223: Chapter 223 Long-Distance Teleportation Array! Heading to the Outer Space!

Chapter 222: Long-Distance Teleportation Array! Heading to the Outer Star Sea!

Time flew by, and another two years passed.

Inside a Quiet Room in the Liulian Residence.

Lu Qiu sat cross-legged, his Aura as calm as water, yet faintly revealing a majestic sense of being about to burst forth.

The Quiet Room was silent, save for the occasional gurgling of the spirit eye spring and his rhythmic breathing.

Inside his Dantian, that scarlet gold Golden Core had become rounded to the extreme, like the most brilliant star in the night sky.

Each slow rotation drove the spiritual power of his entire body to circulate with it, like a perfect loop, endless and inexhaustible.

He slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath of turbid Qi.

The turbid Qi was like a white silk ribbon, shooting out more than three feet before slowly dissipating, leaving a faint white mark in the air.

He had already reached the Peak that a Core Formation Cultivator could achieve.

Spiritual power was at Perfection, Divine Sense was powerful, the Foundation was solid, and his state of mind was harmonious.

One more step forward would be the Nascent Soul Stage.

That chasm which countless Genius Cultivators could not cross in their entire lives.

But he still didn't have absolute certainty.

On the path to forming a Nascent Soul, Heart Demons, Spiritual Qi, the Physical Body, the Primordial Spirit... every link was extremely dangerous.

The cultivation world had too many brilliant Cultivators who suffered Qi Deviation at the critical moment of forming a Nascent Soul, turning into a pile of withered bones.

Those former geniuses, those former powerhouses—after failing to form a Nascent Soul, some perished on the spot, some suffered damage to their Primordial Spirits and could never advance again, and some became crazed and useless.

The nascent soul formation spiritual items were not enough.

Lu Qiu sat cross-legged and began to take stock of the trump cards in his hands.

He first took out a jade bottle from his Storage Pouch and gently placed it in his palm.

The jade bottle was white all over, warm as jade, with the words "Soul Quelling" carved on the bottle.

This was the soul quelling pill from Nangong Hai, the Vice Hall Master of the Liulian Hall.

This pill calms the spirit and soothes the soul, resisting illusions and Heart Demons, allowing a Cultivator to remain clear-headed during the turbulent period of the Primordial Spirit when forming a Nascent Soul, avoiding Qi Deviation.

This was captured from Nangong Hai's Storage Pouch; it was originally the greatest trump card Nangong Hai had prepared for himself.

That Vice Hall Master in the False Nascent Soul Realm had spent decades of painstaking effort, not hesitating to spend a fortune to hire a Great Master of Alchemy to refine it, only for it to benefit him in the end.

He then took out that charred piece of soul nurturing wood from his bosom and gently stroked it.

This wood was ugly on the outside, pitted and scarred, yet it emitted a warm Aura.

This was the soul nurturing wood from the Loose Cultivator Li Mu, one of the three divine woods.

It can be worn on the body to nourish the soul and Primordial Spirit, slowly allowing the Divine Sense to grow stronger, and can calm the spirit and steady the soul, resisting Nascent Soul Heart Demons.

He had worn it close to his body all these years; the fact that his Divine Sense could break through to the Middle Nascent Soul Stage was largely thanks to this wood.

During those years of transforming into a mortal and entering the world, it was also this wood that protected his mind, preventing him from being disturbed by the mundane Mortal World.

He thought of Xia Xinyan again.

This woman possessed the Du Yuan Resonance Body, which was an extremely rare Dual Cultivation holy Physique in the cultivation world.

Her first Dual Cultivation contained the Dao charm of the world's Origin, which could help a Dao Companion break through a major Bottleneck.

This could barely be considered a nascent soul formation spiritual item.

Over the years, he had provided Medicinal Pills, an Immortal Cave, and everything needed for cultivation, all to wait for this day.

Waiting for her cultivation to be higher, for her Physique to be more mature, and then at the critical moment, using her power to break through to the Nascent Soul in one go.

There was also the heaven mending pill.

If Xin Ruyin could break the Ancient Restriction on that jade box and obtain the heaven mending pill from Ling Yuling, that would be a top-tier nascent soul formation spiritual item.

This pill can cleanse the Spiritual Roots and improve Aptitude, indirectly helping with Nascent Soul Formation.

Back then, he had consumed the Remnant Pills of the Heaven Mending Pill, raising his Spiritual Roots from the Three Spiritual Roots level to the Dual Spiritual Roots level, with significant effects.

