Big Data Cultivation

"Twenty thousand Spirit Stones?" Feng Jun looked at Yu Pao in astonishment, "Is it that expensive?"

He had been using condensed Spirit Stones as regular Spirit Stones, each equivalent to about ten Spirit Stones.

For a moment, his heart ached, thinking about how many Spirit Stones he had wasted.

Then he thought, there were at least six or seven hundred Destiny Stones in Mount Zhige, and he felt a bit nervous. Is that worth... over ten million Spirit Stones?

He felt his situation was a bit dangerous.

"They're not worth that much," Qu Jianlei laughed. He had lived for over four hundred years and often went out on "business," so he knew a lot about many things. "The places that produce Destiny Stones are monopolized by major forces, so they are expensive because you can't find them on the market."

Yu Pao, being from Wuwei Peak, smiled indifferently, "Well, I'm not sure about that. The Destiny Stones the sect gave me to comprehend are only half a foot square... it is said that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles."

Kong Ziyi, however, looked at the two unconscious masters, her eyes narrowing slightly, "These people, it seems, cannot be left alive."

Despite her usual calm demeanor, when it comes time to act ruthlessly, she doesn't need anyone to teach her. This is not only the aura of a major sect disciple but also the stance of most cultivators.

The four Qi-Refining Practitioners on the other side were about to beg for mercy when Qu Jianlei flicked a wisp of black mist, and the four of them instantly passed out.

Sun Rongxun spoke timely. Having done similar things many times, she thought things through more thoroughly, "We certainly can't leave them alive, but before that, we should perform a Soul Search to confirm whether the Hunting Alliance knows about this matter."

The decision was made so straightforwardly. Feng Jun was never a saint, and all the people around him were from the Four Great Sects, doing such things without psychological pressure.

Out of the Intermediate Stage, Feng Jun performed a Soul Search on Si Xiaoguang. He found that performing a Soul Search on this guy was even easier than on Keane—no wonder loose cultivators are looked down upon.

He was delighted to find that this guy hadn't notified anyone else and was only fooled by You Longzi into coming to mess with Mount Zhige.

Another joyful discovery was that this person had a broken Treasure Seeking Plate, which could sense treasures related to Spiritual Energy. This kind of thing is quite useful for treasure hunting in the Endless Sea, and he was able to find Destiny Stones because he tested with the Treasure Seeking Plate.

This magical treasure is broken; after each use, it needs to be nurtured for four months before it can be used again.

When Si Xiaoguang agreed to help You Longzi trouble Mount Zhige and discovered that Mount Zhige had some strength, he knew he couldn't leave for a while, so with nothing else to do, he used the Treasure Seeking Plate once, resulting in an unexpected discovery.

However, this broken Treasure Seeking Plate could only indicate a general location, and the Destiny Stones in Mount Zhige were randomly distributed. When he found there were treasures in the mountains, it showed "everywhere," so he could only dig randomly.

When he discovered he had dug up Destiny Stones, he decided to settle in Mount Zhige for good.

He guessed from some other excavation traces in the mountain that the Mountain Master might also know there were treasures here, so regardless of whether he could dig up Destiny Stones, it was truly beneficial to dig a few more mine tunnels, and when the cooldown time of the Treasure Seeking Plate was over, he would use it again.

By then, using the Treasure Seeking Plate in various mine tunnels would greatly increase the probability of finding Destiny Stones.

He even strategized that if Feng Jun returned someday, he would try to create conflicts. If he could take him down, he would; if not, he would seek help from a master in the Alliance.

His plan was good, and Feng Jun did return, but unfortunately, Mountain Master Feng brought back three masters, plus another master—it's not that he couldn't scheme, but his strength was insufficient.

What surprised Feng Jun was that Si Xiaoguang priced the Destiny Stone at ten thousand spirit.

Loose cultivators' comment on the Destiny Stone was: Bigger doesn't mean more precious; too big... isn't very meaningful.

This involves the usage of the Destiny Stone. Like Feng Jun, who absorbs the Spiritual Energy from the Destiny Stone and treats it as a Spirit Stone, is truly a waste of heavenly gifts. Most cultivators observe it to comprehend the evolution of the Great Dao—the words of the Big Boss.

Moreover, those qualified to comprehend the evolution of the Great Dao are basically high-rank cultivators out of the dust, preparing to advance to the core formation stage—at the very least, they must be quite exceptional intermediate-level cultivators out of the dust.

The Destiny Stone cannot be divided or used otherwise. Before you comprehend anything, the Spiritual Energy will be gone; this condensed Spirit Stone's Spiritual Energy is unstable and cannot be stored long-term.

So, for most intermediate to high-rank cultivators out of the dust, a bigger Destiny Stone is good, but too large is unnecessary, and the price won't skyrocket. Strictly speaking, the average price could even decline.

Therefore, Yu Pao's previous quote was indeed a bit absurd, but for a disciple from Wuwei Peak, such situations are quite normal, and his purpose here is to broaden his horizons—Wuwei is great, but they can't be ignorant, right?

