With Jia Ren’s detection abilities, he had identified at least three different people eyeing Wang Qian from various positions.
There were quite a few who harbored ill intentions.
Wang Qian’s smile froze on his face as he covertly looked back.
Turning his head, he could not remain calm, his complexion turning deathly pale.
The Inner City was far more formidable than the Outer City, and the Loose Cultivators were much stronger.
The Cultivators watching him were of no low strength; all were in the Late Stage Qi-Refining.
This was far beyond troubles that could be resolved by a mere Fifth Layer of Qi Refining.
Believing himself to have been very cautious, Wang Qian had only purchased the Resurrection Pill for treating his severed arm, two bottles of Elixirs suitable for advancing his Cultivation Level, and a Medium-grade Magic Tool in the Inner City, yet he was still targeted...
"Daoist Jia, please help me this once."
"I have a fortune to share with you."
Jia Ren felt several gazes on his back, like thorns piercing it. Perhaps it was due to his extensive interaction with Wang Qian that a few people had started noticing him.
He couldn’t stay any longer, or he would also get implicated.
"Find a safe place to hide for a few days and leave when people are unprepared."
Jia Ren discreetly reminded Wang Qian, not planning to linger. He quickly headed towards his Cave.
The Cultivators tailing him hesitated for a moment but didn’t follow, which allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief.
His smile hadn’t even had time to fade before it became rigid on his face.
Wang Qian ran towards the Cave, also intending to seek refuge there.
"Daoist Jia, thanks for the warning, you’ve helped me greatly."
"I... found a Cultivator’s Cave in the Great Wilderness. I need help; how about we share it?"
Had it been before, Wang Qian would have never mentioned it, preferring to enjoy the riches all by himself.
Not until he was targeted by several Late Stage Qi Cultivators did he realize how important a trustworthy assistant was.
Offering help in times of danger and even warning him about being followed was enough to prove Jia Ren’s good character.
No one wished to share benefits while having to guard against a comrade stabbing them in the back.
Besides Jia Ren, Wang Qian couldn’t find a more suitable candidate.
Considering Wang Qian’s change in attitude, it was likely true.
Located in the Great Wilderness?
The thought of endless Magical Beasts and lurking evil creatures...
He didn’t want to venture into such a treacherous place.
"Wang Daoyou, I appreciate your kind intentions. Please be careful."
Jia Ren declined without hesitation, solely focused on closed-door cultivation.
Spirit Stones, no matter how good, were external possessions.
If it meant risking his life for them, he wouldn’t consider it at all.
Jia Ren spent seven Spirit Stones to rent the No. 24 Ding Character Cave Residence for seven days.
After settling the Spirit Insects, he focused on his closed-door cultivation to achieve a breakthrough.
A Great Origin Pill was consumed, its medicinal strength flowing through his limbs and body.
The Turtle Spirit Technique circulated, absorbing the medicinal power and the Spiritual Power from the Cave, transforming it into rich Tortoise Spirit Energy.
The Spiritual Power circulated through the meridians in his body but couldn’t be retained, having already reached its limit.
Normally, he should have progressed in his cultivation and broken through to the Qi Refinement Seventh Level.
Has he hit a Realm bottleneck?
This was quite normal in the Cultivation World; one either forced a breakthrough or waited for the right opportunity.
Impoverished Loose Cultivators spent time and energy slowly grinding, hoping for a smooth breakthrough one day.
The vast majority remained trapped at a certain Realm for life, unable to break through, dying with regrets.
Cultivators with abundant Spirit Stones had a solution: using breakthrough-type Elixirs.
The most renowned was the Foundation Establishment Pill, which increased the probability of a Ninth Level of Qi Refinement Cultivator breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage.
Different qualities of Foundation Establishment Pills offered varying increases to the breakthrough probability.
In the Qi Refinement Realm, there were other Elixirs for breaking through Cultivation Level bottlenecks, all sharing one characteristic—they were expensive...
"First, I’ll inquire about the prices at the Pill Cauldron Pavilion."
Leaving his Cave, Jia Ren glanced at No. 25 Ding Character Cave Residence, the one Wang Qian had rented. Two days had passed, yet several Loose Cultivators still lingered nearby, waiting for an opportunity.
Like man-eating jackals, wolves, and leopards, once they’d locked onto prey, they wouldn’t easily let go.
Jia Ren’s departure did not attract their attention, and he made his way to the Pill Cauldron Pavilion smoothly.
"Daoist, are you looking for a breakthrough Elixir to reach the Qi Refinement Seventh Level?"
