Chapter 1364: Bone Birth Azure Lotus

"Let's rest for half a month," Fang Chen said. "During that time, adjust your condition. Afterward, we'll set out for our first exploration."

Everyone nodded in agreement and returned to their respective residences.

After casually setting up a restrictive formation, Fang Chen let his soul leave his body. In an instant, his consciousness rose into the void, overlooking the Holy Land.

Countless Immortal Boats traveled back and forth. Only Lin Dong, a third-transformation Immortal, resided there to oversee the place. The number of cultivators present far exceeded that of the Thousand Dao Tower or the Yin Holy Sect, both of which had also once been guarded by third-transformation Immortals.

Cultivators of the Dao Union Realm, Tribulation Realm, and Ascension Realm were everywhere. In most of the Six Lower Realms, such cultivators typically spent their time in seclusion or working to bring prosperity to their sects. But here, their daily routine was to venture into the perilous Ancient Forbidden Zones, constantly traveling through Qingming, confronting unknown dangers again and again. Over time, such a gathering of cultivators naturally became elites among elites. As long as they survived, ascending to immortality was almost guaranteed.

Suddenly, Fang Chen noticed an Immortal Boat slowly passing by. The banner on it was bold and unmistakable. It was the Mysterious King Expedition Team. Within the Immortal Boat, he sensed at least a hundred distinct auras, the weakest being at the Tribulation Realm, followed by several at the Ascension Realm, and an Immortal.

"Senior Brother Wang Xuan," Xu Qian said respectfully to a young man before her, "Junior Brother Fang has already received his Immortal Boat. From the looks of it, he intends to form his own team and explore the Ancient Forbidden Zone independently."

The young man carried the same kind of transcendent air that Yan Haoran and his peers once possessed, one of those rare individuals who had become an immortal at a young age. Yet, compared to them, his presence felt far more refined.

Hearing Xu Qian's words, Wang Xuan said nothing for a while, merely smiling faintly. "If he earned a bronze jade token in the assessment, that means he has his share of pride. Now that Master has accepted him as his disciple, he's bound to be ambitious. Your attempt to recruit him was naturally doomed to fail."

An Ascension Realm cultivator grinned and said, "When he hits a wall and realizes that being a team captain isn't so easy, he'll learn his lesson."

The speaker was broad-shouldered and muscular, and the blood qi flowing through his body thundered with might. His aura condensed to near-perfection. Though he had not yet ascended, he was clearly only one step away. That step, of course, required an immortal medicine.

In ancient times, cultivators at the Ascension Realm were said to be able to enter the Immortal Realm. That was because it represented the threshold between mortal and immortal, a stage awaiting a final transformation.

"Just don't go overboard," Wang Xuan said casually. "No matter what, he's still one of Master's disciples."

He didn't seem particularly concerned about the matter and smoothly changed the topic. "The Tiger King Expedition Team recently acquired a first-transformation Taiyi Immortal's immortal herb, the Mysterious Ice Cicada Grass. Expedition teams like ours are given priority in bidding for such treasures, but the required amount of immortal crystals is considerable."

He glanced meaningfully at the three Ascension Realm cultivators present. The three of them had clearly been waiting for this subject to come up, their eyes lighting up.

The same Ascension Realm cultivator who had earlier suggested teaching Fang Chen a lesson immediately spoke up. "Captain, if you'll support me in advancing to a Taiyi Immortal, I'll sign a 500-year contract with the team."

"Captain, I'll sign for 800 years," another said quickly.

"You!"

"There's no need to argue," Wang Xuan said calmly. "Rules are rules. Regardless of which of you succeeds in breaking through, you'll sign a 1,000-year contract with the team."

The three men froze for a moment. Though their expressions remained composed, inwardly they were disgruntled.

"1,000 years isn't that long," Wang Xuan continued lightly. "After that, you'll be free to form your own teams. For us, as long as we have enough immortal crystals, our lifespans will far exceed those of ordinary cultivators."

"We understand, Captain," they said together.

"Good." Wang Xuan nodded slightly. "This time, I'll give my full support, but on one condition. Whoever among you can provide the most immortal crystals will receive my backing. The other two can wait for the next opportunity."

Immortal crystals...

The three Ascension Realm cultivators exchanged wary glances, their eyes filled with both vigilance and hostility.

Seeing that there was no further useful information, Fang Chen quietly turned away. His soul returned to his body, and he retrieved the Mirror of the Universe.

"Little Mirror," he asked, "Are there any immortal herbs within Ancient Forbidden Zone No.157 that can serve as pathways to immortality?"

"Brother," a languid voice rang in his mind again, "The Ancient Forbidden Zone is teeming with immortal herbs. But most of them are located in extremely dangerous places. Besides, your question's too broad. How about this—you give me five hundred immortal crystals, and I'll tell you about three specific locations. Don't worry, you won't lose out."

"500 immortal crystals?" Fang Chen mused.

He didn't agree immediately. After all, seventy percent of all gains here had to be turned over to the Hall of Merits. Without doing so, it was nearly impossible to trade or sell anything, since all exchanges were regulated through them. The more resources one contributed, the higher one's merit, something that would help him when he eventually entered the Enlightenment God Palace itself.

For example, the Mysterious Ice Cicada Grass was worth about 200 immortal crystals, but he could only walk away with 60. Even if the locations provided by the Mirror of the Universe yielded a combined value of 1,000 immortal crystals, Fang Chen would end up with merely 300 after deductions. Spending 500 to gain 300 meant losing 200 immortal crystals!

"Little Mirror," Fang Chen said thoughtfully, "can you at least tell me what kind of herbs they are? Are they for the first transformation? Second? Or even the third?"

He recalled that during the Immortal Exchange, a fourth-transformation immortal herb, the Void Bright Grass, had been sold for nearly 1,000 immortal crystals.

"Little Brother..." sighed the Mirror of the Universe, "you know my rules. It's not that I don't want to tell you."

"Don't trust him, Little Chen!" a sharp voice interrupted. It was Little Sword. "That old fraud just wants to swindle your immortal crystals! Hey, old liar, name a fair price, will you? You're gouging him so badly... Can you even stomach the immortal crystals?!"

"You brat," the Mirror of the Universe snapped, "so you've fully recovered, huh? Got the energy to bicker with me again? My price is the fair price! I'm extremely honest!"

"In that case," Fang Chen said, "let's start with one location first. I'll see if it's worth it. Pick one that's close and carries minimal risk."

"A hundred immortal crystals, then," the Mirror of the Universe replied.

Fang Chen took out one hundred immortal crystals and tossed them into the mirror.

The Mirror of the Universe devoured them eagerly, taking several hours to finish.

Finally, it said, "Brother, turn to page 76."

Fang Chen flipped to the indicated page. A star map appeared, with a clearly marked route and destination.

[Bone Birth Azure Lotus: Fourth-transformation immortal herb of the Corpse Transcending Immortal Path]

Good... a fourth-transformation immortal herb.

Fang Chen let out a sigh of relief. Little Mirror hadn't cheated him this time.

Assuming it was worth around 1,000 immortal crystals, thirty percent of that meant he'd walk away with 300 immortal crystals, with 700 converted to merit. His actual cost was 100 immortal crystals, plus the minor shares due to Little Immortal Honglian and the others.

"How about that, brother?" Mirror of the Universe said cheerfully. "Didn't I tell you? The Bone Birth Azure Lotus is worth far more than 100 immortal crystals! If not for its minimal karmic entanglements, you couldn't have bought that information for such a low price."

Fang Chen nodded.

After memorizing the map, he closed Mirror of the Universe.

Ten days later, he gathered Little Immortal Honglian and the others.