For the next three days, everyone did their best to prepare themselves.
Thanks to Ji Yuan, Mingxin Xuan offered them considerable discounts. Scarce spiritual materials in the town were sold at cost price.
Even the items they sold were bought at higher than usual prices, establishing goodwill for themselves and Ji Yuan.
At dawn, numerous disciples of the Jiuxuan Sect, both inner and outer, gathered outside the town.
Countless cultivators, drawn by the commotion, arrived from within and without the town. Most were puzzled, wondering why the Jiuxuan Sect had suddenly made such a grand display.
Only a select few, who had received news over ten days prior, now watched with mixed emotions, their gazes filled with envy and contemplation.
Before embarking on the path of cultivation, they too had once envisioned such a scene, setting out with fellow disciples, traveling the world, exploring ruins and cave dwellings, and living life to the fullest.
But as time passed, they had ultimately chosen a different path, spending their days with ledgers, their words and actions solely focused on maximizing profits.
Seeing this vibrant group of youngsters now inevitably brought back memories of their youthful aspirations, stirring ripples in their hearts.
As the sun hung high in the sky, a black speck appeared on the distant horizon, approaching at an unimaginable speed.
Before long, a colossal ship, over ten zhang high and more than twenty zhang long, appeared before everyone's eyes. It blotted out the sun, casting a vast shadow over the land.
This was a Sky-Crossing Warship crafted by Tianqiao Pavilion, capable of traversing the void and soaring through the heavens. Its hull was inscribed with thirty-six major formations, seventy-two medium formations, and one hundred and eight small formations.
This Sky-Crossing Warship possessed numerous offensive and defensive capabilities. At full power, even a Golden Core Grand Cultivator would have to avoid its might, unable to confront it directly or break through its defenses.
The cost of the spiritual materials alone for such a warship amounted to a staggering one hundred thousand spirit coins!
Not to mention the manpower and resources invested, its price at Tianqiao Pavilion reached a hefty three hundred and fifty thousand spirit coins!
A single voyage required a considerable sum, with spirit stones serving as the fuel to propel such a behemoth.
As the Sky-Crossing Warship hovered above the town, everyone understood the Jiuxuan Sect's unwavering determination to secure this ancient cultivator's dojo!
Otherwise, why would they deploy such a resource, a profound foundation not easily utilized by any sect?
Moments later, a dazzling, multicolored cloud ladder descended from the warship, materializing before the assembled Jiuxuan Sect disciples.
Over two hundred inner and outer disciples stepped onto the cloud ladder. Without any effort on their part, they were carried towards the warship in the sky by the swirling, iridescent mist beneath their feet.
"The Jiuxuan Sect has truly spared no expense this time!"
Within the town, Liu Ruyan stood by the window on the third floor of Mingxin Xuan, silently gazing at the massive warship in the sky.
As if struck by a thought, she turned to the three maidservants bowing respectfully before her and said, "Instruct the three shopkeepers to immediately begin stockpiling all sorts of healing supplies!"
"Also, convey my order to the head shopkeeper: mobilize all of Mingxin Xuan's influence and connections in Feiyun County to collect as many resources as possible. Artifacts, talismans, elixirs, formations, as well as all raw materials, spiritual food, and rice – I want it all!"
"Divide all the collected resources into three batches. One batch will be sent here, another to the county seat, and the third to Liusha City in the north!"
Liu Ruyan's eyes gleamed, an indescribable aura spontaneously emanating from her.
The three trusted maidservants bowed slightly and, holding her token, relayed these orders with utmost speed, arranging all of Mingxin Xuan's forces in Feiyun County.
After more than half a day, several other shops in the town issued similar commands.
Meanwhile, as all the disciples boarded the Sky-Crossing Warship, the colossal vessel, under the watchful eyes of countless individuals, slowly began to head towards the distant horizon.
However, this supposed slowness was merely an illusion to outsiders. In reality, its speed was already comparable to a third-realm cultivator flying at full speed with their artifact!
At this moment, Ji Yuan stood at the edge of the ship's deck, his gaze seemingly calm as he watched the rapidly receding landscape. However, inside, his heart was churning like a tempest.
