Cultivation Starting from Full Talent
Chapter 708 - 706: Aggressive Acquisitions

Chapter 708: Chapter 706: Aggressive Acquisitions

"Food and lodging provided, wages negotiated separately—deal?" Ning Daoran asked with a smile.

"Deal!"

True Monarch Wanhua nodded with a grin, then gazed at the Divine Leaf Sect, which had been cleaved in half by the Chaotic Heaven Star Monarch, his expression distant as he murmured, "In truth, if I could guard this mountain, it would at least honor the trust placed in me by my master back then..."

"Fellow Daoist, please rest assured."

Ning Daoran said solemnly, "A new sect will undoubtedly rise upon this Divine Leaf Mountain, but it will never again be the Divine Leaf Sect. If you choose to stay, I am willing to entrust this sect to you, for I, Ning Daoran, will inevitably leave Jade Bottle Continent someday."

"Fellow Daoist Ning..."

True Monarch Wanhua was moved but hesitated, unsure of what to say.

...

Thus, Ning Daoran and Big Stupid Deer spent an entire afternoon carving out a new cave mansion atop Bi Yi Peak for True Monarch Wanhua, who would remain behind as its steward.

Afternoon.

In a tea pavilion, Ning Daoran and True Monarch Wanhua shared tea.

"Even now, there are many loose cultivators across Jade Bottle Continent with nowhere to settle."

Ning Daoran said, "I have been tasked with overseeing Jade Bottle Continent, so I must gather these homeless loose cultivators. Do you think Divine Leaf Mountain could serve as a sanctuary for them?"

"I don’t see why not,"

True Monarch Wanhua replied, "For one, the Divine Leaf Sect has already moved to Li Yue Continent with my senior apprentice brother, severing all ties to this mountain. For another, since you’re stationed in Jade Bottle Continent, you’ll need manpower under you. We could recruit cultivators by leveraging the top-grade spirit vein beneath Bi Yi Peak—Golden Core cultivators at least would take interest in this third-tier top-grade vein."

"Excellent."

Ning Daoran said, "Let’s do it. I’ll send paperfolk across Jade Bottle Continent to seek out homeless loose cultivators and bring them to Divine Leaf Mountain. Once they arrive, their arrangements will be entrusted to you."

"Good, I won’t let you down!"

True Monarch Wanhua gave a radiant smile.

Ning Daoran then drifted out of the cave mansion, scattering large numbers of Class A paperfolk and Second-class paperfolk into the sky. One by one, the paperfolk transformed into figures of male and female cultivators, quickly departing Bi Yi Peak and fanning out across Jade Bottle Continent like budding branches.

True Monarch Wanhua didn’t idle either, enlisting Big Stupid Deer, Little Blackie, and others to begin excavating cave mansions along the spirit vein beneath Bi Yi Peak. Soon enough, the mansions formed a sprawling network, lending the area a burgeoning vitality.

...

Months later.

Deep underground beneath Bi Yi Peak, within the Qi Gathering Array.

The mysterious treasure bottle still stood proudly beneath the array’s core, while the cobweb-shaped array eye sank slightly. "Plop"—another drop of Qi Fortune Spirit Liquid fell into the bottle.

By now, the bottle held half its capacity in spirit liquid, sufficient to nurture new life.

Ning Daoran took a deep breath; the time had come.

He immediately slapped the storage bag at his waist and commanded, "Come forth!"

Instantly, the jade bottles containing the primordial qi of plants and trees popped open of their own accord. Countless specks of light, firefly-like in appearance, floated upward from the bottles, densely filling the underground space like a field of stars.

These points of light were all Grass and Tree Holy Spirits collected from across Jade Bottle Continent, representing the vitality of the entire continent. Ning Daoran had been gathering them precisely for this moment.

"Come!"

In the next instant, Ning Daoran opened his arms wide, releasing copious mana. A multitude of Grass and Tree Holy Spirits descended, gathering between his hands, where they were slowly refined.

