Chapter 38: Five Thousand Spirit Stones

Wang Changsheng had no idea how much it would cost to take the Cloud Vessel back to the Divine Sky Realm, but he knew for certain it wouldn’t be cheap. When he produced the only medium-grade spirit stone he possessed, his heart raced with anxiety. If the stone wasn’t enough to cover the fare, he would have to continue collecting spirit stones in the Celestial Realm—but the Cloud Vessel did not wait for anyone, and who knew how long it would be before it returned!

But before Wang Changsheng could react, the spirit stone in his hand vanished. Looking up, he saw it had appeared in the Cloud Vessel cultivator’s hand, who was examining it closely.

“There’s hope!” Wang Changsheng’s first thought was that there was a chance—the cultivator’s swift actions would never have been so prompt if the stone were worthless.

“How did you acquire this spirit stone?” the Cloud Vessel cultivator asked, narrowing his eyes.

“I found it by accident!” Wang Changsheng replied at once.

“By accident…” The cultivator looked thoughtful, then said, “Wait here. I need to report this.”

With that, the cultivator’s figure disappeared.

“What’s going on?” Wang Changsheng was now the one surprised. The stone’s value should either suffice or not—why did it require reporting?

Soon, the cultivator returned and handed Wang Changsheng a storage ring. “Here are five thousand spirit stones, count them.”

Wang Changsheng was stunned. Why was he being given spirit stones?

“I noticed you didn’t have a storage ring—consider this a gift,” the cultivator continued. “The value of your spirit stone far exceeds the fare for the vessel. This is your change.”

Taking the storage ring, Wang Changsheng found, as the cultivator had said, there were indeed five thousand high-quality low-grade spirit stones inside.

“This… this…” Wang Changsheng was at a loss for words.

The largest number of spirit stones he had seen at once was the hundred he’d borrowed from Li Fusheng. Now, he owned five thousand? He felt dazed, as if he’d suddenly become rich overnight.

“We’ve arranged a superior room for you—this is a jade slip.” With these words, the cultivator handed Wang Changsheng a jade slip and vanished.

No matter how many doubts filled his mind, Wang Changsheng remained calm. It wasn’t his first time riding the Cloud Vessel; he knew the jade slip contained information about his room.

This time, the room was not on the lower deck but on the middle level. Opening the door, Wang Changsheng saw that the room was several times larger than the one he had last time, and the array inscriptions covering every surface were dense and intricate.

He placed a spirit stone in the recess in the corner, and immediately streams of light flashed throughout the room. Complex arrays enveloped the entire chamber, and the spiritual energy within surged, astonishing Wang Changsheng.

“The density of the spiritual energy here nearly matches that of absorbing low-grade spirit stones. If I cultivate here, isn’t it equivalent to practicing with low-grade spirit stones?” he exclaimed.

The array not only shielded against prying eyes but also made the energy even richer. Wang Changsheng discovered that the energy emanating wasn’t from the stone he placed in the corner; the stone merely powered the array. All the spiritual energy was being supplied from somewhere else.

After studying the arrays, Wang Changsheng uncovered many subtleties and confirmed that they could block detection. He was reassured, and with a wave of his hand, the spirit stones from the storage ring appeared before him.

“Five thousand spirit stones… five thousand…” Wang Changsheng stared at the pile, speechless.

If not for the confirmation from the Cloud Vessel cultivator, he would have suspected a mistake.

“There’s only one possibility… that stone wasn’t a medium-grade spirit stone!” Wang Changsheng said to himself. “Yes, it must be a high-grade spirit stone…”

Beyond this, he could think of no other explanation.

If it truly was a high-grade spirit stone, Wang Changsheng had to consider its implications. High-grade spirit stones were reserved for those who had attained the Golden Core path, even in the Divine Sky Realm, they were exceedingly rare—not because they contained more energy, but because the energy was exceptionally pure, with few impurities.

For a cultivator of Wang Changsheng’s level, using high-grade spirit stones to cultivate was no different from using low-grade ones. In fact, his previous absorption of two high-grade stones had been a waste—the energy would have been better spent if exchanged for low-grade stones to help him reach higher realms.

