night, drifted around for a while, and eventually joined the Dongting Immortal Sect, becoming a Water Spiritual Root Cultivator."

Hu Bugui asked curiously: "How many years has it been since you went back?"

Zhao Ziyue took a deep breath: "That year I had just turned twenty-one, and now I've just turned thirty-nine."

Hearing this, Xu Zhangqing and Hu Bugui both stared wide-eyed.

That is to say, Old Zhao ran away directly for eighteen years.

For a moment, all three fell silent, no one speaking.

This kind of mood and feeling, they could still empathize with.

After a long while, Zhao Ziyue asked with a voice tinged with sobbing: "Do you think I should go back and take a look?"

Hu Bugui opened his mouth: "This… that… oh, I don't know how to say it, Lao Xu, you say it."

Xu Zhangqing chuckled lightly: "If you want to go back, go back, or us brothers can go back with you."

Basically, both Dongting Immortal Sect and the Great Yue Dynasty are in Dongyu.

Although we don't know the exact location of Fengrao Commandery, it won't be too far.

For Cultivators, it won't take long to arrive.

Maybe a round trip is just one day.

Zhao Ziyue shook his head: "My own matter, I'll still solve it myself."

Before Golden Core, going back to take a look, and from then on……"

Though he didn't finish, everyone understood what he meant.

From then on, Immortal and Mortal Distinction.

This is a process many Xiuxian Zhe must experience.

Mortal lifespans are too short, at least a few decades, at most over a hundred years.

But if Zhao Ziyue breaks through to Earth Grade Golden Core, he can live at least five hundred years.

Kinship and bloodline, with the passage of time, will eventually be forgotten completely.

Next, the three drank and chatted for a while.

After they were a bit drunk, Xu Zhangqing arranged the two in guest rooms.

It was already very late, and the entire Hongfeng Valley had only faint insect sounds.

After confirming one was cultivating and the other resting, Xu Zhangqing flashed into his Personal Space.

Indeed, just as he entered, he saw that on top of that Earthen Platform, where the Small Teleportation Array was, there actually appeared a translucent earth-yellow Light Curtain.

Inside it was faintly visible, seemingly able to see a blurry human figure.

If nothing unexpected happened, the Gold Miners had already found Cangyan Peak, and even laid out all the Earth Yuan Crystals and Spirit Stones.

Next, just pass through to confirm, it's still quite convenient and simple.

Suddenly, Xiao Linglong poked her head out sneakily, her eyes full of curiosity as she asked, "Daddy, what is that thing?"

Xu Changqing said without turning his head, "An exit."

Xiao Linglong asked with a look of half-understanding, "Exit?"

Xu Changqing pointed at the Teleportation Array's location: "Through it, you can go out."

Xiao Linglong understood this time, and asked rather excitedly, "Then can I see Mother?"

Xu Changqing smiled awkwardly: "Well, the outside world is very big, you won't be able to see your mother for a while."

Xiao Linglong wasn't saddened, but instead eager to try: "Then when can I go out?"

Towards the outside world, she had always felt curiosity and yearning.

But Daddy never allowed it, saying the outside was too dangerous.

There were even monsters that specially eat children, very scary.

Xu Changqing thought carefully for a moment: "Wait until you grow up a bit more."

At this moment, he actually thought of Lao Zhao.

If he kept restricting her, it would instead make Linglong become rebellious.

To put it bluntly, suppressed for too long, a rebellious psychology would definitely arise.

Sooner or later, she would grow up, and also leave here, even leave him and go.

Better to start from Cangyan Peak, step by step exploring and understanding the outside.

Xiao Linglong grinned: "Okay!"

Xu Changqing waved his hand, urging: "It's this late, you go rest quickly, I need to check this exit, prevent any monsters from rushing in and eating you."

Hearing the word "monster", Xiao Linglong was like a frightened fawn, immediately covering her mouth with both hands, turning and running away in small quick steps.

Quickly entering Water Spirit Palace, even shutting the door, then burrowing into the thick quilt leaving only a pair of eyes exposed, staring tightly at the door like that, afraid a monster would rush in and eat her.

Xu Changqing saw it in his eyes, couldn't help but laugh and say: "When the day comes you really encounter a monster, the ones running away will be them!"