Since this was his first time doing such a thing, Ning Daoran, although somewhat confident, couldn’t help feeling nervous. Sweat soon covered his forehead as his mana was drained at an alarming rate.

"My lord, don’t overexert yourself,"

Little Bai said softly from the side.

"Mm."

Ning Daoran nodded but did not stop refining. This task was best completed in one go, lest flaws arise during the process. Fortunately, the Eternal Green Technique he cultivated had reached an impressive forty layers, rolling endlessly with a vitality that transformed mana from hundreds of mid-grade spirit stones instantaneously.

After laboring for an entire day, he finally completed the process!

"Buzz-buzz~~~"

Ning Daoran slowly opened his palms, revealing a luminous blue seed floating into the air. Condensed from millions of Grass and Tree Holy Spirits of Jade Bottle Continent, the seed embodied the complete vitality of the continent.

"Go!"

He carefully enveloped the seed in a strand of mana and guided it above the mysterious treasure bottle. With a "plop," the seed fell into the bottle.

Following this, Ning Daoran did not rest. Sitting cross-legged before the treasure bottle, he continuously channeled Eternal Green Technique mana into the seed to stimulate its immense vitality so it could sprout—otherwise, such a wondrous object would not germinate easily.

Days passed.

Life flourished within the seed, and a golden shoot, barely noticeable, emerged!

"Success!"

Ning Daoran exclaimed with joy as he rose slowly, a goal finally accomplished.

He had poured painstaking effort into repairing the continent’s Qi Fortune. Everything that could be done had been done. Now, it was simply a matter of letting events progress naturally until success was consummated.

"Little Bai,"

Ning Daoran turned to say, "From now on, you’ll guard this place. Be exceedingly careful, and don’t let down your guard. I need to leave briefly to purchase materials for the Heaven Element Wind Thunder Array. I’m relying on you to protect Bi Yi Peak."

"My lord, rest assured. I will not fail you,"

"Very good!"

Ning Daoran nodded with satisfaction and transformed into a streak of tunneling light, departing Jade Bottle Continent.

...

Two months later.

In Xia Country, Yunzhou, Kunpeng Immortal City.

Clad in azure robes, with an air of immortal charm, Ning Daoran radiated the aura of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. His arrival outside Kunpeng Immortal City drew the stares of numerous passing Fairies, none of whom could resist pausing to admire this elegant Nascent Soul Senior of evident distinction!

"Senior!"

A Golden Core Middle Stage cultivator flew out from the City Protection Array, bowing courteously. "May I ask your honored name and the purpose of your visit to Kunpeng Immortal City?"

"I am Ning Daoran of the Chaotic Sect,"

Ning Daoran said with a respectful salute. "I’ve come to Kunpeng Immortal City to meet City Lord Lin and purchase some array materials."

"What!?"

The Golden Core cultivator was visibly stunned. "You—you’re Senior Ning?! Wonderful—please, Senior, enter the city!"

"Thank you."

Ning Daoran placed one hand behind his back and floated gracefully into the city, leaving behind a crowd of speechless Fairies outside the gate.

"Senior Brother..."

A rather lovely Fairy spoke in hushed tones, "Is this the Ning Senior who slew three Divinity Transformation Stage cultivators from North Sea during the Battle of Descent, decades ago—the Independent Practitioner Jianjia, Ning Senior? He—he’s so young, and so handsome..."

"Junior Sister!"

The Senior Brother coughed lightly. "Don’t overthink it. A high figure like Senior Ning... We, from such a minor sect, can’t possibly aspire to him..."

Yet, the Junior Sister’s gaze remained full of admiration.

Within the city, a streak of tunneling light sped toward Ning Daoran—it was Chen Liang, the head of the city guards, now a newly advanced Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator.

"Fellow Daoist Ning!"

