Chapter 52 - The Dead Sea

Those who were meant to return have returned, and the wine that was meant to be drunk has been drunk.

After Ji Jinglun left, Zhang Jingmo prepared to take Lu Guijiu to the spiritual vein to cleanse his essence and forge his bones.

The places where spiritual veins are located usually also have large amounts of spirit stones, which is why every spiritual vein is a must-have for sects.

Zhang Jingmo knew of two undiscovered spiritual veins, both located in dangerous areas, but since he had already ventured deep into them before, he naturally didn't need to worry too much.

Lu Guijiu didn't know what Zhang Jingmo was thinking, he just followed Zhang Jingmo's instructions to recuperate well. During this trip, he encountered many things, and naturally, his thoughts were much more complex than those of his naive self from over a decade ago.

Zhang Jingmo already had a plan, so after reporting to the sect master, he decided to take Lu Guijiu and leave Lingxu Sect.

When the sect master heard that Zhang Jingmo was going to travel, he was shocked and said, "Qingyuan, you were seriously injured at the Cold Mirror Wall, why aren't you recuperating properly and instead taking Lu Guijiu out?"

Zhang Jingmo laughed, "I'm not being reckless, sect master, there's no need to worry."

The sect master sighed, "I used to think you weren't the reckless type, but after you insisted on entering that Cold Mirror Wall, I don't trust you anymore."

Zhang Jingmo also knew that the Cold Mirror Wall incident had a profound impact on the sect master. After thinking for a while, he compromised, "Then how about I go out in a few days?"

The sect master asked, "A few days, how long is that?"

Zhang Jingmo said, "A year should be enough."

The sect master shook his head, "A year is too short."

Zhang Jingmo laughed, "Sect master, this one year is already the limit. My disciple Lu Guijiu's opportunity has arrived, if we delay any longer..."

When the sect master heard the two words "opportunity", he frowned, but didn't improperly ask what kind of opportunity it was. After all, on the path of cultivation, everyone has some secrets, otherwise how could they reach their current positions.

Seeing Zhang Jingmo's resolute expression, the sect master let out a long sigh, "If your senior brother comes out of seclusion and learns about these things, I'm afraid he'll come looking for a fight with me."

Hearing this, Zhang Jingmo's smile deepened. He said, "Thank you for your support, sect master."

The sect master said helplessly, "You must be careful with your own safety."

Zhang Jingmo nodded and left.

However, the sect master didn't know that when Zhang Jingmo told him he would rest for a year, it was just to appease him. If they really waited a year, after the revived man in Kuchan Valley turned into a handful of yellow dirt, there was no way Zhang Jingmo would leave Lingxu Sect.

Moreover, Zhang Jingmo still had the Luo'e Pill wreaking havoc in his dantian. Although the restrictive effect of the Luo'e Pill was shattered by the spiritual energy of the Cold Mirror Wall, allowing Zhang Jingmo to use spiritual energy again, the suffering brought by the Luo'e Pill would not diminish in the slightest.

A dantian injury is the most serious injury for a cultivator, but Zhang Jingmo acted unhurriedly, as if he didn't care at all.

After returning to his cave abode, Zhang Jingmo notified Lu Guijiu that they would set out in three days, telling him to pack his things well and not to make it known. After they left, he would send a message to the sect master.

In front of Zhang Jingmo, Lu Guijiu always had the image of an obedient disciple. He obediently agreed and turned to pack his things.

Three days later, using the excuse of going out to gather medicinal herbs, Zhang Jingmo took Lu Guijiu and ran away like a thief. He left without a trace, and it wasn't until a month later that the sect master discovered this matter, let alone Tianlu of Kuchan Valley.

When the sect master learned of this news, he bitterly laughed a few times and could only let Zhang Jingmo go. But when Tianlu found out, he flew into a great rage and killed several people who were monitoring Zhang Jingmo.

Seeing this, Tianwan advised Tianlu, saying that Zhang Jingmo had taken the Luo'e Pill and was just a turtle in a jar for Kuchan Valley, telling Tianlu not to be too angry.

Hearing this, Tianlu sneered and said, "If I said that Zhang Jingmo has already found a way out, would you believe it?"

Tianwan exclaimed in surprise, "How is that possible?"

Tianlu said coldly, "Just wait and see." Taking the Luo'e Pill seals the dantian, only allowing the use of some residual spiritual energy, making it even more difficult to fight others. This kind of thing, if it happened to any cultivator, would be a big deal, but Zhang Jingmo was not anxious at all, as if he didn't care one bit.