If he could obtain a complete heaven mending pill, his Spiritual Roots might even advance further, reaching the level of a Heavenly Spiritual Root.

If he could obtain one more item, he could attempt to form a Nascent Soul.

Lu Qiu calculated in his heart and reviewed the information he had reorganized today.

The golden page slowly unfolded, and several lines of text appeared on it...

Two whites and one silver.

With Lu Qiu's current net worth, he really couldn't muster any interest.

That white information was like chicken ribs to him, not worth a glance; that silver information was also just something easily obtainable—even if it were an ordinary Magic Treasure, he had no interest in seizing it.

He shook his head and was about to put away the golden page when his heart suddenly stirred.

He remembered something.

From the depths of his Storage Pouch, he fished out two pieces of beast skin that were yellowed and slightly worn at the edges.

Those were the two ancient ruins fragment maps he had obtained on Kuixing Island years ago.

One was snatched from the Liulian Hall Enshrined Elder Li Yun, and the other was bought for fifteen thousand Spirit Stones at the Yunmeng Pavilion auction.

When the two fragments were put together, they formed a complete Ancient Map.

He carefully joined the two fragments together, and they fit perfectly.

A complete Ancient Map was presented before his eyes!

The map depicted the terrain of an unfamiliar sea area, marked with dense symbols and text.

Those symbols were ancient and profound; some he could recognize as text from the ancient period, while others were completely unfamiliar, like a heavenly book.

The coastline was winding, islands were scattered like stars, and reefs, ocean currents, and wind directions were all marked, drawn with extreme precision.

In the center, there was a striking red mark, dotted with cinnabar, which was clearly where the ruins were located.

Beside that red mark, there were several lines of small characters, but they were too old and had become blurred; one could only vaguely see words like "Ancient Cultivator" and "Forbidden Ground".

Lu Qiu scrutinized the map, his brow gradually furrowing.

The location of that red mark...

He cross-referenced it with the map of the Chaotic Star Sea for a long time, his finger moving slowly across the map, passing over familiar sea areas, and finally stopping at an unfamiliar location.

That sea area was in the Outer Star Sea!

And it was deep in the Outer Star Sea, far from the core areas of human Cultivator activity!

"Outer Star Sea..." Lu Qiu muttered to himself, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes.

The Outer Star Sea was the domain of Yao Beasts.

Level four and five Yao Beasts moved in packs, and Level Six and seven Great Yao were not uncommon.

Some of those Yao Beasts were as large as mountains, some were as fast as lightning, some had venom that could corrode everything, and some could control wind, rain, thunder, and lightning.

There were even rumors that deep in the Outer Star Sea, there were terrifying existences above level eight, equivalent to human Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators!

They had their own territories, their own intelligence, and their own power; they didn't interfere with human Cultivators, but they certainly wouldn't allow humans to set foot in their domains.

In the past, he hadn't dared to explore this ancient ruins map because he felt his strength was insufficient.

At that time, he was only at the Early Core Formation Stage; going deep into the Outer Star Sea would have been no different from seeking death.

If he encountered a Level Six Yao Beast at random, he would have to fight for his life just to escape; if he encountered a level seven Yao Beast, he probably wouldn't even be able to run.

But now, he was confident he had the means to directly confront a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator.

The Bloodline Flood Dragon was already level seven, with combat power equivalent to a human False Nascent Soul Realm, and its strength was formidable.

The Golden-Backed Demonic Mantis was at the Peak of Level Six, only one step away from level seven.

The Purple Crystal Sable was Level Six, and its Mutation Technique, the Purple Crystal Seal, could Seal the spiritual power of a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator.

Although it could only Seal it for a breath or two, in a life-and-death struggle, a breath or two was enough to decide the outcome.

The army of Illusion Spirit Butterflies numbered nearly thirty thousand, including over fifty level five Pure Gold Illusion Spirit Butterflies and over twenty thousand level three Gold-Patterned Illusion Spirit Butterflies.

Covering the sky and earth, with seven-colored light permeating, it was enough to trap an Early Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator in an illusion, unable to extricate themselves for a short time.

Coupled with his own False Nascent Soul Realm cultivation, his Middle Nascent Soul Stage Divine Sense, eight Spirit Shocking Thorns that could severely wound an Early Nascent Soul, a Six Ding Heavenly Armor Talisman that could withstand a Middle Nascent Soul, and a void escape boat that could travel a hundred miles in an instant...

Even if a Middle Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator moved to kill him, he could escape calmly.

