Comparisons are odious. Tianbao Pavilion's way of doing business is much more respectable than Tianyuan Auction House's.

Tianbao Pavilion had purchased two Array Plates, and neither transaction had led to being followed, allowing Jia Ren to finally relax. Upon returning to his residence, the first thing he did was set up the Formations. Only a powerful Formation could safeguard his security and ensure his peace of mind.

The first he arranged was the Yun Luo Illusion Array, comprising a total of sixteen Array Plates. Jia Ren extravagantly inlaid each Array Plate with a Medium-grade Spirit Stone. While Spirit Stones were needed to activate any Formation, Medium-grade Spirit Stones could increase its power by three to five times and significantly extend its duration. For the sake of security, spending a few more Spirit Stones was an acceptable expense. Once the Yun Luo Illusion Array was activated, clouds of mist surged, completely enveloping the stone house. The illusions morphed continuously: one moment it was a solitary island, the next a sun-drenched, scorching beach with women in colorful bikinis strolling by. The Formation's variations and myriad illusions were all controlled by a single thought. Whatever he conceived or wished could be presented through the Yun Luo Illusion Array; it was truly a marvel. Jia Ren, not wanting the shifting illusions of the Yun Luo Illusion Array to attract trouble, returned it to its most basic state, leaving the stone house looking exactly as it had before.

The second Formation he set up, the Mysterious Sword Seven Kills Array, was more complex, consisting of thirty-six Array Plates. Triggered by Low-grade Spirit Stones, its power is enough to threaten a Cultivator at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement. If all were replaced with Medium-grade Spirit Stones, wouldn't it pose a considerable threat even to Foundation Establishment Cultivators? However, the killing Formation drained Spirit Stones too rapidly, so he wasn't in a hurry to activate it. The Yun Luo Illusion Array and the Solid as Golden Soup Formation were to be maintained in a constant state of readiness, while the Mysterious Sword Seven Kills Array would be activated as situations demanded. This approach would maximize the conservation of Spirit Stones. In the face of sudden danger, the Yun Luo Illusion Array and the Solid as Golden Soup Formation should hold long enough for Jia Ren to activate the Mysterious Sword Seven Kills Array. With three Formations in hand, his safety was assured.

Having resolved his security concerns, Jia Ren finally began his cultivation practice. Before him lay five types of Talismans, the Mysterious Water Pill Recipe, and the True Water Refinement Technique. For poisons, he had the newly acquired Hundred Poisons Scripture, which contained recipes worth studying. In terms of Body Refinement, there were techniques like the Mixed Refining Vajra Body and the Blood Ignition Technique to practice, filling his schedule.

To avoid dying at the hands of a powerful enemy one day, I just have to keep grinding as long as I'm alive.

The Evil Warding Talisman takes priority!

Possessing the Evil-Repelling Jade Spirit Pendant, a Superior Grade Evil Warding Artifact, didn't mean Jia Ren would neglect the Evil Warding Talisman. Normally, Formations, along with spells and Talismans in which he had a high Proficiency Level, would ensure his safety. But what about facing Bizarre Demons? Currently, he only had the Evil Warding Talisman and the Evil-Repelling Jade Spirit Pendant at his disposal—a direly limited arsenal. The Evil-Repelling Jade Spirit Pendant had a fixed power, but the Evil Warding Talisman was different: the higher its Proficiency Level, the stronger its effect.

All materials for the Evil-warding Spirit Ink were ready except for the Rhinoceros Horn. He decided to begin by crafting the ink. The Rhinoceros Horn, though firm, was too fragile against High-Grade Magical Artifacts; the Formless Magic Sword effortlessly slashed it into nail-sized pieces. The fragments were poured into a stone mortar, ground into powder, and then mixed with Cinnabar, Purple Spirit Flower, Shadow Vanishing Grass, and other Talisman-Making Materials to carefully concoct the Spirit Ink. The crafting process wasn't difficult, and his Proficiency Level for Evil-warding Spirit Ink climbed rapidly. Once all materials were consumed, over a thousand portions of Evil-warding Spirit Ink had been produced.

