Ten years is not much time for a Cultivator.
Xu Changge's spiritual power had already reached Perfection, making her a Qi Refining Peak Cultivator, unable to advance further.
Over these years, Xu Changge had never stopped searching for Foundation Establishment spiritual items.
Unfortunately, her gains were minimal.
Now, Xu Changge could only try her luck at the auction in Tianyun City.
Su Bai walked out of the Formation.
She watched Xu Changge, who was stepping on a square Magical Artifact, dressed in simple, elegant clothes, looking fresh and ethereal.
She was still radiant, as if time had left no trace on her appearance.
However, Su Bai knew that female Cultivators generally consumed beauty-preserving pills to maintain their youthful appearance.
If Xu Changge wasn't using her spiritual power to preserve her looks, then she must have taken beauty-preserving pills.
Seeing Su Bai emerge, Xu Changge revealed a slight smile.
"Seeing the rich wood-attribute vitality on Younger Sister Su's body, I assume your Dao cultivation has progressed again. Congratulations!"
After reaching the Qi Refining Stage - Late Phase, the spiritual power within her body had directly doubled compared to the Qi Refining Stage - Mid Phase.
The High Grade Magical Artifact that was previously quite strenuous to use could now be employed as a common method.
Su Bai also had no intention of hiding her cultivation.
Naturally, Xu Changge could discern some characteristics of her Cultivation Technique.
Su Bai smiled back, saying with a hint of embarrassment:
"Oh, no, I can't compare to you, Elder Sister; Foundation Establishment is within your reach."
Yes, for Xu Changge, having Cultivated to this Realm, her sole objective was Foundation Establishment.
She could even temporarily set aside the developing Xu Family.
This showed how much importance she placed on Foundation Establishment.
Xu Changge looked at Su Bai, who was standing beside her. Perhaps it was because of Su Bai's harmless and universally adored appearance, or perhaps it was Su Bai's diligent Cultivation personality.
In any case, when facing Su Bai, Xu Changge felt a slight sense of ease.
All those calculations and constantly tensed nerves relaxed considerably.
"Then, let's depart."
"Mm."
After Su Bai responded, Xu Changge controlled the square Magical Artifact, and the two left Wumu Island, departing the Star Luo Archipelago.
With their spiritual power, at full speed, it would still take five months to reach Tianyun City.
The journey was long.
Xu Changge had originally thought that this trip would only be herself and Su Bai, which could somewhat further their relationship.
Unfortunately, Su Bai had changed her address to 'Elder Sister' because Xu Changge had helped her many times, and if she didn't give some response, it would make her seem like an ingrate.
But Xu Changge wanted to draw their relationship even closer, to be like true sisters or something.
For Su Bai, the pressure was too great.
She had Cultivated her entire journey as if treading on thin ice, with caution as her utmost priority.
Xu Changge was not an easy person to deal with; how could Su Bai feel at ease getting closer to her?
However, Su Bai also couldn't completely ignore Xu Changge.
"Younger Sister Su, with your current Cultivation speed, do you have the confidence to achieve Foundation Establishment?"
Xu Changge's address of 'Meimei' made goosebumps rise on Su Bai's entire body.
However, these words of concern also conveyed Xu Changge's genuine sincerity.
Su Bai thought it would be difficult to Cultivate to Qi Refining Stage - Ninth Layer within twenty years.
After reaching sixty years old, the probability of Foundation Establishment would decrease due to declining vital energy and blood. Xu Changge didn't want her friend, whom she had known for nearly twenty years, to simply age away like that.
Su Bai looked into the distance and said faintly:
"My Spiritual Root is rather poor; it's already not easy to Cultivate to my current Realm. As for Foundation Establishment, I can only dream of it. After all, everyone has a dream of pursuing the Dao in their hearts."
"I've done my best; I only seek to have no regrets in my heart."
Hearing what Su Bai said, Xu Changge said nothing more.
She possessed a Dual Spiritual Root of Metal and Water, which was a High Grade Spiritual Root. With such a Spiritual Root condition, she had already surpassed countless Loose Cultivators.
It was also because of this Spiritual Root that the Outer Sect Elder of the Qingzhu Sword Sect accepted her as a Disciple.
