184: From now on, we can say we have someone to rely on!

After touring Dao Nurturing Peak, the two rushed without pause to Refining Cauldron Peak, located on the western side of the Bitao Sect.

This Peak was shrouded in pill fire year-round; from afar, one could see the shimmering firelight radiating from the entire mountain, and the air was filled with the fresh fragrance of Medicinal Pills.

The core area of Refining Cauldron Peak was the 'Refining Cauldron Pavilion.' The pavilion was divided by function into the Medicinal Pill Area, Magical Artifact Area, and Spiritual Material Area. Each area was equipped with a 'Spirit Jade Display Screen' that clearly marked the prices and exchange requirements for various resources.

Su Ling approached the display screen in the Medicinal Pill Area and scanned it with his Divine Sense, finding that the prices here were nearly twenty percent lower than in the outside world.

A bottle of 'Qianyuan Pills,' which could accelerate the cultivation of Core Formation Stage Cultivators, sold for three hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones outside, but here it only cost two hundred and fifty thousand.

A Low Grade Magic Treasure, the Green Peak Sword, cost one hundred and fifty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones outside, but could be acquired here for only one hundred and twenty thousand.

"How about it? The prices in our Sect are fair enough, right?"

Lu Tao leaned over to take a look and said with a smile, "However, for those supreme grade Magic Treasures and top-tier Medicinal Pills, just having Spirit Stones isn't enough; you also need contribution points. For example, that 'Soul Transformation Stage Pill' not only requires one hundred thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones but also two thousand contribution points. Ordinary Disciples can't afford to exchange for it."

Su Ling's gaze swept across the Magical Artifact Area, seeing many Magic Treasures shimmering with spiritual light, yet his heart remained untroubled.

He already had two low-grade spirit tools, the seven star soul settling pagoda and the golden steel demon-clearing bell, as well as the Low Grade Spirit Treasure 'phoenix dance nine-fierce ruler' available for use. For the time being, he had no need to replace his Magical Artifacts.

On the other hand, he did need to purchase some of the various auxiliary cultivation pills from the Medicinal Pill Area.

And the Yao Beast essence blood in the Spiritual Material Area truly caught his eye.

"I'll sell the things I don't need first to exchange for some Spirit Stones and cultivation resources."

Su Ling said to Lu Tao before walking toward the exchange counter of the Refining Cauldron Pavilion.

He took out the surplus Magic Treasures and spiritual materials he had harvested during the National War from his Storage Ring and handed them one by one to the deacon in charge of consignments.

That Soul Transformation deacon looked at the mountain of various resources, his eyes full of shock.

He stood dazed for several breaths before beginning to carefully inspect them.

Finally, he took out a Storage Pouch and handed it to Su Ling. "These materials are worth a total of one hundred and ninety million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Please count them."

Su Ling took the Storage Pouch, scanned it with his Divine Sense to confirm the amount was correct, and then turned back toward the Medicinal Pill and Spiritual Material Areas.

He spent fifty million Low-Grade Spirit Stones to buy a large quantity of auxiliary cultivation pills like 'Qianyuan Pills,' 'guiyuan pills,' and 'Spirit Marrow Pills,' and also selected several hundred catties of fourth and even fifth-rank gold-thunder attribute Yao Beast essence blood.

This essence blood was the key to feeding the azure roc wings.

Previously, because high-level Cultivators were monitoring him, he hadn't really used essence blood to nourish the azure roc wings.

Now that he had reached the Bitao Sect and had a private Immortal Cave available, he could finally feel at ease accelerating the progress of nourishing the azure roc wings.

"You're buying so many pills and essence blood; are you planning to enter secluded cultivation?"

Lu Tao looked at the Storage Pouch in Su Ling's hand and asked curiously.

"Yes, my cultivation has already reached the Peak of the Core Formation Mid-stage, just one step away from a Breakthrough to the Late Stage. This time, I want to see if I can Cultivate all the way to the Peak Core Formation Stage in one go."

