Chapter 382: Do You Want to Cultivate?

White clouds drifted lazily across a clear, boundless sky.

At the border of Cangzhou, a large party of more than ten people—including Shen Daoxing, Chu Guifeng, and Ma Wan—made its way down a straight, official road.

Before long, a magnificent city appeared before them. The entrance beneath the city gate was bustling with a constant stream of people coming and going.

Upon reaching this point, however, Shen Daoxing suddenly stopped.

Chu Guifeng looked at Shen Daoxing with a hint of regret. "Young Master Shen, are you sure you won't come rest at my Mighty Escort Agency?"

Beside them, Qian Gui also stepped forward enthusiastically. "Hehehe, Young Master Shen, if you don't wish to go to Leader Chu's agency, you can visit our merchant guild. If you see anything you like, please, just take it."

Shen Daoxing silently shook his head. Although this was now Cangzhou, and the Celestial Profound Sacred Land's influence wasn't as vast as it was back in the East Continent, he knew their nature all too well. They would never let him go so easily.

Besides, this place was very close to the East Continent. He still couldn't let his guard down.

Therefore, Shen Daoxing decided not to linger and to set off for the Cyan Nether Sword Sect immediately.

The Cyan Nether Sword Sect was located in the northern region of Cangzhou. It was one of the few powers in the area capable of suppressing the Celestial Profound Sacred Land. It was said that the founder of the Sword Institute, Xiaoyao Xiao, hailed from the Cyan Nether Sword Sect. In a way, the Cyan Nether Sword Sect was the Sword Institute's parent sect.

According to Bai Yi, the Cyan Nether Sword Sect also held the subsequent Sword Techniques for the Forbidden Sword Technique that Shen Daoxing possessed.

The Cyan Nether Sword Sect was the best place for Shen Daoxing to escape the Celestial Profound Sacred Land's pursuit.

With this in mind, Shen Daoxing slowly retrieved a Jade Token from his Sumeru Ring. Engraved on it was a cyan longsword. This was the token Bai Yi had given him; with it, Shen Daoxing could enter the Cyan Nether Sword Sect.

Seeing that Shen Daoxing's mind was made up, Chu Guifeng and Qian Gui didn't press him further. They both raised their hands and cupped their fists to bid him farewell.

As he spoke, Chu Guifeng paused. He fumbled inside his robes for a moment before taking out a flute. "Young Master Shen," he said slowly, "this is a Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission Flute. If you need anything in the future, you can use this to contact me. The Mighty Escort Agency will surely do everything in its power to help you."

Shen Daoxing nodded and accepted the flute from Chu Guifeng.

Beside him, Qian Gui also spoke up. "Young Master Shen, if you need anything, or if you need to inquire about any news, you can also come find me, Qian Gui. We Merchants travel all over the East Continent and Cangzhou, so our information network is the most extensive."

Shen Daoxing paused for a moment before speaking. "In that case, Qian, I'll have to trouble you Merchants to help me keep a close watch on the Celestial Profound Sacred Land's movements. If they make any unusual moves, please inform me at once."

Qian Gui replied without hesitation, "No problem. Please rest assured, Young Master Shen. You can leave a small matter like this to us Merchants."

Ma Wan, who was also nearby, spoke up as well. "Young Master Shen, I'm always around the border regions of the East Continent and Cangzhou. You can come find me anytime you need something."

Shen Daoxing nodded.

Afterward, Luo An and Luo Xi also came forward to thank Shen Daoxing and bid him farewell.

Then, Shen Daoxing turned and led Xin and Elder Mu toward a ferry crossing by a river on the outskirts of Shanyun City.

At that moment, a Cloud Ship was hovering slowly in the air above the riverbank.

Shen Daoxing went to the ferry crossing, found an attendant for the Cloud Ship, bought tickets, and boarded.

