parentshiftbook Chapter 219: Departure
Chapter 219: Departure
After a night spent by the bonfire on the deck, the monks once again embarked on a busy treasure hunt.
The unusual phenomenon at Dragon's Breath Lake was not concealed for long. After all, people living inside or around the lake would have noticed such a celestial event the moment it occurred.
Half a month later, many more luminous flying boats appeared in the dark world. These flying boats varied in size, and without exception, they carried many cultivators who had entered Dragon Breath Lake together, all for the spiritual herbs and demon beast materials within.
Zhang Ping even spotted another flying boat from the Flying Pavilion, which had deliberately deviated from its course to come here.
The tranquility of Yuanping, where only Zhang Ping and the other airship crew were present, was instantly shattered.
The waterspout calms down for a day every two weeks. The tornado still rises high, but it will not pull spiritual materials or treasures out of the ground.
This day is also the day when cultivators return to their homes. After fighting outside for half a month, they need to take care of their gains and injuries.
However, compared to half a month ago, the atmosphere surrounding this comeback seemed rather somber.
Even after the campfire was lit again on the deck, many people still did not return.
I don't know if he found a dragon sucking water to absorb spiritual energy for cultivation, or if he died outside.
Yue Shan turned the animal leg he was roasting over the fire, then pointed to the bonfire in the center of his nail plate and whispered:
"Brother Zhang, have you noticed that a cultivator at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm hasn't returned?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Ping secretly glanced over there. As Yue Shan had said, there were originally three mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators on the flying boat: Duan Yu and another man and woman.
However, the female nun was nowhere to be seen this time.
He frowned, knowing what Yue Shan meant, and pondered, "Perhaps he was delayed by something outside."
That's a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation level. Even though Dragon Breath Lake is now a mixed bag, with countless cultivators both overt and covert, as well as endless demonic beasts, a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation level is still among the pinnacle of power.
Zhang Shuai, standing to the side, had white bandages wrapped around his body and a bandage around his forehead, looking quite badly injured. He tore into the roasted meat in his mouth and said:
"The chances are slim. I've observed that these three formed a temporary alliance and always went on operations together. Only two have returned, so the other one is probably gone."
Zhang Ping fell silent upon hearing this, noticing that around the other campfires, people were also glancing at Duan Yu's group from time to time, clearly sharing the same speculation as Zhang Ping and the other two.
He put down the beast leg in his hand, his face somewhat grim: "The Thousand-Mile Dragon Absorbing Water has only been going on for less than a month, and there's already a danger that can kill even a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. If this continues, we're afraid we'll have to retreat to the outer perimeter."
The area covered by the Thousand-Mile Water Suction covers the entire Dragon Suction Lake. Once the water suction begins, the spiritual energy and materials underground will be drawn out. The closer to the center, the more spiritual energy and materials emerge, and the more precious they become.
Therefore, the stronger the monsters attracted.
Who knows how deep Dragon Breath Lake is, or what kind of powerful monsters it harbors?
It's only been a month since it started, and the waterspout is still in the strengthening phase, so it's considered to be in its early stages.
If it's this dangerous in the early stages, what will it be like later on?
Zhang Ping turned his head and looked at the waterspout outside the deck. It was already over 100 meters high, and its growth would only accelerate.
It seems we need to find the Sword Spirit Grass as soon as possible.
"At this rate of growth, this waterspout shouldn't last too long." Yue Shan frowned in thought, his square face full of wisdom.
Zhang Shuai curled his lip: "Who knows? What if it's a particularly strong and unusual movement?"
Yue Shan was speechless for a moment, then nodded and said, "That's possible."
As Zhang Ping listened to their conversation, his mind gradually settled down. He realized that he still knew too little about classical texts.
Just like now, Zhang Shuai and Yue Shan both have a deep understanding of the waterspout phenomenon and can even predict its duration and extent based on the current situation. But he couldn't get a word in edgewise.
He had previously obtained many books through Luo Shang, but they were all common books on the market. The truly valuable records were in the hands of various powerful forces and would not be easily leaked.