He spread out Blank Talisman Paper, lit a stick of Ning Shen Xiang, and Jia Ren skillfully wielded his White-Wolf Hair Brush to create Evil Warding Talismans. With the aid of the Ning Shen Xiang, one Talisman after another was successfully created, maintaining a success rate of around sixty percent, and his Proficiency Level increased rapidly. His spiritual fatigue lessened, allowing him to sustain longer Talisman Crafting sessions. After four hours, Jia Ren had created nearly a hundred neatly arranged Evil Warding Talismans and decided to stop. His fine control over his body had declined, which significantly impacted his Talisman success rate.

With Talisman Crafting done, he poured the prepared medicinal liquid into a wooden tub to start his Mixed Refining Vajra Body cultivation. He absorbed the medicinal potency into his muscles and bones, tempering his body. It felt as if thousands of ants were nibbling at his bones, an unbearable, itching ache. Jia Ren channeled the Mixed Refining Vajra Body technique, and a dark gold hue quietly appeared on his skin, spreading from his chest to other areas. Once both his skin and bones turned dark gold, his Mixed Refining Vajra Body would reach the stage of Great Accomplishment.

After soaking for two hours and completing the Body Refinement, Jia Ren silently reviewed the True Water Refinement Technique. He memorized it thoroughly before destroying the inscribed Jade Slip. I won't let Bizarre Cultivators or other opportunistic thieves benefit from this.

Next was the most crucial part of his cultivation: taking an Elixir and circulating his Turtle Spirit Technique through a Grand Circulation. He absorbed its power, slowly but steadily increasing his Cultivation Level.

As days slipped by, Jia Ren's life was simple and monotonous. Since he had decided to pursue the Great Dao and immortality, such a lifestyle would become the norm.

Time flew by, and before he knew it, five days had passed.

Jia Ren's warning hadn't been in vain. Yang Bingzhi decided to increase his strength further before heading back to the Great Wilderness to mine Spirit Stones. Displeased with the slow progress from medicinal baths, he had spent a considerable sum to have fellow disciples from the Pill Hall concoct a rare batch of Vajra Pills for him. The most significant effect of the Vajra Pill was in Body Refinement. With the aid of the Elixir's power, he had already developed the Dark Gold Skin; only the Dark Gold Bones remained to achieve the complete Dark Gold Body. Although still at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, his Body Refinement advantage gave him the confidence to defeat an opponent at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining.

Yang Bingzhi thought of the Large Spirit Stone Vein awaiting him in the Great Wilderness. The thought of how many Spirit Stones he might lose by delaying even a single day spurred him to spare no expense in stocking up on consumable Talismans and Elixirs to enhance his chances of survival.

"It's time to go mining!"

Shortly after Yang Bingzhi left the Sect, he keenly perceived someone tailing him. Using a Xuan Guang Water Mirror he had secretly placed, he confirmed the stalker's identity: it was a fellow sect disciple who had previously asked to borrow Spirit Stones for the Tianyuan Auction House's Foundation Establishment Pill auction. His purchase of the True Water Refinement Technique and Mid-Grade Talismans at the auction had exposed his wealth, drawing this unwanted attention.

Relationships between fellow sect members weren't always amicable. Once one's startling riches were exposed, it wasn't incomprehensible for fellow Cultivators to harbor secret designs. In the Cultivation World, it was survival of the fittest; revealing wealth beyond one's ability to defend invariably attracted trouble. No wonder Daoist Jia, despite his immense wealth, still opts to keep a low profile. While wealth can present opportunities, it's equally a source of danger.

Should I make a move? A Cultivator at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement isn't someone I can handle, nor can I shake him off. Unless I use the Middle-grade Divine Wind Talisman I bought at the auction. It pains me to waste such a precious life-saving Talisman here. The Middle-grade Divine Wind Talisman is hard to come by; once used, I might never get another chance to acquire one.

Yang Bingzhi secretly increased his speed, flying deeper into the Great Wilderness. As a Body Cultivator, his flying speed offered no advantage. The sensation of being tracked didn't lessen in the slightest; instead, it grew stronger.

I must find a way to shake him off! Yang Bingzhi certainly didn't want to lead this person anywhere near the Spirit Stone Vein. As his thoughts raced, he quickly came up with a solution.

He activated a Demon-Spotting Talisman. Instantly, all Magical Beasts within a twenty-mile radius became clearly visible to him. This area, not far into the Great Wilderness, was surprisingly teeming with over a hundred Magical Beasts. They varied in strength; the vast majority had white auras, far weaker than his own. There were nine with orange auras—not too many—and three with red auras.

