The Science of Cultivation [Xianxia]

Chapter 158: Parting Ways

Li Lang woke up early in the morning and immediately started packing. During the previous night, he irresponsibly ignored everything and dove straight into Ruby’s artifact space.

That was because he had fed one of each type of beast core to his artifact, and he got straight to investigating it. As they were items with the main quality in their Qi properties, none of his lab equipment could provide him with satisfactory information. It only gave him the physical composition of the cores. Instead, he played around with the cores, using them as materials in all the crafts he knew about.

Unfortunately for him, his artifice teacher had yet to pass on everything regarding how to deal with beast cores. This wasn’t because she was holding out on him, but it simply wasn’t something she considered necessary so early on in his education. Beast cores allowed artificers a chance to create an artifact. The value of it meant it was usually afforded to the more experienced students who had studied for at least a year, if not years.

While Li Lang didn’t make any startling discoveries, he was still content with knowing the cores in his possession were capable of fulfilling the role he needed to complete his talisman printer.

Setting the matter for when he returned to Emberglow, he swiftly got ready and exited to the first floor of the inn. He found his companions already there in the tea area next to the lobby.

“Wow, I expected someone to have to go get you. Can’t believe you showed up on time by your power alone,” Sima Xue said mischievously.

Long Yi and Wei Ping simply sipped from their cup, choosing not to comment.

“I’m always on time for important matters like these. I do as promised.”

“Hmm, I think I only got three servings of tofu pudding when I was promised more?”

“...When we get back—”

Sima Xue held up a hand to stop him from continuing while struggling to contain her giggling.

“It’s fine. That matter is settled. I wasn’t serious about making you buy me so much pudding. I’d just get fat.”

“Can Foundation Establishment cultivators even get fat?” Li Lang seriously asked, examining Sima Xue’s body carefully.

“I don’t know, but I’m not putting it to the test! Stop staring at me like that!”

The high-energy morning soon came to an end as the trio wanted to make good distance in their travels before night fell. There weren’t many settlements along the path from Polarity City to the province of Vermillion Dragon.

Instead, there were vast mountain ranges and forests filling the void between them. It was a land belonging to Qi beasts, and also a buffer between the two opposing factions of orthodox and demonic.

The group of four boarded Li Lang’s new golden brown Skyrunner as they departed from their inn. Even early in the morning, the streets were filled with pedestrians. All the people brought into the city to handle the menial tasks, in turn, birthed a market to address their needs. Food stalls flourished along with all the cultivator-centric stores.

Their speed only picked up when they got onto the main road that led directly to the gates. It didn’t take them long to arrive at the edge of the city. However, before they could exit, they spotted two familiar faces standing beside a parked carriage.

They noticed Li Lang in the driver’s seat and immediately waved him down.

“Good morning! I’m glad we waited for you at the right gate,” the young man known as Gui Hong greeted.

His voice made the passengers inside the Skyrunner stick their heads out the window before exiting the vehicle to greet the two Eroding March Pavilion disciples.

“What do you two want?” Sima Xue questioned, without mincing her words.

“We just wanted to thank you again,” Gui Hong’s companion, Ning Fei, explained. “We didn’t have a chance last time, but now that our business is done, we were able to get gifts for you guys.”

The young girl brought her hands together and a red package materialized in her hands. She then presented it to the skeptical Sima Xue. Though she hesitated for a moment, in the end, she still received the gift.

After all, there were no bad feelings between them. She was only suspicious of them during their meeting, and unhappy that Li Lang had been so reckless.

“Thank you.”

“I have something for the rest of you as well,” Gui Hong chimed in, bringing gifts of his own for the three young men.

“Wow, thanks. The Eroding Pavillion disciples sure have money, even after spending so much on that sword artifact,” Long Yi muttered.

“L-Long Yi, it’s Eroding March Pavilion,” Wei Ping corrected. “Sorry a-about him, he’s n-not the best with words, but he m-means well.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Gui Hong responded while scratching his cheek. “And our pavilion isn’t as wealthy as you think. It’s just that I received some funds from an elder to buy presents for my cousin.”

“To congratulate him for his results in the pocket realm?” Li Lang interjected.

“Well, I guess it’s fine to say. It’s for his inevitable breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.”

