Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 253 - 171 Core Formation Middle Stage_1

Chapter 253: 171 Core Formation Middle Stage_1

Time passed by, and five years had gone.

The door of the secret chamber opened, and Shen Long walked out, his aura much stronger than before. He had advanced to the middle stage of Core Formation.

Counting the time, he had been in the Core Formation stage for over twenty years now, which was considered a fast cultivation speed.

He was very clear that if the Gold-Winged Windroc hadn’t advanced to the third tier, saving him a significant amount of time from arduous cultivation, he wouldn’t have reached the middle stage of Core Formation so quickly. This was the advantage of cultivating the Spirit Control Technique.

As far as he knew, many cultivators took a hundred years to reach the middle stage after entering the Core Formation stage.

Shen Long had practiced the Nine Transformations Flood Dragon Art to the eighth layer, his physical body now capable of withstanding attacks from Dharma Treasures. He had also consumed all of the Blood Flood Dragon Pills, and he needed to collect the essence blood of third-tier Flood Dragons.

Shen Long went out and saw hundreds of Sound Transmission Talismans floating in the courtyard. He checked them one by one; they were all sent by cultivators in the Core Formation stage, and the content was more or less the same, most looking to discuss matters with him, with some people wanting to request his alchemy services.

He took out a red, shimmering Messaging Plate, inserted a spell, and Han Chuchu’s voice sounded, "Taoist Friend Shen, I’ve finally managed to contact you."

"I’ve just left seclusion. Fairy Han, I saw the Sound Transmission Talismans you sent. Sorry, I was in closed-door cultivation before."

Shen Long said.

"Taoist Friend Shen is too polite. Sister Chu wants to get to know you and has asked me to introduce you. She has now left the marketplace, we’ll arrange a meeting another day when you’re free!"

Han Chuchu said.

After chatting idly for a few moments, Shen Long cut off the connection and reached out to the other Core Formation cultivators to reply to them.

Half an hour later, Shen Long left Qingjun Courtyard and started strolling through the streets.

He visited several Spirit Medicine Shops but after inquiring around, he still hadn’t found any spirit medicine or spirit fruit that could nourish the Divine Soul.

Shen Long went to a square where Loose Cultivators set up their stalls and browsed around, failing to find any good deals.

This was expected, so Shen Long headed towards the entrance of a splendid palace with "Zihu Palace" written in large characters on its signboard. Many cultivators were coming and going.

He had already inquired about it; Zihu Palace had a Direct Transmission Array, which could be used to get to the Outer Sea to hunt Monster Beasts.

Shen Long entered, and inside the palace were two transference arrays with people arriving and leaving.

After paying ten thousand Spirit Stones, he stepped onto one of the arrays.

Once ten people gathered, the guard inserted a spell into the array. It shook slightly, and a dazzling Spiritual Light erupted, engulfing the ten of them.

After a moment of slight dizziness, Shen Long found himself in a spacious and bright hall, with a noisy commotion coming from outside.

Shen Long stepped outside and found himself on a bustling street, where he continued his leisurely walk.

Along the way, he saw many shops that purchased Monster Beasts Materials, with lots of cultivators coming in and out, their bodies emitting a strong murderous aura, and some had many brownish bloodstains on them.

"Eh, Senior Shen."

A man’s voice rang out.

He Hai quickly approached Shen Long with a respectful expression.

"Are you here to hunt Monster Beasts in the Outer Sea?"

Shen Long casually asked.

"No, I’m still working as a guide. There’s not much to do in Zihu Marketplace."

He Hai explained.

"Tell me about the situation in the Outer Sea."

Shen Long ordered.

He Hai’s face showed excitement as he began to describe the circumstances in the Outer Sea.

The Outer Sea had four great islands, and equally, four great marketplaces; they were currently on Golden Flood Dragon Island, which the Ximen Family controlled.

The Golden Flood Dragon Marketplace was one of the four major marketplaces in the Outer Sea, and with the Han Family and Ximen Family’s marriage alliance, one could see many figures from the Han Family.

After the time for a cup of tea had passed, Shen Long followed He Hai to a vast Azure Stone Plaza. In the center of the plaza stood an imposing pavilion with a golden sign bearing the spectacular calligraphy of "Golden Flood Dragon Pavilion," denoting the largest shop in the marketplace.

"Senior Shen, the Golden Flood Dragon Pavilion is backed by the Ximen Family and Han Family, rich in cultivation resources," He Hai informed him.

"Wait here for me," Shen Long instructed before striding inside.

The lobby was spacious and bright, and many customers were seen selling Monster Beasts Materials.

Shen Long headed straight upstairs and on reaching the eighth floor, he saw a green light screen blocking the staircase to the ninth floor.

Chairs were placed on the eighth floor, and Shen Long found an empty one and sat down.

