54: Magic is the right way

Lu Ming didn't know what Zhou Yang was thinking.

He fought his way out of the market and then plunged into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

He wasn't clear about what happened at Green Bamboo Market afterward; he had already fled anyway.

Fortunately, with the Beast Tide, the mountain range had become much quieter, and the commonly seen first-tier Yao Beasts were much fewer.

But while the Yao Beasts were fewer, there were many human dangers.

Lu Ming initially used the Azure Spirit Boat for travel, but after killing several rogue Cultivators, he started walking honestly.

He moved swiftly using his movement technique, maintaining minimal consumption, only using the flying boat for quick passage when blocked by large rivers or steep cliffs.

Fortunately, he became cautious later, sending out his Clone to scout ahead, and he didn't encounter anything particularly unusual.

Nor did he encounter any plot lines involving a hero saving a beauty.

After traveling for several days, he coincidentally stumbled upon Zhou Yang.

He hadn't seen this kid before and didn't expect him to have also escaped.

Seeing that he was in trouble, Lu Ming conveniently resolved it.

Now at the seventh level of the Qi Refinement Stage, after a period of fighting with the Beast Tide, the spiritual power in his body had accumulated to the Bottleneck of the eighth level of Qi Refining.

Dealing with two Cultivators in the Middle Stage of Qi Refining was effortless.

Fortunately, Zhou Yang mentioned Wu Daoren, otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to use the golden book to kill those two.

If he had waited to rush over, the outcome would have been uncertain.

As for taking Zhou Yang with him, Lu Ming never considered it.

Heavenly Star Immortal City was a long way off, and he didn't want to bring a burden.

And telling Zhou Yang that he was going to Heavenly Star Immortal City wasn't a big deal.

First, not everyone would travel that far like him, and even if someone did, it wouldn't matter.

He would definitely use the golden book when he reached Heavenly Star Immortal City, and then it would be impossible to hide.

Besides, what did Wu Daoren have to do with Lu Ming!

Without dwelling on these matters, Lu Ming took out a compass to first confirm he wasn't going in the wrong direction.

Then he multi-tasked, controlling his Clone to scout ahead while he himself advanced at a steady pace.

It must be said that the Clone was much more useful in this situation than in the market.

There were too many places in the market where he dared not go, with Formations and Restrictions everywhere.

Although the Clone Cultivator couldn't be seen, that was only limited to low-level Cultivators.

For example, a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator could probably see through it at a glance, and some Cultivators who practiced eye techniques could also detect traces.

Now, entering the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, the Clone finally had a use.

At least the path the Clone had taken was safe on the surface.

He wouldn't accidentally step into a dangerous place, and he could also anticipate the enemy, discovering danger and reacting in advance.

It was simply too suitable for scouting.

"It's a pity the Clone is only useful during the Qi Refinement Stage."

Lu Ming felt a little regretful.

The Yin Lotus Mother-Child Twin Birth Method only had one tier.

The Clone, by devouring a Cultivator's Soul to Cultivate, could at most reach Qi Refining Perfection.

He had no clue about subsequent Cultivation Techniques and could only go to Heavenly Star Immortal City to see.

...

...

Time quietly slipped away.

The Cloud Mist Mountain Range stretched endlessly, shrouded in mist.

Heavenly Star Immortal City was several thousand li away from Green Bamboo Market!

This was only the straight-line distance.

Lu Ming traveled, stopping and starting, taking detours and circling around, crossing one peak only to see another mountain.

Eventually, he didn't know how far he had traveled, only that more than a month had passed.

With the Clone scouting ahead, he avoided many troubles, but he also took too many unnecessary detours.

Inside a desolate underground cave.

Lu Ming was sitting cross-legged, surrounded by corpses, some of Yao Beasts, some of Cultivators.

Although Lu Ming had been constantly on the move, he hadn't neglected his Cultivation.

Instead, he had hunted some Cultivators and Yao Beasts in the mountains.

Occasionally, he would also find some Spiritual Plants; he would eat the ones he recognized and store the unfamiliar ones in his Storage Pouch.

In this way, Lu Ming got closer and closer to the Bottleneck of the eighth level of Qi Refining.

When he felt his Cultivation was about to break through, Lu Ming found a quiet cave.

After several days of continuous Cultivation, the spiritual power in his body had reached a state of Perfection.

By his reckoning, it had only been a little over a month since Lu Ming broke through to the seventh level of Qi Refining, but his Cultivation showed no signs of instability.

After Cultivating the Devouring Spirit Blood Demon Art, the richness of his spiritual power was completely comparable to those old Cultivators who had been stuck at the seventh level of Qi Refining for many years.

Playing with the rough, grayish-black waste pill in his hand, Lu Ming swallowed it in one gulp.

"When I go to Heavenly Star Immortal City, I must acquire an Alchemy Legacy."

The medicinal power quickly spread, and Lu Ming calmed his Qi and focused his mind.

He circulated his Cultivation Technique, and fresh blood continuously flew from the dozen or so corpses in front of him, after which the corpses gradually shriveled.

The gushing blood, like a tide, climbed onto Lu Ming's body.

It tightly wrapped around him, making him appear like a blood-man.

A rushing sound was heard.

This blood gradually began to be absorbed into Lu Ming's body, simultaneously converting it into spiritual power that flowed into his Dantian, and his five internal organs also emitted a faint bloody glow.

Lu Ming's Aura began to slowly grow.

The process lasted for half an hour.

Boom—

A powerful and majestic Aura spread out within the cave, and Lu Ming's robes moved without wind, flapping loudly.

Without encountering any Bottleneck, his Cultivation at the eighth level of Qi Refining naturally broke through.

He opened his eyes, a crimson light flashing and then disappearing.

Feeling his current strength, Lu Ming felt he could defeat ten of his former selves.

"Demonic Technique is truly the Righteous Path!"

After a moment of self-admiration, Lu Ming reined in his Aura.

He conjured a water mirror and examined his reflection.

Although he had a cleansing spell, he wasn't messy.

But after more than a month of travel, he had indeed become much more weathered, with some stubble on his chin, and he looked much more mature.

"Handsome!"

Lu Ming smugly uttered, then raised his hand to dissipate the water mirror.

"It's time to go. I wonder how much further Heavenly Star Immortal City is."

Lu Ming stood up, just about to use his compass to pinpoint his current location.

His expression shifted, and his perspective switched to the Clone guarding the surroundings.