After some thought, Wang Changsheng put away the spirit stones and began absorbing the spiritual energy in his room.

The cost for such a superior room must be much higher than his previous voyage—the energy alone made it clear. Cultivating here was as effective as using low-grade spirit stones, and Wang Changsheng would not waste such an opportunity.

Moreover, the arrays ensured he would not be disturbed, and even the vessel’s movement was imperceptible within the room.

Wang Changsheng began cultivating.

He did not know that, from the moment he produced the high-grade spirit stone, someone had marked him.

In a chamber atop the Cloud Vessel, a middle-aged cultivator was examining the very high-grade spirit stone Wang Changsheng had handed over, with the cultivator who had collected his fare standing beside him.

“You’re certain that person is only at the Vein Opening stage?” the middle-aged cultivator asked.

“No mistake. And he seems unfamiliar with some basic knowledge of the cultivation world,” the fare collector replied. “I gave him five thousand low-grade spirit stones. Though his expression didn’t change, his eyes showed clear shock!”

“So he doesn’t understand the value of high-grade spirit stones…” the middle-aged cultivator said gravely.

“He likely has no idea!”

The middle-aged cultivator looked thoughtful. “There are no vein markings in this spirit stone—it’s likely from an unknown vein…”

“You mean…” The fare collector’s eyes widened in shock.

With limited cultivation and low status, the fare collector couldn’t investigate the high-grade spirit stone, but the middle-aged cultivator could; he was nearly at the Golden Core path.

The absence of vein markings suggested this stone probably originated from an undiscovered vein!

“Once we return, I must hurry back to headquarters!” the middle-aged cultivator said solemnly. “If this is a spirit stone from an unknown vein, it could be a high-grade spiritual vein!”

The two exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in each other’s eyes.

“Yes!” the fare collector replied, clasping his hands.

“Wait!” the middle-aged cultivator said abruptly. “Keep an eye on him!”

“The Celestial Realm cannot produce high-grade spiritual veins; this vein is likely in the Divine Sky Realm!” he continued. “Now that he knows the value of high-grade spirit stones, he may try to mine more.”

“Make sure you watch him!”

“Yes!” The fare collector’s face grew serious. “Once he disembarks, I’ll personally keep an eye on him.”

The middle-aged cultivator nodded.

Wang Changsheng had no idea he was being watched. At that moment, he was focused on absorbing spiritual energy and cultivating.

At first, he was cautious, fearing the room’s energy would run out if he absorbed too quickly. But as his speed increased and the energy remained plentiful, he relaxed.

With full concentration, he activated the Longevity Technique, drawing in spiritual energy so quickly that a small visible vortex formed around him.

At such a rate, not even cultivators who had surpassed the Vein Opening stage could match him.

Days passed as Wang Changsheng cultivated tirelessly, never leaving the room.

Now, he was at a critical moment in his cultivation.

He had touched the barrier of the fourth level of the Vein Opening stage.

If he broke through, he would reach the middle stage of Vein Opening.

Boom, boom, boom…

Thunderous sounds echoed within him; true energy surged, pounding his meridians and finally returning to his dantian, widening both the meridians and the dantian. As his true energy increased, he could feel both expanding significantly.

“It’s close… so close…” Wang Changsheng murmured.

Bang!

With a loud explosion, his true energy rushed through his body and flooded his dantian, instantly expanding it more than threefold, and all his meridians grew thicker and sturdier.

“I’ve finally broken through…” Wang Changsheng slowly opened his eyes, feeling the surging energy within. He was filled with emotion.

This breakthrough had widened his dantian by over three times, meaning his true energy reserves had grown. The Vein Opening stage was all about accumulation—it was the threshold for cultivation, laying a solid foundation.

More importantly, after breaking through, Wang Changsheng noticed his body’s functions had improved slightly, and even some of his white hair had faded.

Though the change was not dramatic, it was progress, and Wang Changsheng believed that if he continued this way, his body would eventually return to its peak—no, his vitality might become even stronger!