Big Data Cultivation

Feng Jun was in the mobile phone plane, renting the Golden Core Cave Mansion for twenty days, with Qu Jianlei footing the bill.

He had been wandering on the Earth plane for about three and a half months, but only three days had passed here.

So he stayed in the cave mansion for another twelve days, sorting out many things, and even watched a TV series.

However, he really couldn't tolerate more bad TV dramas, so on the fifteenth day, he decisively left the Golden Core Cave Mansion.

When renting a cave mansion for seclusion, it's always calculated for a long term, fearing that a critical moment might be interrupted. Coming out early doesn't affect anything.

As soon as he stepped out of the cave mansion, people around quickly left, looking rather sneaky.

Feng Jun didn't bother to avoid them anymore, and with a flick of his hand, pulled one of them over, "Spying on me? You have quite the nerve!"

This person was at the Fourth Layer of Qi-refining, dressed quite plainly but not poorly—after all, an intermediate-level Qi-Refining practitioner should look like this, and his eyes were darting around shrewdly.

Since he seemed to understand the situation, speaking plainly, "Honored one, I'm just trying to earn some money for information, please spare me."

"Don't worry, I don't kill those who understand," Feng Jun smiled faintly, "Be honest, who are you reporting to?"

The implication was, if you're not sensible, you could be killed. Although in the Fang Market one must not take action lightly, Mingsha Fang Market's rules could no longer restrain him.

The mid-stage Qi-refining person hesitated for a moment, then honestly replied, "The person who hired me said he was a disciple of Wanfu Platform, but I can't guarantee it. Please spare my life, I'm just earning two spirit stones as a runner's fee."

Feng Jun raised his hand and took a storage talisman from him, checked it, and indeed, he was poor—only two spirit stones, a few fragmentary spirits, a low-level magic artifact, and several talismans—the low-level magic artifact was worth about ten spirit stones.

"I'll take the storage talisman," Feng Jun waved it in front of the man, speaking expressionlessly, "I value it at twenty spirit stones. Next time it won't be so cheap. You'd better figure out whose spirit stones you can earn, and whose you can't."

He didn't care much about these spirit stones, but as he always said, bad habits shouldn't be indulged.

The man's face turned pale, nodding repeatedly in fear, not daring to utter a single word.

At this moment, a powerful aura appeared in the distance, weak yet exceptionally strong.

In the next moment, a figure appeared in front of the two, it was Qu Jianlei.

He nodded at Feng Jun with a smile, "So you've advanced a level? Huh… what's up with this guy?"

The mid-stage Qi-refining person's trembling intensified.

"Apparently, he took Wanfu Platform's spirit stones to spy on me," Feng Jun replied nonchalantly, "Thank you, Master Qu, have you been waiting for me to come out?"

"Of course, congratulations on your successful advancement," Qu Jianlei laughed, and the two walked away together, "While you were in closed cultivation, Mingsha Fang Market has been lively. Besides the Qinggang Sect and Thunder Plains, Ten Directions Platform also sent people… But I didn't hear about Wanfu Platform."

"Ten Directions Platform sent people?" Feng Jun's brow furrowed, "What caught their interest?"

"Who knows, the Huang Fu family's little one is negotiating with them," Qu Jianlei exuded a faint pressure, causing the people in the market to keep their distance, "By the way, You Longzi surrendered a few days ago."

You Longzi is dead? Feng Jun was momentarily confused, actually unable to clearly recall the person's appearance, "Was it a bounty task from the Crimson Phoenix Sect?"

"Yes, a bounty task," Qu Jianlei nodded, chuckling again, "But it was a thunder cultivator from Thunder Plains who acted."

In the ten plus days Feng Jun had been in seclusion, there were indeed significant changes at Mingsha Fang Market, with multiple forces arriving here. Besides the Four Sects and Wutai, many loose cultivators had come, most of whom had heard there was an opportunity in Lantern Town.

Qu Jianlei spoke solemnly, "We analyzed that it's highly likely the Yinsha Sect spread the rumor, they can't stand our Crimson Phoenix Sect doing any better, but with Taiqing and Qinggang also present, they only dared to stir the pot secretly."

Feng Jun smiled indifferently, "The Yinsha Sect likes to make things difficult for me too, but this time, it seems we've become mortal enemies."

"So be it," Qu Jianlei replied nonchalantly, "If you feel unsafe here, you can go to Crimson Phoenix. With me and Xiao Meng supporting you, Taiqing also needs your deductions, and no one would dare trouble you at Crimson Phoenix."

Give it a rest, Feng Jun shook his head, thinking even if I did go, you wouldn't have the final say, and the Yin Spirit Bigwig would definitely oppose this choice, so he just smiled, "Even if I wanted to go, Taiqing wouldn't agree."

"Alright," Qu Jianlei waved a hand and spoke somberly, "Are you planning to go to Taiqing's inn or White Pebble Beach?"

Feng Jun's brow slightly raised, "Taiqing's inn?"

The next moment, he understood, "Oh, you mean the land Huang Fu Wuxia bought?"

"That is now an inn," Qu Jianlei replied with a smile, "Taiqing disciples are transferring there now, with quite a few already arrived. Aren't you going to have a look?"

"I'll go back to White Pebble Beach," Feng Jun shook his head, "By the way, I need to buy a few soul-searching talismans."

"The soul-searching talisman is no problem," Qu Jianlei patted his chest, "Leave it to me, Rongxun Hall uses this often, don't buy those Tiantong ones, they're far inferior to the ones the Crimson Phoenix Sect uses themselves."