If he couldn't win, couldn't he still run away?

Therefore, it was worth going to investigate.

Perhaps he could find nascent soul formation spiritual items in the ancient ruins. The Immortal Caves of those Ancient Cultivators often hid treasures that had long since vanished from the outside world.

A single Medicinal Pill, a rare object, or a scroll of secret techniques could all become the Opportunity to form a Nascent Soul.

The Legacy of Ancient Cultivators was far more powerful than that of current Cultivators; any item they left behind would be priceless.

He put away the Ancient Map, got up, left the Quiet Room, and went to Xin Ruyin's room.

Xin Ruyin was at her desk studying the Ancient Restriction on that jade box, her expression focused and her brow slightly furrowed.

Several open ancient books were laid out on the desk, along with several sheets of paper covered in runes.

She held a brush in her hand, occasionally sketching a few lines on the paper, then repeatedly deducing based on the runes on the Jade Slip.

Sunlight spilled through the window lattice onto her, coating her in a soft halo.

She wore a simple and elegant long dress, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, her features as beautiful as a painting; her focused appearance was exceptionally moving.

Sensing Lu Qiu coming in, she raised her head and put down the brush, her gentle eyes containing a bit of confusion and a bit of concern.

"Husband Lu, what's wrong?"

Lu Qiu sat down beside her and told her about the Outer Star Sea ruins.

He took out that Ancient Map, pointed to that red mark on it, and explained the location and potential risks in detail.

After Xin Ruyin finished listening, she was silent for a moment.

In those eyes, a flash of worry and a hint of unease appeared.

She looked at the Ancient Map, then at Lu Qiu, her brow furrowing slightly.

"The Outer Star Sea... it's too dangerous."

She said softly, her voice carrying a bit of unease and worry: "That is the domain of Yao Beasts; there are level seven and level eight Yao Beasts. If you go alone, I'm worried..."

She gripped Lu Qiu's hand, her knuckles turning slightly white.

Lu Qiu held her hand, feeling the warmth of her palm and her unease.

He said softly: "Don't worry, I'm confident."

Xin Ruyin looked at him, her eyes full of trust and dependence, but also hiding deep worry.

She knew that once Lu Qiu made a decision, it was very difficult to change.

He had always been like this; once he decided on something, he would definitely do it.

After a moment, she nodded and said softly: "Then you must be careful. If you encounter danger, don't try to be a hero; if it really doesn't work, then retreat."

She took out a set of Formation tools from her Storage Pouch and handed them to Lu Qiu with both hands.

It was an exquisite set of Formation tools composed of dozens of Formation Flags and several Formation Plates.

The Formation Flag was deep purple, about a foot long, with complex runes drawn on its surface that faintly shimmered with a ghostly light.

Those runes were layered and interconnected, forming a profound pattern.

The Formation Plate was inky black and palm-sized, with ancient patterns carved on its surface, emitting a mysterious Aura.

"This Formation is named the 'Nine Nether Universe Array'."

She spoke softly, her eyes carrying a hint of pride as well as a trace of reluctance. "This is my most proud work from these past years. Although it is only an incomplete version, it can resist Early Stage Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators. If an Early Stage Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator is not skilled in Formations, they will be trapped and killed alive within this Formation."

She paused and then added, "When setting up the Formation, drive the Formation Flags into the ley line nodes and use the Formation Plate as the core. Once the Formation is activated, it will form Nine Nether Qi and Heaven and Earth Power—one Yin and one Yang, one to trap and one to kill. If you are overmatched, you can use the Formation Plate as a guide to escape from the Formation."

Lu Qiu took the Formation tools; they felt heavy in his hand, and he could faintly sense the powerful energy contained within them.

That power was cold and domineering, yet it also carried a sense of uprightness and peace—Yin and Yang blending, mutually generating and restraining each other.

He looked up at Xin Ruyin, his eyes full of surprise and admiration.

"Ruyin, you give me a huge surprise every time."

His voice carried sincere amazement.

From the Inverting Five Elements Array of those years, to the Four Symbols Demon Slaying Array, to the Canglan Flood Dragon Locking Formation, to the Five Elements Profound Light Formation, to the Nine Nether Earthly Source Formation, and now to the Nine Nether Universe Array—her Formation attainments made a leap forward every single time.

Back in the Qi Refinement Stage, she was already able to refine an Inverting Five Elements Array that could resist Core Formation Cultivators, allowing him to turn danger into safety many times in Tiannan.