I'll use the Magical Beasts with orange auras to share the risk! Yang Bingzhi didn't want to provoke Magical Beasts he couldn't handle. If his attempt to lure them failed, he himself could end up as beast fodder. He swiftly flew towards a distant Cold Pool, heading straight for the nearest habitat of a Magical Beast with an orange aura.

What treasure has Yang Bingzhi found? No need to rush, it'll soon be mine! Meng Yuan thought, following closely behind Yang Bingzhi, watching him rapidly approach a Cold Pool emanating a chilly air. Could it be a Cultivator's Cave hidden underwater?

Just as Meng Yuan tried to get closer, he saw Yang Bingzhi casually toss a few black pellets into the Cold Pool. Having done that, Yang Bingzhi turned and fled.

BOOM!

The explosion sounded like muffled thunder, sending a wave of water a hundred feet into the air. A giant frog, which had been sleeping at the bottom, suddenly leaped out from the Cold Pool. I was just sleeping at the bottom of the pool, and someone had to disturb my peaceful dreams! Truly despicable! it fumed.

Just as Meng Yuan was about to give chase, he found himself face-to-face with the one-zhang-tall giant frog. The unwitting Ice Giant Frog, believing Meng Yuan to be the culprit, decisively attacked him.

Damn it! That cunning Yang Bingzhi must have discovered me! Meng Yuan wasn't stupid; he instantly understood Yang Bingzhi's intention of diverting disaster. He still wanted to continue the chase. Unfortunately, the Ice Giant Frog was formidable. As a First Order, Superior Grade Magical Beast, its strength was comparable to the Eighth or Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement. Its long tongue lashed out like lightning, suddenly piercing through Meng Yuan's Spirit Shield and Magic Artifact. His movements were instantly hindered, and he could only watch helplessly as Yang Bingzhi made his escape.

Fuming with unvented anger, Meng Yuan resolved to deal with the Ice Giant Frog. A First Order, Superior Grade Magical Beast is very valuable. Killing it and selling it for a few hundred Spirit Stones would be no problem. This trip wouldn't be a total loss then.

The true instigator, Yang Bingzhi, sensed the distant battle erupting. A smile touched his lips as he headed straight for the Large Spirit Stone Vein. The closer he got, the more his heart pounded with anticipation.

As he approached the area, Yang Bingzhi stopped. The topography here had changed; it was completely different from his memory. Activating his Spirit Eye Technique, he indeed saw the Spiritual Power channels—they were far more colossal than he had imagined.

A Formation? This wasn't some simple construct like those made with Array Plates. Was this the work of a Loose Cultivator who discovered the Spirit Stone Vein? No, that couldn't be. Someone capable of setting up such a Formation was definitely not an ordinary Loose Cultivator—this was, at the very least, the work of a clan cultivator.

Yang Bingzhi realized the situation was dire and decisively kept his distance. A clan was not something an ordinary Cultivator could contend with. If it was a clan possessing Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the trouble would be immense. Without hesitation, Yang Bingzhi slipped away, deciding to report this information to the Five Elements Sect in exchange for benefits.

"Smart little fellow, quick to react!" a voice suddenly echoed.

"So you're the discoverer of the Spirit Stone Vein, right?"

"You know something you shouldn't—time to die!"

The voice was icy, and a terrifying pressure, like a tidal wave, swept over him.

A Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

A streak of black light flashed. Yang Bingzhi quickly deployed the Xuanjia Flying Shield, a Superior Defensive Artifact, in front of him and activated a precious Golden Bell Shield Talisman. The black light easily penetrated the Xuanjia Flying Shield. Its momentum barely diminished, it then pierced through the defensive Talisman and his Mid-Grade Under Armor, impaling his chest. The luster of his Dark Gold Body dimmed as it finally managed to block the fatal black light. A single spell had successively shattered a Superior Defensive Artifact, the Golden Bell Shield Talisman, and his Mid-Grade Under Armor, even managing to breach his Dark Gold Body.

Our combat strengths are on completely different levels! Run! This is not a trouble I can handle!

Ignoring the blood flowing ceaselessly from the wound in his chest, Yang Bingzhi unhesitatingly used a precious Mid-Grade Talisman. Divine wind enveloped him as he frantically fled into the distance.

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