Before long, a familiar male voice reached Shen Long’s ear, "Taoist Friend Shen! Long time no see."

Shen Long turned his head to look and saw Song He walking briskly towards him, his face beaming with a smile.

"Taoist Friend Song, it’s you, long time no see."

Shen Long greeted him with a smile.

"By the way, Taoist Friend Shen, here are two 600-year Qingfeng Grasses, three third-rank early-stage Green Marten Pills, and a corpse of a third-rank middle-stage Blood Clam Beast. If you don’t mind, please take them!"

Song He took out a cyan Storage Bag and handed it to Shen Long.

"I don’t have anything good either, these two Green Marten Pills are for you, Taoist Friend Song."

Shen Long took out a cyan jade box and handed it to Song He.

With an excited expression, Song He thanked him repeatedly and accepted the cyan jade box.

After a brief chat, Song He took his leave.

Shen Long stepped forward and saw a fat man in a golden robe sitting on a chair.

"I am Ximen Yu, may I ask how to address you, friend?"

The man in the golden robe smiled as he spoke.

"Shen Zhu!"

Shen Long gave a false name.

"So it’s Taoist Friend Shen, I wonder how I may assist you."

Ximen Yu smiled.

"I am looking to purchase some Ocean Charts, and these items."

Shen Long took out a cyan Jade Slip and handed it to Ximen Yu.

Ximen Yu scanned it with his Divine Sense and said, "Apart from the Spirit Medicine and Spirit Fruit that nourish the Divine Soul, and third-rank Flood Dragon Essence Blood, I have everything else."

"Taoist Friend Ximen, I heard that third-rank Flood Dragons often appear in the Outer Sea. Don’t you sell their Essence Blood?"

Shen Long curiously asked.

"Indeed, third-rank Flood Dragons frequently appear in the Outer Sea, but it is not easy to slay one. Even if we did have it for sale, we would auction it at a large auction event," explained Ximen Yu.

Shen Long suddenly realized and said, "Alright then, I’ll take the Ocean Charts and the other items."

Ximen Yu took out a Law Disk that flashed with golden light, injected a spell into it, and made a series of gestures.

After a while, a tall and burly middle-aged man approached, took out a cyan Storage Bag, and handed it to Ximen Yu.

Ximen Yu handed it to Shen Long, "Taoist Friend Shen, please check the goods."

Shen Long took out the items from the Storage Bag, carefully checked them, and after confirming there were no problems, he paid with Spirit Stones.

"Taoist Friend Shen, we are collecting these materials. If you are able to obtain them, please consider us first, especially the high-rank Absorbing Thunder Pearl and Leading Thunder Pearl, as well as Spirit Medicine and Spirit Fruit that nourish the Divine Soul and third-rank Flood Dragon Essence Blood," said Ximen Yu as he handed over a golden Jade Slip to Shen Long.

"Third-rank Infant Cry Beast’s Demon Core! Absorbing Thunder Pearl, Leading Thunder Pearl."

Scanning the contents with his Divine Sense, Shen Long’s face revealed a thoughtful expression.

Monster Beasts, birds, and insects with Thunder Attributes of the third rank and above may have either an Absorbing Thunder Pearl or Leading Thunder Pearl within them. This is a matter of chance. Absorbing Thunder Pearls can be used for Array Setting and Artifact Refining, and they can reduce the power of the Heavenly Tribulation; Leading Thunder Pearls can channel the power of thunder and lightning from heaven and earth, and the higher the grade, the better the effect.

For Monster Beasts, birds, and insects with Thunder Attributes, possessing either an Absorbing Thunder Pearl or a Leading Thunder Pearl greatly benefits their cultivation. An Absorbing Thunder Pearl can make crossing their tribulation easier, while a Leading Thunder Pearl can enhance their strength and guide the power of thunder and lightning to attack enemies.

Shen Long agreed and rose to leave.

He Hai accompanied Shen Long on a tour of the marketplace, where they purchased several Ocean Charts and Demon Cores. They inquired with various shopkeepers about the purchase prices for third-rank Monster Beasts to understand the market conditions.

"That’s enough, you can go. This bottle of Elixir is your reward. Pay attention to the items I mentioned, and notify me immediately if you get any news," Shen Long instructed, handing over a cyan porcelain bottle to He Hai.

He Hai expressed profuse thanks and acceptance, and took the cyan porcelain bottle before leaving.

Shen Long rented an independent cyan pavilion with a signboard that read "Qingjun Pavilion".

The Qingjun Pavilion had two floors. Shen Long pushed open the door and entered, activated the restrictive spells, and walked into a stone chamber.

He took out a sea chart and started to examine it.

He planned to go out to sea to hunt for Monster Beasts, preferably encounter a third-rank Flood Dragon, but before that, he needed to make comprehensive preparations. There were too many islands in the Outer Sea, and no one knew exactly how many there were.