The two of them chatted as they walked out of the Mingsha Fang Market and released a flying boat to head towards White Pebble Beach.

Given the frequent appearances of Golden Cores recently, Qu Jianlei boldly released his Golden Core aura aboard the flying boat.

Thankfully, they safely arrived at White Pebble Beach.

They already knew about Feng Jun's emergence from seclusion, and upon seeing the flying boat descend, Kong Ziyi, Li Zhishen, Bai Luan, and others came to offer congratulations, celebrating his successful advancement to the fifth layer of Mid-stage Qi Refining.

However, there was a strange fellow mixed in, none other than Wang Wuji, who fled from the Qinggang Sect last time.

Wang Wuji came as the negotiation representative of Qinggang, but upon arrival, he learned that Feng Jun was in seclusion, and today had successfully advanced to the fifth layer. He was startled to realize—do I need to prepare a congratulatory gift?

Luckily, this was a minor advancement, and Wang Wuji prepared a secret tome, the "Book of Mountains and Rivers," which mainly discusses various worldly fortunes and Earth veins. It's nothing too profound, but generally beyond the reach of typical Qi-Refining practitioners.

The truth is, he prepared this book with a bit of intent to test the waters.

Li Zhishen couldn't help but sneer upon seeing his gift, "Such coarse offerings, only your Qinggang Sect would have the nerve to present."

Wang Wuji gave him a sideways glance, "Trouble yourself to clarify, I'm presenting this to Mountain Master Feng, are you intending to steal the thunder?"

"Alright, guests are guests," Feng Jun halted their argument and turned to Wang Wuji, "Are the teleportation plates and transmission arrays prepared?"

"Direct transmission arrays to the Mortal Realm are not possible," Wang Wuji stated solemnly, "Two pairs of teleportation plates are no problem, but for the transmission arrays… sorry, not even to the entrance of the Cultivation World can arrays be set."

Actually, transmission arrays are a double-edged sword, they bring convenience but also potential threat. Unless it's a private array, major powers generally don't permit unregulated arrays near them.

For instance, the transmission arrays of the Four Sects and Wutai are far from the core areas, and Qiuchen Market would certainly not agree to Feng Jun setting up a nearby transmission array.

Of course, Wang Wuji's statement doesn't mean building the transmission array is impossible, just not according to Feng Jun's specifications—it's actually a part of negotiation tactics.

Feng Jun happened to no longer want the transmission array, since with the "Footprints" feature, why need an array? "Then what do you plan to compensate with?"

Not wanting it anymore? Wang Wuji was a bit surprised, "What is Mountain Master Feng interested in?"

"What I'm interested in you've already rejected," Feng Jun waved his hand dismissively, "Serve some tea, today everyone's here to celebrate with me, other matters can be set aside for now."

Li Zhishen still held a grudge about being ambushed when attempting to track down Wang Wuji last time, "Mountain Master Feng, this tome is somewhat misleading."

Wang Wuji sneered, "Your Taiqing Earth Vein Technique is unparalleled, naturally, you'll look down on trivial things like these, but haven't you offered it to Mountain Master Feng? If not, keep quiet."

He's truly provoking, knowing that Taiqing Sect would never easily impart this technique, he deliberately chose such a tome—anyway, Qinggang Sect's accomplishments in this field are limited, spilling a bit doesn't matter.

Li Zhishen choked on his words, turning red-faced, whereas Feng Jun cast a half-smiling glance at Wang Wuji, "Wang, the esteemed sword cultivator with surprisingly strategic prowess, alright, I'll accept it."

Among the elders of Taiqing, Xie Qingyun was fairly quick-witted, he spoke seemingly casually, "Taiqing disciples are not stingy; some tomes can't be leaked due to sect rules, but the Earth Vein Technique… a few have discussed it with Mountain Master Feng."

His use of "some" is not generalized but specifically refers to Kong Ziyi, though she is a female elder and Feng Jun is an outsider male cultivator, making it inappropriate to state directly.

Wang Wuji smiled quietly, his goal was simply to plant a thorn, whether it resulted in gains was irrelevant—at least he wouldn't make Feng Jun dislike Qinggang Sect more.

Bai Luan's congratulatory gift was two thousand Spirit Stones—she was never one to be generous.

Yet she still rather bluntly expressed, "Mountain Master Feng, can you not venture out soon? In two or three months, a batch of Crimson Phoenix disciples will arrive."

Now all ninth-layer Qi Refining disciples in Crimson Phoenix know a method in the sect that pairs with the Fire Marrow Pills, many stationed outside are gradually returning, those who can't return immediately are finding replacements.

Feng Jun rubbed his forehead, "Two or three months… that long?"

"They all have tasks to fulfill to earn sect contributions," Bai Luan shook her head, "You're charging high fees, um… it seems you charge Taiqing lower than others, right?"

Ah, so that's where she's heading, Feng Jun chuckled, "Then I can't raise Taiqing's rate, can I?"

"I hope to see the fees lowered, balanced out," Bai Luan spoke firmly, "Crimson Phoenix can assist you with one matter."

With three sects putting together, market prices indeed have to be considered! Feng Jun rubbed his chin, pondered for a moment, and nodded, "I'll think about it."

A nearby Crimson Phoenix elder spoke softly, "Mountain Master Feng, our sect's Rongxun… is currently recovering."

(Third update, it's the end of the month, loudly summoning monthly tickets.)