The rewards from the Five Elements Sect have been issued? An Inner Sect Disciple of the Five Elements Sect identity, selection of Cultivation Techniques from the Transmission Hall, and a High-Grade Magical Artifact. Any of these would make a Loose Cultivator turn green with envy.
Bottom-tier Loose Cultivators with poor aptitude had no chance of joining the Five Elements Sect. Becoming a Five Elements Sect Disciple, even an Outer Sect Disciple, was enough to be considered defying fate and changing one's destiny, ascending to the heavens in a single step. This was not to mention becoming an Inner Sect Disciple of the Five Elements Sect.
The Cultivation Techniques in the Transmission Hall were far beyond what common merchant guilds offered. As part of the Five Elements Sect's foundational heritage, any single Cultivation Technique leaking out could drive Loose Cultivators into a frenzy. As for High-Grade Magical Artifacts, it went without saying that they were expensive; the cheapest ones cost upwards of three hundred Spirit Stones. A High-Grade Magical Artifact from the Five Elements Sect would undoubtedly be of fine quality, worth at least four or five hundred Spirit Stones.
Comparing the three rewards, the High-Grade Magical Artifact was actually the least appealing.
Should I step forward? As the discoverer of the insect plague, would the astonishing rewards bestowed by the Five Elements Sect belong to me?
Jia Ren shook his head, banishing the dangerous thought from his mind.
Wealth is important, but safety is paramount. With the Proficiency Panel, my future is promising. There's no need to take risks for what will seem like trivial gains a hundred years from now. Besides, the Five Elements Sect might not be stable. The hidden forces are not weak; otherwise, the Five Elements Sect wouldn't have abandoned the Outer City.
To go or not to go?
Of course, I'll go!
Jia Ren didn't want to buy Spirit Rice at four times the price and had been hesitating about making a trip to Grand Wilderness Mountain. Having just slain a Bizarre Cultivator last night, his confidence had surged. Jia Ren was willing to take the risk, and most importantly, his Wind Control Skill was on the verge of a breakthrough.
First, I'll level up the Wind Control Skill.
[Wind Control Skill Proficiency +1]
Four hours later, Jia Ren sat cross-legged, recovering his depleted Spiritual Power. Looking at the Proficiency Panel again, the Wind Control Skill entry had changed.
[Wind Control Skill: Grandmaster (1/800)]
"Finally, I've reached Grandmaster Level!" Jia Ren exclaimed. "All that hard work, day and night, wasn't in vain."
The Wind Control Skill was different from the Metal Finger Technique and the Insect Control Technique; its proficiency improved more slowly. But hard work pays off. After diligent effort, his Wind Control Skill had finally reached Grandmaster Level. Once he reached the limit of Grandmaster Level and used a Skill Breaking Point, he could ascend to an even higher realm in one go.
"This is truly exciting!"
With his Wind Control Skill breaking through to Grandmaster Level, Jia Ren's confidence soared. He suspected that even a Late Stage Qi Cultivator wouldn't be able to keep him from escaping.
Leaving the Outer City of Great Wilderness Market, he sprinted at full speed into the distance. He moved like an immortal riding the wind, his speed unparalleled. Ordinary people would only feel a gust of wind sweep past, seeing no trace of him. The Grandmaster Level Wind-Riding Technique, combined with the Breeze Robe, made his speed more than six times that of an entry-level practitioner.
Jia Ren felt secure. With this kind of speed, he had nothing to fear from Bizarre Cultivators on the road.
Compared to usual, the area outside the Great Wilderness Market was chaotic. From time to time, one could witness life-and-death struggles between cultivators, fighting fiercely over benefits. There were even corpses of cultivators lying on the ground, their Taoist Robes stripped and valuables gone. The bodies lay uncollected, exposed in the wilderness.
Chaos had erupted, and great turmoil was imminent.
The Outer City of Great Wilderness Market still maintained some restraint. The Bizarre Cultivators there didn't want to be constantly backstabbed by their peers and live in perpetual danger. For them, the real frenzy began after dusk. The area outside the Great Wilderness Market was completely different—a stage where the law of the jungle, the strong preying on the weak, played out at any moment.
Jia Ren activated his Spirit Shield and accelerated at full power towards Grand Wilderness Mountain.
"Another one heading for Grand Wilderness Mountain! Hehe, leave your life behind!"
An ice spike, exuding a chill, shot from behind at high speed.
A spell—the Ice Spike Technique!
A large, glowing Spirit Net descended from before Jia Ren, about to envelop him.