The Qingzhu Sword Sect was willing to invest in Xu Changge, giving her the task of consolidating the Star Luo Archipelago.
Along the way, Xu Changge occasionally chatted with Su Bai about interesting anecdotes from the cultivation world.
For Su Bai, who had always lived in a small place, these anecdotes about the cultivation world from Xu Changge's mouth were clearly very appealing.
Thus, the two successfully arrived at Tianyun City.
Tianyun City.
It covered an area of hundreds of kilometers or more.
From afar, one could see the endless city walls.
It was close to the Demon Beast Mountain Range.
Every day, various Yao Beast Materials and rare Spirit Medicine were obtained from the mountain range.
It was a place where many Loose Cultivators were willing to seek Opportunities.
However, Opportunities also came with dangers; Tianyun City often had to face the impact of beast tides.
Every few decades, the number of Yao Beasts in the Demon Beast Mountain Range would increase excessively, and the Yao Beasts would fight over territory.
The Yao Kings in the depths of the mountain range would drive out the low-level Yao Beasts.
At this time, Tianyun City, being the closest to the Demon Beast Mountain Range, would suffer the impact.
However, Tianyun City was, after all, guarded by a Core Formation True Person and had a Formation built upon a Third-Tier Spiritual Vein, so it would not be breached.
The beast tide was also an Opportunity for many Cultivators.
Tianyun City would temporarily invite Loose Cultivators from all sides to encircle and kill Yao Beasts in exchange for various items.
Many Loose Cultivators could take this Opportunity to achieve Foundation Establishment.
After Su Bai and Xu Changge approached Tianyun City, they paid the Spirit Stone for entry and were allowed in.
Xu Changge began to introduce the basic layout of Tianyun City to Su Bai.
"We are currently in the outer perimeter of Tianyun City, which is where most Loose Cultivators gather."
"Further in is the Inner City, where there is a Gathering Spirit Array and various Immortal Caves available for rent. Loose Cultivators often choose to Break through to Foundation Establishment there, utilizing the Gathering Spirit Array."
"Finally, at the center is Tianyun Mountain, which is the Immortal Cave of Tianyun City's master, True Person Changbai, Fan Tongzhi."
"He has thousands of Disciples, including some False Core Immortal Master Disciples, and several False Core Guest Elders, forming a force that cannot be underestimated."
A False Core Immortal Master is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who has no hope of Core Formation and achieves this Realm by refining a Yao Beast Core or an exotic treasure.
Typically, a False Core Immortal Master can attain the same Realm and lifespan as a Core Formation Cultivator.
However, they also lose the possibility of further advancement.
False Core Immortal Masters cannot Cultivate.
However, Sects generally consider False Core Immortal Masters as part of their foundation; although they cannot Cultivate, they are still genuine Core Formation Cultivators.
After listening to Xu Changge's narration.
Su Bai couldn't stop nodding.
She had gained a lot of knowledge.
Xu Changge looked at Su Bai's sparkling eyes, her expression conveying, 'Elder Sister knows so much.'
Her heart couldn't help but feel a little secretly pleased.
Normally, Su Bai rarely left her Immortal Cave and was quite aloof to outsiders.
Now, to receive admiration from Su Bai gave her considerable satisfaction.
Following Xu Changge's introduction, the two quickly flew towards the Inner City.
The outer perimeter of Tianyun City was filled with shops opened by various forces.
The auction house's location was between the Inner City and the outer perimeter.
Moreover, because the Inner City was closer to Tianyun Mountain, which was a Third-Tier Spiritual Vein, its spiritual energy concentration was also much stronger than the outer perimeter.
The two planned to directly rent an Immortal Cave in the Inner City for temporary residence.
They would not leave within these two years. If they couldn't find Foundation Establishment spiritual items here, Su Bai would accompany Xu Changge to the Zhenyi Secret Realm.
The opening of the Zhenyi Secret Realm seemed to have been delayed a bit because the Six Upper Sects had been continuously attacking the evil Cultivators.
However, most of the evil Cultivators had already been killed, and many Golden Core Elders had returned.
They would open the Secret Realm then.
Su Bai only hoped her luck would be better.
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