"The only suitable one is the Jade Yang Pill. Jade Yang Pills are perennially in short supply. As soon as any become available, they’re snatched up by well-informed Cultivators."
"In three months, there’s the annual auction. You shouldn’t have a problem buying a Jade Yang Pill then, but it will be expensive. Each one typically auctions for over seven hundred Spirit Stones."
The shop assistant had heard countless similar queries and was unfazed.
Too many Loose Cultivators were stuck at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement, unable to break through to the Qi Refinement Seventh Level.
So what if there were Jade Yang Pills?
How many Loose Cultivators could afford them?
This wasn’t a breakthrough method impoverished Loose Cultivators could use.
One could only rely on oneself and attempt to force a breakthrough.
"Do you have any Vein-protecting Pills?"
The Vein-protecting Pill was specifically used to safeguard the meridians. Most Cultivators attempting to break through bottlenecks would prepare one.
Without Vein-protecting Pills, forcing a breakthrough, even if successful, could leave unimaginable hidden dangers.
"Fifty Spirit Stones."
The price wasn’t cheap. Any Elixirs related to breaking bottlenecks were outrageously expensive.
"Two Vein-protecting Pills."
He didn’t want a forced breakthrough to impact his future Great Dao. He decisively bought an extra one, to be taken in case of emergencies.
After promptly paying One Hundred Spirit Stones, Jia Ren returned to his rented Cave with the Elixirs.
Should I try to force a breakthrough and see if I succeed?
The probability of success with a forced breakthrough wasn’t high, and failure meant being unable to attempt another breakthrough for a long time.
Jia Ren first took one Vein-protecting Pill, feeling its medicinal power dissolve, a cool energy traveling through his meridians.
In a state of Neishi, he could see a layer of white light enveloping his meridians, protecting them. The adverse effects on his meridians from previously taking the Great Origin Pill were also slowly soothed by this cool energy.
Should I play it extra safe?
After a moment of hesitation, Jia Ren took the second Vein-protecting Pill.
With two Vein-protecting Pills, surely nothing would go wrong.
"Help me break through!"
Jia Ren took out one Great Origin Pill and three Spirit Bud Elixirs, and swallowed them all without hesitation.
A torrent of Spiritual Power, far more violent than he had ever imagined, surged through his limbs and bones.
Protected by the two Vein-protecting Pills, he felt no discomfort whatsoever, remaining as steady as Mount Tai.
Jia Ren calmed his Qi and focused his mind, circulating the Turtle Spirit Technique.
The rich Tortoise Spirit Energy within him, dense as mist, carried the medicinal power, continuously transforming into potent Spiritual Power.
Like a trickling stream gradually swelling into a surging torrent, it assaulted the bottleneck of the Late Stage Qi-Refining.
The invisible bottleneck, under this onslaught, started to show thin cracks.
His mind roared, and he was momentarily dazed.
The bottleneck that had hindered him for so long shattered with a roar, like a dam bursting.
Jia Ren felt his consciousness clarify, as if something within him had vigorously grown.
His spiritual sense strengthened, his perception range expanded, his internal Spiritual Power doubled compared to the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement, and the number of Spells he could cast daily increased.
From this day forward, he could ride his Sword to fly, traversing the Azure Nether.
With a thought, Jia Ren’s Proficiency Panel emerged.
[Realm: Qi Refinement Seventh Level (1/700)]
[Cultivation Technique: Turtle Spirit Technique Seventh Layer (1/700)]
[Wind Control Skill: Transcendence into Sainthood (513/6400)]
[Fireball Technique: Grandmaster (866/1600)]
[Spirit Eye Technique: Great Grandmaster (539/3200)]
[Spirit Shield: Great Grandmaster (317/3200)]
[Sun Locking Technique: Proficient (196/400)]
[Return to Origin Sword Qi: Skilled (148/200)]
[Gather Water Spell: Skilled (21/200)]
[Tempting Bait (Fish): Grandmaster (Limit) +]
[Insect Control Technique (Spirit): Grandmaster (Limit II) +]
[Insect Commanding Technique (Contract Spirit Seal): Master (105/800)]
[Metal Finger Technique: Great Grandmaster (Limit II) +]
[Turtle Breath Technique: Great Grandmaster (Limit II) +]
[Turtle Prime Spirit Armor: Great Grandmaster (1223/3200)]
[Seeking Demon Talisman Technique: Master (21/400)]
[Sound Transmission Technique: Skilled (68/200)]
[Skill Breaking Point: 3.525]