Cangzhou was no longer within the Celestial Profound Sacred Land's sphere of influence, and the Cloud Ship didn't belong to the Business Alliance. Naturally, no one checked the identities of Shen Daoxing and his companions.

As for why Shen Daoxing didn't use the Cloud Ship that Elder Mu owned...

Firstly, Elder Mu's Cloud Ship was too conspicuous and could easily be recognized by disciples of the Celestial Profound Sacred Land. Secondly, Elder Mu didn't know the way.

But speaking of which, the tickets for this Cangzhou Cloud Ship were truly expensive. The Cyan Nether Sword Sect wasn't far from here, yet three tickets cost three thousand Gold Coins, which made Shen Daoxing's heart ache a little.

Fortunately, the emperor of the Martial Kingdom had given him a large amount of Gold Coins when he departed.

After the three of them boarded, Shen Daoxing spent another thousand Gold Coins on a private room. 'Sure enough, you need money for everything in this world,' he thought, which once again made his heart ache.

The three of them then entered the private room, where Shen Daoxing found a cattail hassock, sat down cross-legged, and began to cultivate.

Back in the Jiuli Mountain Range, Shen Daoxing had felt as if he had touched the threshold of the Earth Profound Realm several times. However, the successive accidents and constant battles had left him no time to quiet his mind and comprehend it.

This time, he finally had the chance.

Immediately, Shen Daoxing slowly closed his eyes and placed his hands on his knees.

CRACKLE!

Black arcs of electricity began to flash across his body, while a seven-colored light flowed continuously within him, the two chaotically intertwining.

As Shen Daoxing began to cultivate, the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat, which had been nestled at his chest, chirped a few times and scurried out. It immediately started playing with Xin, and now that Chi Yi was there too, things became even livelier.

Watching from the side, Elder Mu couldn't help but smile kindly. He took a book on Artifact Refining from his robes and began to read.

When most of the passengers had boarded, the Cloud Ship began to move slowly, rising upward.

Then, ancient and profound runes on the four walls of the Cloud Ship lit up, and it transformed into a streak of light, flying forward.

The beautiful mountains and rivers of Cangzhou continuously receded beneath the Cloud Ship.

In the sky above, the bright sun rose and set as time passed bit by bit.

Shen Daoxing meditated for a full day. He managed to grasp that hazy, indistinct feeling he'd gotten in the Jiuli Mountain Range a few times, but in the end, he still couldn't find a way to break through to the Earth Profound Realm.

This wasn't his fault, really. It hadn't even been a month since Shen Daoxing had broken through to the Ninth Layer of the Profound Realm.

Trying to ascend directly to the Earth Profound Realm in just one month was a bit too monstrous. Not even geniuses played like that.

So, he opened his eyes, temporarily giving up on his attempt to break through. He saw Xin playing with the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat and Chi Yi in the private room.

He suddenly recalled Xin's ordeal in the Celestial Demon Six Prisons. In the end, Xin was just an ordinary child. It had been too hard on him to follow along and face so much danger on this journey.

So, Shen Daoxing held out his hand and beckoned. "Xin, come here."

Xin ran over, his big eyes wide with curiosity as he looked at Shen Daoxing.

"Do you want to cultivate?"

Shen Daoxing asked suddenly.

"I do!" Xin paused and hesitated for a moment before adding, "But Grandpa said my aptitude is poor and that I'm not suited for cultivation."

Shen Daoxing carefully examined Xin's body. It was true that, compared to others, Xin's cultivation aptitude was a bit lacking.

However, Shen Daoxing happened to have a certain Heart Method on hand: the Guiyuan Heart Method. It was the very same one he had taught to He Yi back then.

Although it could only awaken eighteen of the body's acupoints—or even fewer—at the beginning, the Guiyuan Heart Method could continuously advance as the cultivator's strength increased. It could grow into a Celestial Tier Heart Method, or even stronger, eventually unlocking all seventy-two acupoints. It was most suitable for cultivation by someone with low aptitude but a firm will.