Among other things, the cave dwelling where Wu Tao currently resides is one of the most luxurious ones at the highest point of this mountain peak.
Compared to the cave dwellings of outer disciples of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, the spiritual energy here is already considered extremely dense.
All of this was achieved by Wu Tao over the years, through his own efforts, punch by punch.
The Taiyi Immortal Sect determines status by strength, and competition is fierce. The strong can obtain more resources, while the weak have very few.
The strong remain strong, and the weak become weaker!
This is the true and cruel law!
...
Time slowly passed, and another month went by.
According to convention, Wu Tao, as an outer disciple of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, receives a supply of ten low-grade spirit stones from the sect each month.
"I haven't collected this month's supply yet."
Wu Tao approached the Finance Elder of the Outer Sect Hall.
"Identity record: Male, Wu Tao! Entered Taiyi Immortal Sect twenty-one years ago, currently twenty-four years old, Qi Refining Level thirteen, Outer Sect Elite Disciple, monthly supply ten low-grade spirit stones."
The elder-like Outer Sect Finance Elder, seated on a chair made of thousand-year-old golden silk nanmu, looked at the jade slip in his hand and spoke expressionlessly, as if reciting a routine.
...
Wu Tao received the ten low-grade spirit stones with both hands, placed them into his storage bag, and then nodded slightly to the Outer Sect Finance Elder to express his gratitude.
In the Taiyi Immortal Sect, apart from the Purple Mansion Ancestors, Supreme Elders, and inner and outer sect elders, there are generally two groups: outer disciples and inner disciples.
Outer disciples are usually Qi Refining stage cultivators, while inner disciples are usually Foundation Establishment stage cultivators.
Outer disciples receive a supply of ten spirit stones per month, while inner disciples receive one mid-grade spirit stone per month.
...
"In the cultivation world, one hundred low-grade spirit stones can be exchanged for one mid-grade spirit stone. One hundred mid-grade spirit stones can be exchanged for one high-grade spirit stone. Finally, one hundred high-grade spirit stones can be exchanged for one supreme-grade spirit stone."
In the Taiyi Immortal Sect, apart from the monthly supply of ten spirit stones, outer disciples must rely on their own efforts for all other cultivation resources.
After collecting this month's supply, Wu Tao prepared to head to a demon beast forest to hunt demon beasts and earn some spirit stones.
The expenditure of ten low-grade spirit stones per month is manageable for outer disciples between Qi Refining Level one and five.
However, for cultivators like Wu Tao, who is at Qi Refining Level thirteen and particularly follows the dual cultivation path of body and technique, it is merely a drop in the bucket and completely insufficient.
Especially for precious elixirs used to accelerate cultivation and break through realms, they often cost tens or even hundreds of spirit stones or more.
A common low-grade five-element talisman also costs five or six spirit stones.
Back then, to purchase a satisfactory top-grade magic artifact that could complement his body and technique dual cultivation technique, he had spent almost all of his savings accumulated over twenty years. Only then did he manage to buy a suitable special top-grade magic artifact, the "Armor-Piercing Dragon Cone," for 1,589 spirit stones.
This single top-grade magic artifact had rendered Wu Tao completely penniless, and for several years afterwards, his life was difficult, and he almost couldn't recover.
...
As for the disciples from wealthy cultivation families, they not only possessed many exquisite magic artifacts but could also consume one or two precious elixirs, which were equivalent to several years of income for ordinary Qi Refining stage cultivators.
"Ten low-grade spirit stones..."
Wu Tao took a deep breath. Currently, he had only 350 spirit stones left in his storage bag, counting them all.
In the past, as soon as he accumulated a few more spirit stones, he would have immediately purchased elixirs to enhance his spiritual power and further his realm.
But this time, he did not do so.
Because he had reached the peak of the Qi Refining stage, and now he needed to prepare spirit stones in advance to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill and break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.
...
The transition from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment is a bottleneck, a hundred to one chance. Once passed, one becomes an inner disciple of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, greatly improving one's status and granting an additional two hundred years of lifespan.
Among the tens of thousands of outer disciples at the Qi Refining stage in the Taiyi Immortal Sect, there are only a mere one to two thousand inner disciples at the Foundation Establishment stage or above.
Wu Tao controlled his low-grade flying artifact, the Green Leaf Flying Sword, and flew towards the southwest.
After flying for several hundred miles, Wu Tao entered a refining shop within the market area of a Taiyi Immortal Sect outpost.
...
"Uncle-Master, how much for this Golden Python Bow?"
Wu Tao entered the refining shop and, after a long search, finally spotted a high-grade magic artifact, the "Golden Python Bow," hanging on the wall.
"The high-grade magic artifact Golden Python Bow has strong penetration and wide utility, capable of continuously firing gold-elemental arrows. The price is a flat 400 spirit stones."
Uncle-Master Wu introduced with a smile.
As a fellow disciple of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, Uncle-Master Wu's attitude towards Wu Tao was quite good compared to other customers.