Chen Liang laughed heartily. "Long time no see! How have you been? I’d heard you were stationed in Jade Bottle Continent but never expected you’d visit Kunpeng Immortal City. Do you have urgent business?"

"Nothing major. I just wanted to see City Lord Lin and purchase some supplies."

"That’s fine. The City Lord will be here shortly!"

Indeed, as Ning Daoran looked up, a streak of luminous tunneling light approached from afar—it was Lin Tiannan, Lord of Kunpeng Immortal City and a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

However, Lin Tiannan was in poor condition, likely due to the repercussions of self-destructing his Spirit Dragon Sleeve Sword in the past. Not everyone had Ning Daoran’s robust foundation; self-destructing even a low-grade Spirit Treasure like the Golden Silk Sword would have catastrophic consequences for most. Yet Ning Daoran had managed to craft and nurture a new set with time.

"City Lord Lin, long time no see!"

"Young Friend Ning, long time no see!"

Lin Tiannan exclaimed with delight, "Your presence in Kunpeng Immortal City is a great honor!"

"You flatter me."

Ning Daoran smiled. "To be candid, I’m here to purchase array materials. Would Kunpeng Immortal City happen to have fifth-order array materials? If so, I’d like all of them."

"Oh?"

Lin Tiannan narrowed his eyes and smiled. "It seems Young Friend Ning plans to craft a Fifth-Grade Lower Grade Heaven Element Wind Thunder Array. My congratulations!"

"I haven’t succeeded yet, City Lord Lin—it’s far too early for congratulations."

Ning Daoran said humbly, "Though I have some skill in arrays, the Heaven Element Wind Thunder Array is a fifth-rank formation. Success is not guaranteed in a single attempt. That’s why I aim to purchase extra materials."

"Understood."

Lin Tiannan turned to Chen Liang. "Fellow Daoist Chen, go immediately to the major workshops in the city. Tell the workshop masters to send all their fifth-rank array materials to the City Lord Mansion. Make it clear that prices must remain fair—if anyone attempts price gouging, they can pack up and get out of Kunpeng Immortal City."

"Understood!"

Chen Liang bowed and left immediately.

Ning Daoran was deeply surprised. It was the first time he had witnessed Lin Tiannan’s unwavering loyalty in such a manner. Then again, it made sense; after surviving the Battle of Descent together, the two had become fast allies. This small favor, of course, was no trouble at all!

By nightfall, the City Lord Mansion was ablaze with lights.

A group of merchant leaders gathered in the mansion, presenting their fifth-rank array materials at very reasonable prices—no one attempted to swindle Ning Daoran.

Thus, by spending millions of spirit stones, Ning Daoran went on a buying spree, acquiring materials for the Heaven Element Wind Thunder Array and anything else that struck his fancy. After all, he planned to ascend to the Earth Immortal Realm someday, where higher-rank arrays would be essential. Stocking up now was far better than scrambling later.

After spending three days in Kunpeng Immortal City, Ning Daoran bid farewell to Lin Tiannan and headed to the ancient transmission formation.

From there, he teleported to Sangyu Country and continued toward the Returning Ruins Immortal Land without pause.

Sangyu Country’s merchant companies no longer met his standards, but Guiru City, with its wealth of fifth-order array materials unparalleled anywhere, was his true destination.

Two months later, he arrived at Guiru City.

Ning Tianyi still oversaw Divine Deer Continent in Li Country, while Guiru City was managed by the mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator Ning Mingyu. Thus, Ning Daoran refrained from disturbing anyone and entered the city directly.

Upon arriving at his former cave mansion, he discovered it had been left untouched—the furnishings were identical to when he had departed years ago. Could it be the cave mansion had remained unoccupied all this time?

Turning toward a neighboring cave mansion, he saw it too was unchanged.

"Yusui, are you here?"

"Ah?"

The mansion’s restriction shimmered as Jade Marrow Immortal stepped out, her deep blue immortal dress swaying. When her eyes landed on Ning Daoran, they gleamed with tears.