This abnormality suggested something strange was going on. Tianlu's intuition had already vaguely told him a certain answer.

Zhang Jingmo took Lu Guijiu and flew for several dozen days, heading straight for the location of the spiritual vein.

Along the way, Lu Guijiu never asked Zhang Jingmo where they were going. When they were about to reach their destination, Zhang Jingmo asked, "Guijiu, aren't you curious about where we're going?"

Lu Guijiu gently replied, "Wherever master takes me, I'll go. Master would never harm me."

Hearing this, Zhang Jingmo laughed, "After returning from this trip, I didn't give you a proper gift. How about we consider the place we're going a gift from me to you?"

Hearing this, Lu Guijiu also became curious.

After forty-some days, Zhang Jingmo no longer hurried on the journey, but stopped and disguised himself and Lu Guijiu. He turned into an ordinary-looking middle-aged man, while Lu Guijiu was disguised as a simple-minded young lad.

Zhang Jingmo said, "In a few days when we reach our destination, just follow behind me and adapt as needed."

Lu Guijiu nodded in agreement.

Zhang Jingmo was quite confident in Lu Guijiu in this regard. He flew for a few more days and brought Lu Guijiu to an inland dead sea.

In the morning, the dead sea was shrouded in mist. Zhang Jingmo and Lu Guijiu didn't fly very high. Not long after entering the dead sea, a disciple wearing his sect's Daoist robes came to inquire about the situation.

The disciple observed Zhang Jingmo and Lu Guijiu for a moment. Seeing that the two didn't seem to pose a threat, he said, "What are you here for?"

Zhang Jingmo said, "Little brother, we're here to gather shells."

The disciple asked again, "Gathering shells? Do you have a permit?"

Zhang Jingmo rubbed his hands, looking embarrassed, and mumbled a few words but still said he didn't have one.

Seeing this, the disciple showed a look of contempt. He said, "I've seen many people like you. The benefits of our White Moon Pavilion aren't so easily taken advantage of. Obediently hand over your spirit stones." Zhang Jingmo forced a few laughs, but still reluctantly took out a few low-grade spirit stones from his sleeve and handed them to the disciple.

The disciple took the spirit stones, counted the quantity, then casually tossed a token to Zhang Jingmo, saying lazily, "Don't go too far in, we won't bother burying you if you die."

Zhang Jingmo nodded, thanked him again, then led Lu Guijiu towards the depths of the Dead Sea.

The disciple pocketed the spirit stones, humming a tune as he went to find the next person seeking treasures in this Dead Sea.

A layer of fog hung over the Dead Sea. The deeper one ventured, the thicker the fog, and the more spirit shells could be collected. It was precisely because of this that treasure hunters would often risk the dangers to enter the dense fog areas.

However, there was a boundary that could not be crossed no matter what - that area of light red fog.

That light red fog would continuously consume a cultivator's spiritual power. Once the spiritual power was depleted, if the fog was inhaled, even a Golden Core stage cultivator would only last a few more breaths before being reduced to bare bones. Every year, countless greedy cultivators died in this fog.

This Dead Sea area was White Moon Pavilion's territory. They had sent people into the fog to search for the source, but after several fruitless searches, they simply gave up. Until later, a Golden Core stage cultivator stumbled into the fog by mistake and actually discovered that the source of this fog was actually a spiritual vein...

The rest goes without saying. This spiritual vein was rich in spiritual energy and had considerable history. Countless sects fought over it, but in the end White Moon Pavilion managed to secure it... Afterwards, relying on this spiritual vein, White Moon Pavilion's strength greatly increased, occupying their own place in the cultivation world.

From this, the importance of this spiritual vein is evident.

Lu Guijiu could be said to be riding on Zhang Jingmo's coattails. Based on his status in Lingxu Sect, even with outstanding talent, he would only be able to stay in their sect's spiritual vein for a year at most.

But now, he could soak in the spiritual vein for hundreds of years until he successfully built his foundation.

When they reached the red fog, Zhang Jingmo casually tossed a veil to Lu Guijiu. The veil wasn't particularly special, just a slightly pinkish color that looked a bit ridiculous when worn by a grown man.

Lu Guijiu looked at the veil for a while. After putting it on his face, he smelled a fragrant scent.

Seeing that Lu Guijiu had put on the veil, Zhang Jingmo observed the surroundings. After confirming no one was around, he said, "In a moment, hold onto my clothes and follow behind me. No matter what you see or hear, don't make a sound and don't stop."

Lu Guijiu nodded.