Facing Ji Xingyao’s inquiry, Lu Yan spread his hands with a face full of regret.
"It’s not that I intend to hide anything, it’s just that the place is so strange, even I can’t clearly describe it."
Ji Xingyao nodded and did not continue to ask, instead agreeing:
"The world is full of mysteries, and with your great merit, it’s only natural to encounter opportunities that are hard for ordinary people to obtain."
Seeing Ji Xingyao being so reasonable, Lu Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
His biggest worry was that the value of the Sunstone was too great, causing Ji Xingyao to covet it and forcibly press him to trace its origins.
The Sunstone came from the apocalypse version, and it was difficult for Lu Yan to explain the situation; it might even backfire if he tried to be clever.
Fortunately, Ji Xingyao was not a forceful person, and in their previous interactions, Lu Yan had gained much goodwill, preventing any coercive questioning.
Lu Yan curiously asked:
"How does the Sunstone affect Senior Sister Ji?"
Ji Xingyao raised her right hand, and magical power gathered in front of Lu Yan, forming into a sphere.
Four-fifths of it was covered in an unpleasant dark gray color, while only one-fifth was in a semi-solid pure color.
"The first use purified one-fifth of the magical power, enough to sustain me for several years.
However, if the magical power’s erosion can’t be completely eradicated, the erosion will return with the flowing magical power, even more severely than before.
So, I would like to ask Junior Brother Lu to help me find more Sunstones."
As she spoke, Ji Xingyao demurely bowed solemnly to Lu Yan.
Lu Yan didn’t hastily make a promise but continued to ask, "Given this situation, does Senior Sister Ji still need twelve Sunstones?"
Ji Xingyao shook her head, a heavy expression on her face:
"Three Sunstones purified one-fifth of the magical power, this is the result of the first purification. I cannot guarantee the same results in the future, so please help gather as many Sunstones as possible, Junior Brother Lu.
If you succeed in this matter, any request you have, I will do my utmost to fulfill it!"
On the surface, Lu Yan showed a troubled expression, but inwardly, he was pleased.
The Sunstone is extremely precious in the Xianxia version, but it’s not a rare item in the apocalypse version.
Back then, a scavenger at the late stage of Qi Cultivation was able to produce three Sunstones.
Lu Yan compensated with over a month’s worth of living supplies, astonishing the scavenger, proving those food and drinks were far more valuable than Sunstones.
Returning to the apocalypse version to acquire dozens of Sunstones would be all too easy for Lu Yan.
Compared to those Sunstones, the favor from Ji Xingyao was far more valuable to Lu Yan.
Lu Yan straightforwardly spoke up.
"To be honest, I do have something I need help with from Senior Sister Ji."
"Feel free to speak."
"I wish for Senior Sister Ji to help me find a method to craft a Merit Treasure!"
Lu Yan hadn’t forgotten that the Cyan Simurgh Sect, being one of the top ten legitimate sects, leads in the Southern Border Territory and once took part in the siege of the Moral Sect’s war.
Within its sect, it’s highly likely there are inheritances left by the Moral Sect.
Lu Yan dared not dream of the core inheritance or Merit Divine Techniques of the Moral Sect, but seeking a method to craft a Merit Treasure through Ji Xingyao, a true disciple, was a viable hope.
Upon hearing this, Ji Xingyao’s divine sense swept over Lu Yan, and she nodded.
"Junior Brother Lu possesses Merit Divine Techniques, so seeking a method to craft a Merit Treasure makes sense."
Then Ji Xingyao turned serious.
"However, I must remind Junior Brother Lu, the Merit Treasure, since it has the term ’treasure,’ is only relevant above the Golden Core stage.
The consumption of various Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures is secondary; what’s most crucial is an amount of merit so vast it’s almost limitless.
After the Moral Sect fell, some attempted to craft a Merit Treasure to suppress the fate of a sect, but all ended in failure.
A treasure, after all, is an external object, and I advise you not to become obsessed and waste your cultivation opportunities on it."
Lu Yan could hear the caution in Ji Xingyao’s advice. After all, a mere mid-stage Qi Cultivator seeking a Merit Treasure crafting method seemed somewhat fanciful.
Of course, Lu Yan wouldn’t reveal his trump card to Ji Xingyao and instead devised an excuse:
"Rest assured, Senior Sister, I merely want to use the method as a reference."
With Lu Yan’s assurance, Ji Xingyao stopped her dissuasion and agreed by nodding.
"As for the method to craft a Merit Treasure, there should be records in the sect.
I will return to the sect to look for it; in the meantime, stay within the Cyan Valley Marketplace and do not wander unnecessarily."
After leaving these instructions, Ji Xingyao turned into a cyan sword light and pierced through the restrictions, disappearing into the marketplace.
As he watched the light vanish into the sky, Lu Yan couldn’t help but feel a bit envious.
The Flying Technique and a low-grade Flying Ship could fly, but their speed paled compared to this Sword Evading Technique.
If he weren’t holding the Soul Banner and deviating more and more from his path, Lu Yan too would want to learn the Flying Sword Technique, to soar through the sky and fill his Xianxia dream.
With Ji Xingyao’s departure, the higher-ups of the Cyan Valley Marketplace gradually returned, and it regained its peace.
Though Xie Yun oppressed the loose cultivators under the guise of scrutinizing the demonic path, damaging the marketplace’s reputation, Ji Xingyao’s sky-piercing sword intent at the last moment scared Xie Yun and others away, redeeming some prestige for the marketplace.
Some loose cultivators, drawn by Ji Xingyao’s reputation, voluntarily joined the Cyan Valley Marketplace, letting the marketplace barely maintain its former prosperity.
Waiting for news from Ji Xingyao, Lu Yan also began to cultivate in seclusion during this time.
In just over a month, relying on a multitude of Spirit Stones and pills, Lu Yan successfully broke through to the fifth layer of Qi Cultivation.
However, despite his cultivation breaking through, Lu Yan wasn’t happy because Ji Xingyao seemed to vanish without a trace since that day.
With the version update progress reaching 90%, Lu Yan grew anxious.
He wasn’t worried about Ji Xingyao reneging; with her personality, once she promised, she wouldn’t break her word.
What truly worried him was if Ji Xingyao only found him after the world version update, then the originally agreed-upon Merit Treasure crafting method was bound to change.
By then, what would be delivered, even Lu Yan couldn’t predict.
Time passed bit by bit, and Lu Yan grew increasingly restless, temporarily setting aside his daily cultivation.
After the version update progress surpassed 95%, a sword light appeared before Lu Yan’s cave mansion.
This time, however, it wasn’t Ji Xingyao herself, but a Communication Flying Sword bound with a storage bag.
Lu Yan hurriedly opened the restriction, allowing the Communication Flying Sword to fall into the cave mansion, then untied the storage bag.
Opening the storage bag, he found several books, a token, and a note inside.
Lu Yan first looked through the books, finding mainly Earth Master inheritance and Feng Shui Technique books, which were promised by Ji Xingyao before.
Seeing they weren’t the Merit Treasure crafting method, Lu Yan felt a bit disappointed and then picked up the token and note.
The token was pitch-black, seemingly carved from some Spirit Wood, depicting celestial birds and beasts, with "Scripture Transmission Order" inscribed in large characters at its center.
Raising his eyes to the note, sharp calligraphy like sword strokes met Lu Yan’s gaze.
[Holder of the Scripture Transmission Order may enter the Cyan Simurgh Sect’s Scripture Pavilion]