Does that mean he hasn’t broken through yet and they’re getting gifts ready already? Man, that’s a lot of pressure on Gui Tianzi’s shoulders. And I’m the one who started it. I’m starting to feel a little sorry for him.

“Is something the matter?” Gui Hong asked.

“Oh, no. I was just wondering what it’s going to be like when it is our turn.”

Gui Hong took a moment to examine Li Lang and his companions and nodded.

“You three do have pretty good chances, seeing you’re even younger than me and already nearing the next major realm. At the end of the day, if you’re fated to achieve greatness, you will. Be confident…is what my elders always say.”

“Thank you for your encouragement. Anyway, we have to get going and take advantage of the sun still being up. I hope to see you again.”

“I guess this is it,” Sima Xue sighed. “I’ll head back to Nightshade Valley, then. Do you two want to tag along?”

Gui Hong and Ning Fei were both taken aback at the question, but they recovered quickly.

“No, thank you. We have an elder nearby who has agreed to pick us up. After all, we’re carrying items bought with the pavilion’s wealth, so it’s better we stay cautious around the border areas.”

The two Eroding March Pavilion members waved on as Li Lang’s group left. Sima Xue had gotten onto her own Skyrunner and made their way out the gate side by side.

Once they cleared the gate, they stopped on the side of the road for one last farewell.

“I’ve got to go back to continue my training or my master will start nagging at me again, but I’ll try to convince him to attend the final auction next month. If you guys don’t come, then you likely won’t see me for at least a year.”

“We planned to broaden our horizons and attend that auction if we could anyway,” Li Lang replied.

“Ha, I’m sorry, but attending the main auction isn’t as easy as these auctions we’ve been to. Still, you should be able to see the proceedings, though.” Sima Xue didn’t elaborate before directing the boys to follow her. “Come on, we’re both heading east, so I’ll guide you partway.”

The province of Vermillion Dragon was located east of Yellow Qilin, where Li Lang was initially from. Polarity City was south of Yellow Qilin, located just on the border of the orthodox and demonic territories. Both parties needed to head east, but to be precise, one going northeast while the other was going southeast.

Still, the group could head together in the same direction for some time before they needed to veer off to their own destinations, so they did just that. Having the guidance of a Foundation Establishment cultivator was better than not when cutting through Qi beast-infested forests.

A towering mountain range soon came into view, cutting off parts of the forests into sections and making it into a maze. It marked the point where the two groups finally had to separate.

“Stay safe, guys. Bye!”

Only Sima Xue’s voice, empowered by her cultivation, could reach Li Lang’s group over the high winds. Her black Skyrunner quickly picked up pace and turned into a tiny dot before disappearing entirely.

This left the three young men to adjust their own heading, but not before taking out a talisman.

“I’m not one to question you guys, but are you sure that warding talisman is enough to deter all the threats on the way?” Long Yi asked. “Didn’t they say Foundation Establishment-level beasts were common around the mountain ranges? They say there’s even Violet Core-level ones.”

“They are, but the direct route from Polarity and Vermillion Dragon should be safe. Experts have already dealt with any threats, so their disciples and merchants can safely come and go. Isn’t that right, Wei Ping?”

The man in question nodded.

“I’ve i-interviewed several merchants who a-all said the same thing. As long as w-we don’t fly too high, n-none of the stronger beast s-should spot us.”

“Yeah, but didn’t Gui Hong and Ning Fei also get attacked despite being so close?” Long Yi continued to worry.

“Those birds were at the peak of Energy Gathering at best. I’m sure those mighty experts didn’t bother eliminating everything on the path, or else they should’ve just built roads.”

“R-right. The warding talisman s-should be enough.”

“Well, I guess you guys did thoroughly investigate. Don’t mind me for asking.”

“Hmm, I would’ve thought you’d want a challenge to stimulate your breakthrough.”

“Yes, but I also want to live, too!”

The three soon got on their way while remaining vigilant. They didn’t fly too high and kept themselves between mountain ranges. They could hear a lot of activity from the Qi beasts down below, but otherwise kept moving unhindered.

That was until they suddenly heard a loud thump from above. It was followed by vibrations that told them something had hit their roof. Then, their Skyrunner abruptly came to a halt, throwing the three young men off their balance.

“So you guys finally decided to leave the city, huh?”