Since leaving Qianyu City, he had repeatedly realized how short-sighted his previous understanding of the world had been, believing that a third-rate county town, devoid of its past glory and prosperity, could offer a true glimpse of the world.
Had he not ventured out, he would have never witnessed so many things. Even with extraordinary talent and immense fortune, reaching the pinnacle of the Great Dao would have been impossible.
Lacking such experiences and knowledge, within the confines of his limited sky, his achievements throughout his life would have been constrained.
"How is this Sky-Crossing Warship? Is your heart filled with boundless shock?"
Elder Hong Tian approached and stood beside him, his hands clasped behind his back.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan nodded gravely. His heart was indeed filled with immeasurable shock.
When boarding the ship earlier, Wu Chengqing had informed them of the Sky-Crossing Warship's origins and its terrifying capabilities.
It was precisely through this explanation that Ji Yuan gained a new perspective on the world of cultivators.
"This is merely one of the many profound foundations of our Jiuxuan Sect."
Elder Hong Tian's eyes held not only a trace of contemplation but also intense pride. "Although our sect's heritage is less than a thousand years old, its foundations are in no way inferior to those of sects with thousands of years of history!"
The Jiuxuan Sect had only passed through five generations, spanning just over nine hundred years. However, each generation had been presided over by nine Golden Core Grand Cultivators, and the sect boasted over twenty third-realm elders.
It was through the efforts of these successive generations that such a vast fortune had been accumulated, making its foundations comparable to those of powerful sects with thousands of years of history!
In fact, had the ancestor of the Xuantian lineage not had a disagreement with the other nine lineages hundreds of years ago and angrily departed with their inherited traditions, the Jiuxuan Sect might have already been elevated to the status of a major sect at that time.
If that had happened, it would have shattered a record of over ten thousand years, and it would not have been impossible to gather the destiny of half of the Shuiyun Continent.
However, for the Jiuxuan Sect today, the accumulated wealth over hundreds of years was not necessarily a disadvantage.
"Elder, why do you have the leisure to accompany a junior like myself to admire the scenery?"
After a long pause, Ji Yuan suddenly cast a meaningful glance.
He did not believe the elder was so idle that he had time to appreciate the scenery and cultivate his temperament.
As expected, Elder Hong Tian tapped his foot, and a thin barrier of spiritual energy enveloped them, preventing sound from escaping. To outsiders, their figures even became somewhat blurred, making their lip movements indiscernible.
Ji Yuan had not anticipated that his casual question would lead to such a solemn presentation. His heart couldn't help but tense slightly, and he immediately focused his full attention.
"The Sect Master asked me to pass on a message: for this expedition to the dojo, you must act within your means and not let your judgment be clouded by what you see."
Elder Hong Tian admonished him sternly. His expression clearly indicated that this journey would not be as simple as it seemed.
Ji Yuan, as the cornerstone of the Xuantian lineage and crucial to the Jiuxuan Sect's perfect ascension to a major sect, was the reason for this encounter, with even the Sect Master sending a message.
"Is there an uncontrollable danger? Is there a problem with this dojo?"
He pondered for a moment and then immediately asked.
Regarding the lives of himself and his friends, he dared not be negligent in the slightest.
Elder Hong Tian nodded slightly, organized his thoughts, and then gave Ji Yuan a general overview of the Jiuxuan Sect's findings.
"The dojo discovered this time is likely the legacy of a peerless senior from over ten thousand years ago."
That senior from ten thousand years ago was supposedly just one step away from ascension, but a mishap during his cultivation, struck by lightning, destroyed all his cultivation and his life.
Then, thousands of years ago, a peak Golden Core Grand Cultivator discovered this senior's legacy and established their own dojo here.
"The Grand Cultivator from thousands of years ago was named Daoist Chixin. He cultivated a 'Supreme Scripture of Pure and Turbid Co-flowing, Sustaining and Creating,' also known as the 'Lesser Xuanhuang Scripture.' Although a fragmented cultivation method, it could still lead directly to the peak of the Golden Core realm."