After completing the Soul Search, Feng Jun shared the news he found with others—of course, only what could be shared.

But indeed, there was nothing that couldn't be shared; it was just that some Destiny Stones were no more significant than his deductions?

The price of Destiny Stones is inflated, and it's impossible not to have anyone among the Four Great Sects who understands this—even Qu Jianlei understood it well!

The current Feng Jun is entirely different from when he first arrived at the Mobile Plane.

After he spoke, everyone's faces indeed remained calm, and Sun Rongxun even bluntly stated, "Then the others... are of no use either."

However, Master Qu, who like her was from the Crimson Pheonix Sect, spoke up, "This Intermediate Level should also have his soul searched... There's too much trouble among the loose cultivators; who knows if there might be some unforeseen incidents."

Feng Jun was about to speak when Yu Pao took the initiative to chime in, "If there's no inconvenience, I'll conduct the soul search on this person myself. I've never searched the soul of someone in the Qi Refinement Realm before; it's quite an experience... You can't search souls too many times in a day."

Feng Jun hesitated a moment, then nodded with a smile, "That's fine."

The result of Yu Pao's soul search actually proved Master Qu's suspicion—the Intermediate Level truly had connections with a High-Rank.

This person followed Si Xiaoguang to Mount Zhige, assuming it was just to help a friend. After all, their relationship was quite good.

However, when the Destiny Stone appeared on Mount Zhige, he became a little worried. If only one or two appeared, it would be fine, but if anyone can dig out two pieces, who knows how many might be unearthed?

With a large quantity, involving vast amounts of Spirit Stones, even deep friendship might not withstand such a test, and he had only recently advanced to Intermediate Level.

So he secretly entrusted someone to send a message to an executor in the alliance: I'm at Donghua Mount Zhige, if you're free, come over in two months, there might be surprises.

The executor was also High-Rank, someone loyal who was interested in his widowed sister, and their families had had numerous intermarriages for generations, making him a very reliable person. However, due to the significant cultivation level difference, it was often inconvenient for them to act together.

The Intermediate Level did this not to turn against Si Xiaoguang; he simply disliked situations he couldn't entirely control—what if he's schemed against and killed?

If that High-Rank could 'accidentally' pass by, it would be perfect.

After Yu Pao recounted these events, his face showed no change, because he felt that such petty intrigues were not worth mentioning. What he focused on, "Wuwei," should not manifest in these matters—the society can purify itself.

Searching souls offered really rare sensations; he found the experience quite enriching.

After hearing him speak, Sun Rongxun voiced seriously, "It seems Master Qu was right; there really are issues within their group, not particularly solid. I suggest searching the souls of others; new discoveries might be made... I can help with some."

"No need to trouble yourself," Feng Jun shook his head with a smile, pointing at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, "He's the only one whose soul has not been sealed, thank you, Sun Rongxun."

It's not that he didn't want to do it himself; he could only search souls three times a day, and he had already used it twice, one of them was a cultivator of the same level, his soul was a bit tired, best to keep some reserve, just in case.

Sun Rongxun glanced at him in surprise, "You can deduce even that? Impressive!"

She had seen Feng Jun deduce earlier, but at this time, she still wanted to show some admiration, and it was genuine.

Those who search souls might encounter backlash from those whose souls have been sealed—the backlash can be quite severe at times.

She searched the soul of that Qi Refining Seventh Layer as she wished and discovered that this guy also had some schemes.

This person was also worried about being silenced, besides some vigilance, he had even arranged with a bailiff—if I don't appear again, you will report this to someone, and he'll give you a place in cultivation.

Anyway, as they say, each showing their divine skills, the alliance of loose cultivators might not be that unreliable, but in the face of such huge interests, even among brothers of the Four Great Sects, it might not be completely issue-free.

Logically, there was no need to search the souls of the remaining three Qi-Refining Disciples; Feng Jun had already stated their souls had issues, but Kong Ziyi suddenly said, "May I conduct a soul search?"

Feng Jun frowned slightly, "No need, there might be backlash."

"Backlash from Qi Refinement?" Kong Ziyi smiled indifferently, "As long as I'm prepared, what's there to fear?"

She indeed was prepared, so when the head of that Qi-Refining Practitioner suddenly exploded, she only flinched slightly, not showing any discomfort, just let out a bitter smile, "It really is."

Yu Pao twitched his mouth, "Thank goodness I didn't try, too cruel."

Sun Rongxun couldn't help but shake his head, "What a pity, a Soul-Searching Talisman wasted."

The Soul-Searching Talisman Kong Ziyi used wasn't hers, but one she carried herself, yet she still felt it was a bit of wasted resources.

"What's there to pity? Just trying," Feng Jun smiled.

But the next moment, after a brief hesitation, he soared into the sky towards a distant place—indeed, trying isn't embarrassing.

He planned to try, in the mobile phone plane, using "footprints" to teleport, and see what the effect would be.

(Update ends here, calling for monthly tickets.)