He was caught between the Spirit Net in front and the ice spike behind, attacked from both sides.
The two Bizarre Cultivators hiding behind a hillock sprang their ambush, coordinating flawlessly. Even if he used Magic Artifacts and spells to defend, he would be ensnared by the Net of Law, trapped like a turtle in a jar. Facing the subsequent bombardment of Magic Artifacts and Talismans, he simply wouldn't last thirty breaths. Using such tactics, four Loose Cultivators had already fallen to this pair today. The price of Spirit Rice at the Datong Rice Shop in the market was high, so Loose Cultivators, trying to save Spirit Stones, would undoubtedly head to Grand Wilderness Mountain to buy Spirit Rice. Many ambushers lined the route, and very few Loose Cultivators actually made it to Grand Wilderness Mountain.
This person is no different from the four unfortunate souls who died before him! the Bizarre Cultivators thought.
Unfortunately for them, they had chosen the wrong target.
Jia Ren was running at full speed, his pace incredibly swift. The descending Spirit Net missed its mark; by the time it fell, he was long gone. The ice spike trailed behind Jia Ren, never able to catch up...
The two Bizarre Cultivators, who had been gleefully awaiting their spoils, were dumbfounded. What?! It can't catch him?!
Indeed, the ice spike couldn't catch up to Jia Ren as he rode the wind. They stared at Jia Ren's retreating figure for a long while, unable to snap back to reality. In their many years as Bizarre Cultivators, they had faced many strong foes, but they had never seen anyone run this fast!
Even spells can't catch him! He's too incredible!
"Ah, forget it. Let's find another one..." one of them muttered.
The two Bizarre Cultivators acted as if nothing had happened and continued to lie in wait.
When Jia Ren saw the ice spike and the Spirit Net falling, he was inwardly frantic. Even though he had just survived a life-and-death struggle the night before, his combat ability was barely better than that of a beginner. Especially when facing an ambush by two Bizarre Cultivators, his heart was in turmoil, and he had no choice but to run blindly. Unexpectedly, he had run his way to a miracle.
"How thrilling!" he exclaimed. "As long as I run fast enough, death can't catch up to me! Death is like the wind, always by my side!"
The Grandmaster Level Wind-Riding Technique didn't disappoint! Even spell attacks can't catch me! This is astonishing!
Jia Ren had made several trips to Grand Wilderness Mountain, so he was familiar with the route, and it wasn't far. Even so, he still encountered attacks from three groups of Bizarre Cultivators along the way. The outcome was no different from before; Jia Ren outpaced them all, his incredible speed quickly distancing him from the murderous pursuits.
"Finally here!" he sighed, stepping onto Grand Wilderness Mountain once more. I always get this feeling of being reborn.
His mood was entirely different this time. Grand Wilderness Mountain couldn't be called safe; the patrolling mountain guards were gone, leaving it unmonitored. The immature Spirit Rice had also been ravaged, and the Spirit Fields were a mess. It was hard to imagine that only twelve to fourteen hours had passed since Jia Ren last left.
Grand Wilderness Mountain also had a response: several Spirit Farmers had gathered to patrol, protecting their own property.
"Master Jia has arrived."
"The Great Wilderness Market is so dangerous, yet you were still willing to come. The Spirit Farmers are deeply grateful for your great kindness."
The insect plague hadn't been completely subdued. Jia Ren's risky trip from the Great Wilderness Market to Grand Wilderness Mountain had indeed moved the Spirit Farmers.
"The insect plague will end soon, no need to worry," Jia Ren said, busy with pest control. The Spirit Farmers weren't idle either, looking everywhere for help. Even if the pest control continued, the infestation would be completely resolved in no more than three days.
"Who is selling Spirit Rice?" Jia Ren asked.
"Uncle Wubao is selling. Daoist Jia, you can go to the west end of the mountain and see," a patrolling Spirit Farmer replied.
Jia Ren bid farewell to the patrolling Spirit Farmers and headed to the west end of the mountain. He indeed encountered a familiar Spirit Farmer selling Spirit Rice, along with a few Loose Cultivators from the Great Wilderness Market purchasing it. The price of Green Bud Rice had risen to two Fragmented Spirit Stones per pound; the advantage was that the weight was accurate, unlike the Datong Rice Shop, which was known for its deceptive weighing practices.
"Daoist Jia, please don't come over for now. I'll give you the High-Grade Magical Artifact after a while."
Just as Jia Ren was about to purchase Spirit Rice, a Sound Transmission Talisman from Yang Bingzhi flew over.
Has he changed his mind?