Let's think of a solution later, there's no need to rush...
He shook his head and asked the two of them about the Sword Spirit Grass.
Zhang Shuai stroked his folding fan, pondering, "Sword Spirit Grass will indeed appear, but in small quantities. It should be near the core area. But without entering it, the danger shouldn't be too great."
"But speaking of which, what do you need that thing for? Could it be that you, Zhang Laosan, are a sword cultivator?"
Zhang Shuai had already verbally assigned a ranking to the three of them: he was the most handsome and dashing, so he reluctantly became the eldest; Yue Shan was burly and looked like a good fighter, so he was named the second burly; and Zhang Ping, who seemed to be the youngest and didn't have any special characteristics, became the third Zhang.
Zhang Ping ignored the way the guy addressed him and humbly asked for advice.
Seeing his reaction, Zhang Shuai took out his map, made a copy for him, and marked it with circles.
"I am honored with a gift of one thousand spirit coins."
Zhang Ping's lips twitched, thinking to himself that this was too ruthless.
He glanced at the map, intending to buy another copy of Yue Shan's, but Yue Shan waved his hand and said:
"I've already exchanged maps with Zhang Shuai. The one you have in your hand, Brother Zhang, is pieced together from the two maps."
"You should call him Boss Shuai," Zhang Shuai reminded him, dissatisfied.
Zhang Ping nodded to Yue Shan, his eyes showing gratitude.
The three met on the flying boat. Apart from getting along well during their conversation, they didn't have much interaction. At this time, they were willing to sell the map so that Zhang Ping would remember this favor.
He looked at the map, where the entire Dragon's Breath Lake was divided into three areas: the core, the middle layer, and the boundary zone.
Each area is further divided into eight sections based on location.
Their current location is in the middle-level eastern section, which is relatively close to the core area.
The area where the Blade Spirit Grass may appear is in the middle northeastern plate, not far from the location of the flying boat.
Zhang Ping estimated that at his speed, crossing a plateau would take about half a day.
With the map in hand, Zhang Ping prepared to set off.
After the bonfire party on the deck ended, the cultivators rested for about ten hours before gradually forming teams to leave the flying ship.
Zhang Ping packed his things and prepared to leave alone.
There were many small stalls on the deck, displaying the materials that the cultivators had collected during this period. Some of the materials that they didn't need were available for trading with others.
Except for the day of the campfire, the deck was a small trading market at other times.
Zhang Ping would stroll through the market every day, but he had never found a trace of the Sword Spirit Grass. Of course, even if he had it, he wouldn't put it up for sale. Instead, he bought several materials from demonic beasts that had possessed considerable abilities in their previous lives.
He suddenly stopped and walked to a stall.
"Chief Ink Boat"
The squid, who had been resting with its eyes closed, opened them and glanced at Zhang Ping's attire.
"Ready to go out and look for opportunities?"
Zhang Ping nodded, glancing at the weapons displayed on the cuttlefish stall.
The best arrangement was a spear, a sword, and a knife. They gleamed with a cold light while exuding a rich spiritual energy.
A magical artifact!
"May I ask, Captain Mo, how much is this knife?"
The cuttlefish closed its eyes again and said, "Fifty thousand spirit coins, plus a spirit pill suitable for the mid-stage of the Divine Integration Realm."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Ping immediately shut his mouth.
He had spirit coins, but only about 60,000 to 70,000 in total, which he would need to use once he arrived in Penglai. As for spirit pills, he hadn't even smelled their fragrance.
He casually bought a decent-quality ordinary longsword and turned to leave.
The squid opened its eyes, watching Zhang Ping's departing figure, its gaze flickering.
"His bone age should not be older than fifty..."
Even among the three major sects, a cultivator at the level of Nascent Soul at the age of fifty is extremely rare. Moreover, his Qi and blood are strangely concealed, making it almost impossible to discern his cultivation level without careful examination.
Even after practicing the Pisces Eye Technique myself, I could only get a general idea, not the specifics. It seems this guy holds quite a secret...
"Heh, well, who doesn't have some secrets when they've cultivated to the Divine Realm on their own?"