Elder Hong Tian's voice deepened as he informed Ji Yuan that this scripture had arrived from beyond the heavens, accompanied by a meteor. Once mastered, one would be a formidable opponent within the same realm.
If one possessed a treasure forged from the accompanying meteorite, they could even contend against opponents of a higher realm, with a peak Golden Core cultivation, directly challenging ordinary Great Cultivators would be no issue!
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan's scalp tingled. Instead of any yearning, he immediately felt an urge to jump off the Sky-Crossing Warship and return to Xuantian Peak to cultivate peacefully.
Such an astonishing cultivation method, combined with a treasure that one could assume was of exceptionally high quality, meant that even a direct strike from a Great Cultivator was not an impossibility!
If news of this leaked, even the combined might of the Jiuxuan Sect might struggle to protect these two world-shattering opportunities!
"The reason we know this information is because an elder from our sect who went to investigate encountered a third-realm cultivator from Qinghe County."
Elder Hong Tian sighed. "During their battle, they caused a mountain peak to collapse. On the mountain cliff was a record of past events left by a cultivator from thousands of years ago."
That record not only identified the owner of this dojo but also mentioned a disaster from thousands of years ago.
The "Lesser Xuanhuang Scripture" only contained the first half, leading up to the peak Golden Core realm. This meant that Daoist Chixin, despite possessing world-shattering power, was trapped in this realm, unable to advance further in his lifetime.
As his lifespan was nearing its end, Daoist Chixin secretly cultivated demonic secret arts and attempted to sacrifice over three hundred cultivators within the dojo to achieve a breakthrough and ascend to the highest heavens!
When the dojo's formations activated and sealed the land, the cultivators within finally realized Daoist Chixin's scheme. To survive, they could only resist with all their might, hoping to find a sliver of hope.
The content on the mountain cliff ended here. The Jiuxuan Sect speculated that Daoist Chixin had ultimately succeeded in his blood sacrifice. As for why there were no subsequent records, or why this dojo was buried beneath the earth,
That remained unknown...
"Elder, please tell me, the third-realm cultivator who battled the Jiuxuan Sect elder, he must have been unable to contend and was killed on the spot, right?"
After hearing this, Ji Yuan's lips twitched slightly, and a bad premonition immediately surfaced in his heart.
As expected, after his words fell, Elder Hong Tian shook his head with a look of melancholy. "Unfortunately, that person happened to be exceptionally skilled in evasion techniques and managed to escape during the moment of life and death."
Incidentally, judging by his attire and the cultivation methods he employed, he was likely from Qinghe County's dominant sect – the Wangyue Sect.
"..."
Ji Yuan resisted the urge to cover his forehead, his mind already racing with complaints. "Good heavens, to have run into a cultivator from the Wangyue Sect!"
As the overlord sect of Qinghe County, the Wangyue Sect possessed the county's only Golden Core Grand Cultivator.
However, due to the minimal destiny allocated to this county within Lingyang Prefecture, coupled with the limitations of the sect's cultivation methods, this Golden Core Grand Cultivator had virtually no hope of reaching the Great Cultivator realm in this lifetime.
Unless they were to switch allegiances, sacrificing some of their cultivation to practice other inherited cultivation methods.
Firstly, cultivation methods that could directly lead to the Great Cultivator realm were already rare in the world. Across the entire Great Yu Dynasty's nine prefectures and thirty-six counties, there were only seven or eight such methods.
Secondly, these cultivation methods were currently held by powerful sects, and they would hardly offer them to an outsider to practice!
Therefore, searching for cultivation methods not yet obtained became the only option for this Golden Core Grand Cultivator.
As for deducing their own sect's cultivation method to the Great Cultivator realm, it was more likely to rely on overwhelming fortune and stumbling upon a cultivation method while going out than to expect such an outcome.
"According to our sect's intelligence, the Wangyue Sect has already spread the news, intending to muddy the waters and then fish in troubled times."
Elder Hong Tian's expression was also one of helplessness.
However, upon reflection, this was also the Wangyue Sect's only chance. If they did not muddy the waters, with their own strength, they would have no way of snatching opportunities from the Jiuxuan Sect.