Su Ling nodded slightly as he put away the resources, his tone calm yet firm.

"Uh, you're being too intense!"

Hearing this, Lu Tao couldn't help but click his tongue. "At your cultivation rate, a seclusion would last at least several decades. During that time, we won't be able to go out and play together!"

"It's not like it's a death seclusion."

Su Ling rolled his eyes and turned to walk out. "If you're free, you can come to my Immortal Cave to find me anytime. It's not like we won't see each other."

"That's more like it!"

Lu Tao finally relaxed and followed with a chuckle. "In the Sect, I only have a few friends like Song Moting and Zhao Lie, but they're either cultivating or doing missions all day. It's incredibly boring. You'd better not become like them!"

The two talked and laughed as they steered the Flying Boat toward Shadow Moon Valley.

The spiritual scenery along the way was like a painting, and the Spiritual Qi was so dense it was refreshing to the soul.

After a short while, the outline of Shadow Moon Valley appeared before them.

Just as Su Ling was preparing to carefully admire the valley's scenery, a streak of transmission light suddenly flew into Lu Tao's Storage Ring.

Lu Tao took out a golden token and read the message; his face instantly collapsed, and he wailed, "It's over, it's over! Revered Master is making me go soak in the Hundred Refinements Spring again. Is that thing even meant for humans!"

Hearing this, Su Ling couldn't help but smile.

He had heard Lu Tao mention the Hundred Refinements Spring before; it was a spiritual spring used by the Bitao Sect to temper the Physical Body. Soaking in it was agonizing, yet it was an excellent way to improve physical strength.

"I'm off first. Just fly forward along this stream; you'll see your Immortal Cave in about half an incense stick's time!"

As Lu Tao spoke, he hurriedly steered his Flying Sword into the distance, his figure instantly vanishing into the spiritual mist.

Watching Lu Tao's disheveled retreat, Su Ling shook his head helplessly, then summoned the soaring wing boat and slowly flew into the valley.

Shadow Moon Valley was extremely rich in water and wood Spiritual Qi, with lush, towering trees visible everywhere.

A light mist permeated the canyon, appearing dreamlike under the sunlight.

Occasionally, spiritual birds would flit across the branches, letting out crisp chirps, while the water mist drifted through the forest like a fairyland.

The soaring wing boat flew at a low altitude. After passing through a bamboo forest, the view before Su Ling suddenly opened up.

A small courtyard with an ancient and elegant design appeared in his field of vision.

The courtyard was built against the mountain, its walls made of green stone as clear and smooth as jade, and many evergreen trees were planted inside.

Amidst the lush foliage, a faint, fresh fragrance of wood spirit radiated.

A wooden plaque stood before the courtyard gate, carved with the words 'Lingyun Villa.' This was the Immortal Cave the Sect had arranged for Su Ling.

Su Ling controlled the soaring wing boat to land before the gate. Looking at this courtyard full of spiritual charm, a sense of stability welled up in his heart.

This would be his harbor for cultivation in the Bitao Sect in the future.

He used his token to open the Restriction formation and walked into Lingyun Villa.

After a brief look around, a trace of warmth couldn't help but rise in Su Ling's heart.

This villa Immortal Cave seemed to have been newly completed.

Furthermore, the concentration of Spiritual Qi gathered inside was as abundant as what Su Ling had felt at Tingtao Water Pavilion.

Compared to the rented Immortal Caves he had lived in before, this was countless times better.

In all likelihood, this was a gift Clear Ripple Immortal Venerable had specially arranged for him.

Su Ling did not rush to begin his seclusion. Instead, he sat down at the white jade stone table in the courtyard.

Looking at the distant scenery, he brewed a pot of spiritual tea and quietly savored this rare sense of peace.

Having cultivated for over a hundred years, a sliver of urgency and unease had always existed in his heart.

It seemed that only at this moment did he completely relax.

He raised his teacup, offering a toast to his bumpy past.

Su Ling smiled faintly and drank the spiritual tea overflowing with Qi in one gulp.

"From now on, I also have a backer!"