Now with her Core Formation cultivation, she could refine the Nine Nether Universe Array to trap and kill Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators.

If she breaks through to the Nascent Soul Stage in the future, wouldn't she be able to deal with Late Stage Nascent Soul or even Soul Transformation Cultivators?

This kind of talent was truly astonishing.

Xin Ruyin smiled slightly, her smile gentle and bright like the warm spring sun. "As long as I can help Husband Lu, I am satisfied. Your safe return is more important than anything."

Lu Qiu carefully put away the Formation tools and gave her a few more instructions, telling her to take care of her health, not to overwork herself, and to rest more in addition to researching Ancient Restrictions.

Xin Ruyin agreed to each one.

...

Three days later.

Lu Qiu left the Liulian Residence and came to the fiftieth level of the Holy Mountain.

The Holy Mountain was majestic, shrouded in clouds and mist.

The fiftieth level was already an area where Core Formation Cultivators resided; the Spiritual Qi was dense, and the environment was quiet and elegant.

The mountain paths were lined with various spiritual plants—some with brilliant flowers, some with crystal-clear fruits, and some emitting a faint glow.

There were not many Cultivators coming and going; occasionally, a few Core Formation Cultivators would pass by, all in a hurry, busy with their own affairs.

He arrived before a magnificent white marble hall.

The hall was several zhang high, with thick pillars carved with exquisite cloud patterns and star maps.

Those cloud patterns were lifelike, as if they would drift away at any moment; those star maps were incredibly profound, recording the trajectories of the stars in the sky.

Above the hall doors hung a giant plaque several zhang long, with three large characters written in gold powder—

Starry Sky Hall.

This was the teleportation Formation hub established by the Star Palace.

Through the teleportation Formations in the hall, Cultivators could instantly reach the distant Yao Beast Island in the Outer Sea, greatly reducing the time and risk of long-distance travel.

Otherwise, flying from the Inner Star Sea to the Outer Star Sea would take a Core Formation Cultivator several years.

That vast sea was endless, and one would have to pass through the territories of countless Yao Beasts along the way, which was extremely dangerous.

Of course, the price was not cheap—each teleportation required a fee of seven hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, and each teleportation Formation could carry a maximum of seven people.

Seven hundred Spirit Stones was a huge sum for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, but for a Core Formation Cultivator, it was a mere drop in the bucket.

Lu Qiu stepped into the hall, passed through a short corridor, and his vision suddenly opened up.

An empty hall about twenty zhang in length and width appeared before his eyes.

The hall was paved with fine white jade, warm and smooth, giving a slight sensation of warmth when stepped upon.

Moonlight Stones were embedded in the walls, their soft glow illuminating the entire hall as bright as day, yet without the slightest glare.

Several teleportation Formations were arranged in the center of the hall, each inscribed with dense runes and emitting a faint spiritual light.

Two Star Palace Cultivators dressed in white were guarding the area.

Their Auras were steady and profound; they were both impressively at the Core Formation Stage.

One was sitting cross-legged in a corner with his eyes closed, regulating his breath—his Aura was stable, clearly in the middle of cultivation; the other was talking with several Cultivators, his expression indifferent and neither humble nor arrogant.

On the other side, six other Cultivators were talking with one of the white-clad Star Palace Cultivators, seemingly handling teleportation procedures.

Lu Qiu swept his Divine Sense slightly—among those six people, two were also Core Formation Cultivators, while the remaining four were at the Middle or Late Stage of Foundation Establishment.

Their clothing varied; some were luxurious and some were simple, clearly coming from different forces.

Of the two Core Formation Cultivators, one was a middle-aged man with a cold face and sharp eyes, a long sword hanging at his waist, and a sharp Sword Intent radiating from his body—clearly a Sword Cultivator. The other was an old woman leaning on a cane, her Aura steady; though her hair was white and her face was covered in wrinkles, her eyes were exceptionally bright, indicating her cultivation was not low.

The four Foundation Establishment Cultivators, both male and female, stood respectfully to the side, not daring to speak much.

As soon as they saw Lu Qiu walk in, the gazes of several people shifted toward him simultaneously.

The two white-clad Star Palace Cultivators remained indifferent, accustomed to this, only giving a brief glance before looking away.

They saw countless Core Formation Cultivators every day and had long since ceased to find it strange.

However, a flicker of joy flashed in the eyes of the other five Cultivators—another person had arrived, and perhaps they could teleport together to share the cost.

