Should it be handed over to Ku Mu Peak, or Liu Xia Peak, or Lei Ze Peak?
Ji Yuan pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands in a respectful bow, indicating his willingness to entrust this furnace to Lei Ze Peak.
Compared to the important sites held by the other two peaks, he was more inclined towards the Lei Chi sacred ground, which could temper both physique and cultivation.
Moreover, he and Lei Ze Peak shared a considerable amount of accumulated goodwill.
Whether it was his friendship with Xu Qiqi or his shared experiences with Lin Yubai in the dojo, these factors made him lean more towards choosing Lei Ze Peak.
Xu Chengfeng nodded with satisfaction, flipped his wrist, and collected the damaged furnace. It was evident that this was a Dongtian treasure; ordinary items like mountain-river bags could not possibly contain such an object.
He then took out a jade pendant, infused it with three bolts of lightning, and casually tossed it to the young man before him.
"This item itself is a magic artifact, containing seven layers of acquired restrictions. However, it possesses no defensive or cultivation-enhancing abilities," Xu Chengfeng said. "Its sole purpose is to provide a vast and stable space, several times superior to the emerald ring you wear."
Furthermore, with the infused lightning, one could visit Lei Ze Peak and gain three opportunities to enter the Lei Chi sacred ground. These three opportunities could also be used by different individuals, with no other restrictions.
"Many thanks, Peak Master!"
Ji Yuan's eyes lit up as he immediately grasped the preciousness of this item. Apart from being unable to store living beings or unrefined special items like the damaged furnace, there was virtually nothing this jade pendant could not hold. Even its seven layers of restrictions, besides making the internal space larger and more stable, offered seemingly ordinary yet incredibly practical functions. For instance, if a spiritual herb were plucked, it could be preserved perfectly within the jade pendant without any loss of medicinal properties or spiritual essence, even without special treatment. The value of this single jade pendant was already comparable to, or even far surpassed, that of magic treasures with eleven or twelve layers of restrictions, and could not be easily acquired with mere wealth.
"Very well, you may rest now," Xu Chengfeng waved his hand, signaling Ji Yuan to leave.
However, as Ji Yuan approached the door, he suddenly spoke again, "If you have time, feel free to visit Lei Ze Peak more often."
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan was taken aback, then overjoyed. He quickly bowed and promised to visit Lei Ze Peak more frequently. He understood that this statement from the Peak Master was equivalent to a pass, ensuring him unhindered access to Lei Ze Peak in the future. More importantly, coming from a Peak Master, it was an immense gesture of goodwill, signaling a clear overture of friendship. Such an overture from a Peak Master was beyond the reach of any amount of wealth and could bring great benefits even outside of the Nine Xuan Sect.
"Congratulations, Daoist Ji," Yu Qingling stepped forward to congratulate him as he emerged from the pavilion, casting a deep glance at the now-closed door. He had clearly overheard the Lei Ze Peak Master's words when the door was opened.
"I would trouble you further, Daoist Yu, to see if you could arrange for a returning flying beast. I still have some matters to attend to in the Nine Xuan Sect market town," Ji Yuan said somewhat sheepishly as they descended the pavilion, chatting casually. He subtly handed Yu Qingling several porcelain bottles containing pills to enhance cultivation. Although these were not top-grade spiritual pills, they were worth several thousand taels of silver and offered significant benefits to cultivators in the Spirit Channeling realm, saving at least half a month of arduous cultivation with each pill.
To his surprise, Yu Qingling wore a wry smile and said with some helplessness, "There are no returning flying beasts to the sect, but I can arrange for a small flying beast to take you to Liusha City, hundreds of miles away."
Seeing Ji Yuan's puzzled expression, he immediately offered an explanation. Over the past few months, as news of the dojo spread, an increasing number of cultivators had gathered there, naturally bringing about certain influences. This previously obscure city of Liusha, due to its geographical location, had suddenly become a focal point outside the dojo. Cultivators traveling the Feiyun County route inevitably passed through this second-tier county town, and many who left the dojo also chose to come here. Whether it was to purchase supplies for exploration or to exchange their gains for what they needed, Liusha City was the preferred destination within a thousand-mile radius.
"Those merchants are truly sharp-witted. Even before the news of the dojo spread, they had already begun setting up their businesses in Liusha City," Yu Qingling said with a laugh, as if recalling something. "Speaking of which, among the first batch of merchants was your Mingxin Pavilion. They must be making a fortune by now."
Ji Yuan's status as a distinguished honorary member of Mingxin Pavilion was not a secret among the inner disciples of the Nine Xuan Sect. Anyone who made a little effort to inquire could obtain detailed information. Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan felt no surprise. Mingxin Pavilion had received news early, and with Liu Ruyan's capabilities, it was quite within expectation that they could make preparations for business in advance.
"Please accept this item, Daoist. It is a token of my gratitude for your assistance at the dojo," Ji Yuan shook his head and made up an excuse to return the pills when Yu Qingling attempted to give them back. He certainly would not take back something he had given, understanding the importance of such courtesies. Otherwise, why would someone continue to help based on mere acquaintance? Moreover, relationships were built on reciprocity; without it, they could never last.
Upon seeing Ji Yuan return, Zhou Lianying and the other two's eyes lit up, filled with questioning glances, but they did not immediately ask. With Yu Qingling's help, in less than half an hour, a small flying beast was indeed arranged. It carried them into the sky, heading towards Liusha City hundreds of miles away. Although it was a small flying beast, its speed surpassed that of a third-realm cultivator flying on a magical artifact, and its endurance was long, requiring no mana consumption. It was estimated that the journey would take only a few hours.
During this time, Ji Yuan took out the jade pendant containing the three bolts of lightning, slowly enveloped it with his own mana, and gradually refined its restrictions. Although this item had seven layers of acquired restrictions, its refinement was not difficult. In just about a quarter of an hour, he successfully refined the first layer of restriction. Thus, he was finally able to immerse his consciousness into it and carefully examine the vastness of the space within. However, as a wisp of his consciousness entered the jade pendant, Ji Yuan was stunned, marveling at the immense size of the space and, surprisingly, at the vast amount of spiritual treasures stored within!