"Four hundred spirit stones?"
Wu Tao frowned upon hearing this, pondered for a moment, and tentatively asked, "Can Uncle-Master make it a little cheaper?"
Uncle-Master Wu shook his head and explained, "No, because our sect's rules are very strict. However, if you truly lack spirit stones, you can use other valuable items as collateral."
"Three hundred and fifty spirit stones plus a mid-grade magic artifact. This is the most I can offer for this Golden Python Bow."
Wu Tao was direct and stated his bottom line with sincerity in his eyes.
"Three hundred and fifty spirit stones plus a mid-grade magic artifact, that's a bit low..."
Uncle-Master Wu appeared a little hesitant, but perhaps sensing Wu Tao's limit and wanting to do him a favor, he thought for a moment, gritted his teeth, and said, "Alright, it's a deal."
"Thank you, Uncle-Master."
Upon hearing this, Wu Tao smiled slightly, cupped his fists, and showed a hint of gratitude.
However, this move left Wu Tao truly and completely penniless, without a single spirit stone on his person.
At this moment, Wu Tao's storage bag was much cleaner than his own face.
...
This was also the reason why Wu Tao had never raised a personal protective spirit beast for so many years.
After all, for his daily cultivation, his own life was already tight. How could he have any spare spirit stones to raise a spirit beast that would compete with him for resources?
"I need to earn more spirit stones quickly, otherwise, life will truly become unbearable in the future."
Wu Tao murmured to himself, then immediately flew away on his artifact, leaving the Taiyi Immortal Sect outpost market.
After flying continuously for five to six hours, Wu Tao finally arrived at the Iron Ridge Canyon, where he often hunted demon beasts.
Iron Ridge Canyon is a large canyon in a remote area on the edge of the Qiongcang Mountain Range, its scope is not small, even spanning thousands of miles.
Compared to its surroundings, Iron Ridge Canyon has relatively dense spiritual energy and is home to many fierce demon beasts. However, most of them are Qi Refining stage demon beasts. Only when venturing deep into Iron Ridge Canyon will one occasionally encounter demon beasts at the Foundation Establishment stage or above.
The danger level is not too high for Wu Tao.
...
Wu Tao's purpose in coming here was actually very simple: to hunt some demon beasts and earn some extra spirit stones!
Demon beasts absorb heaven and earth spiritual energy to strengthen themselves. Their fur, teeth, bones, and inner cores can all be used to refine various magic artifacts, treasures, elixirs, talismans, and so on, all of which are quite valuable.
Having long been engaged in this activity of hunting demon beasts for spirit stones, Wu Tao had developed his own seasoned experience and plans.
...
The next second, Wu Tao turned into an afterimage and darted into Iron Ridge Canyon.
"Boom!"
Arriving in the dense forest, he lightly tapped his toes and immediately leaped onto a thousand-year-old ancient tree hundreds of meters tall.
Standing on this ancient tree not only kept Wu Tao safe from the threat of ground-dwelling demon beasts but also provided him with an excellent vantage point.
Utilizing the advantage of high ground, Wu Tao, like a seasoned hunter, began to carefully observe his surroundings.
Eyes, ears, nose... he used all of his five senses at this moment.
...
After a period of time, suddenly, a sharp glint flashed in Wu Tao's eyes. He immediately turned his head and stared intently at his rear left.
From that direction came the sound of heavy footsteps on the ground, and the sounds were very impactful.
Based on his past experience hunting demon beasts, it seemed to be large demon beasts like fierce bulls, demonic tigers, giant bears, or boar-leopards.
The next second, a dark, huge head emerged from the dense jungle foliage.
It turned out to be a brown-black wild boar demon beast, about a zhang tall.
"The hunt has begun."
Wu Tao took a deep breath and slowly drew the string of the Golden Python Bow in his hand.
"Swoosh!"
The bowstring vibrated, and a golden arrow shot through the air, covering a distance of several hundred meters. It accurately pierced the left eye of the brown-black wild boar demon beast.
"Bang!"
With its left eye blinded, the brown-black wild boar demon beast began to attack everything around it wildly, the intense pain making it lose its sanity.
"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!"
The brown-black wild boar demon beast struggled for not much longer before Wu Tao pierced its vital points with arrows from the Golden Python Bow. Finally, it bled profusely, let out a scream, and fell to the ground, dead.
Seeing this, Wu Tao breathed a sigh of relief, jumped down from the tree, and used his storage bag to collect the carcass of the brown-black wild boar demon beast.
After hunting this brown-black wild boar demon beast, Wu Tao changed his location and began to carefully observe his surroundings, searching for new hunting targets.
...
Not long after, rustling sounds were heard again from the grass. Wu Tao turned around and saw a green-flame camouflaged deer slowly walking out.
The green-flame camouflaged deer was about two to three zhang in size, emanating green flames all over its body, carrying a fearsome aura as it approached Wu Tao.
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