"Is this Fellow Daoist also going to Yao Beast Island?" Among the six, a woman in her thirties suddenly gave a charming smile and took the initiative to greet Lu Qiu. "Why not teleport with us? The fee will be shared per person, so each only needs to pay one hundred Spirit Stones, which is much cheaper than teleporting alone. We are just waiting for the seventh person."

Her smile was warm and her tone was friendly; she clearly looked like a tactful and socially adept person.

She wore a light purple dress and had a pleasing appearance; while not peerlessly beautiful, she was easy on the eyes.

Lu Qiu naturally understood their calculation.

A teleportation Formation could teleport a maximum of seven people at once, and the fee was fixed at seven hundred Spirit Stones.

The more people there were, the cheaper the shared cost would be. These six people had likely gathered together temporarily and were waiting for a seventh person to make up the number.

If he joined, each person would only need to pay one hundred Spirit Stones, which was indeed a good deal.

However, Lu Qiu only gave them a casual glance before looking away.

"No."

His tone was flat as he walked straight toward the other idle white-clad Star Palace Cultivator.

It was only seven hundred Spirit Stones; how could Lu Qiu possibly care about that?

During these years in Tianxing City, his various opportunities and harvests alone had brought him millions of Spirit Stones.

The Spirit Stones on him could be piled up into a small mountain.

Furthermore, he was unwilling to squeeze together with a group of strangers for teleportation, which would only add unnecessary variables.

"I want to go to Qi Feng Island."

Lu Qiu said to the white-clad Star Palace Cultivator.

The white-clad Cultivator nodded and handed over a teleportation list.

It was a Jade Slip that listed the various islands the teleportation Formation could reach, along with the corresponding teleportation fees.

Qi Feng Island was a Cultivator outpost on the outermost edge of the Outer Star Sea, and it was also the last supply station before heading deep into the Outer Star Sea.

Further out was the true domain of Yao Beasts.

Lu Qiu glanced at it, and after confirming everything was correct, he directly paid the seven hundred Spirit Stones.

He took the Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch and stacked them neatly on the table; they shimmered with light and overflowed with Spiritual Qi.

The white-clad Cultivator took the Spirit Stones, pulled a pale gold Talisman from his robe, and handed it to Lu Qiu. "This is a Teleportation Talisman. Please keep it safe. When activating the teleportation Formation, stick this Talisman on your body. Remember, once the Talisman is activated, it must not be removed, or you will be torn apart by spatial forces. During the teleportation process, the Talisman will protect you from being harmed by spatial forces."

The Teleportation Talisman's function was similar to the 'great teleportation token' Lu Qiu had obtained back then.

Both were used to protect Cultivators from injury during spatial teleportation.

The difference was that the great teleportation token was a rare treasure that could be used without limit, while this Teleportation Talisman was said to be something only the Star Palace could produce and was only valid for one use.

Lu Qiu took the Teleportation Talisman and stood before the teleportation Formation labeled 'Qi Feng Island'.

The white-clad Star Palace Cultivator activated the Formation. A low hum sounded, and the runes around the teleportation Formation lit up one by one, emitting a dazzling spiritual light. The light grew brighter and more piercing, and the spiritual power in the air began to fluctuate violently, as if something was being torn open.

"Activate the Teleportation Talisman," the white-clad Cultivator reminded him.

Lu Qiu followed the instruction and stuck the Teleportation Talisman on his chest.

The Talisman instantly turned into a pale gold light shield, enveloping his entire body.

That light shield was as thin as a cicada's wing, yet it gave off a feeling of being indestructible, as if no force could penetrate it.

In the next moment, the white light flared up, completely swallowing his figure.

In the teleportation Formation, only the gradually dissipating spiritual light and the empty floor remained.

The six Cultivators looked at each other, and several of them could not help but shake their heads and sigh.

"Seven hundred Spirit Stones... he just teleported away alone like that? What a spendthrift!" a Foundation Establishment Cultivator exclaimed, his eyes full of heartache.

Seven hundred Spirit Stones were enough for him to Cultivate for several years.

"He is a Core Formation Senior with deep pockets; why would he care about these few Spirit Stones?" another Foundation Establishment Cultivator said sourly, his eyes full of envy.

"Sigh, what a pity. We still have to wait for another person..." The woman sighed and turned her head to look around again, seeing if any newcomers were entering.

"Just wait; someone will always come," the Sword Cultivator spoke indifferently, closing his eyes and saying no more.

Amidst the discussion,

Lu Qiu's figure had already crossed tens of thousands of miles, embarking on his journey to the Outer Star Sea.