Shen Banxi was completely stunned.
He had wanted a single spirit fruit, but he ended up with an entire orchard.
This orchard came from the only auspicious beast in all of Xiaoyao, whose cultivation was a whole major realm higher than his.
He was a bit scared of such a massive harvest.
Once the fat duck dealt with the leverage the Peak Master held over it, would it come back to "deal" with him?
Seeing his hesitation, the fat duck glared at him with dissatisfaction.
What could Shen Banxi do? He could only cooperate with mixed feelings.
Regardless, the outcome was good.
...
Gu Ningyun had no idea that so much had transpired within the inner peaks just for this escort mission.
By now, she and her companions had arrived at the marketplace in Conghe City and finished buying the herbs needed for the Hair Growth Salve.
High-rank array masters were rare, and teleportation arrays required an understanding of spatial array patterns.
Thus, outside of Yunzhou, only a few main cities in other continents had teleportation arrays. Other cities were connected by flying boats.
Gu Ningyun and the others were currently standing at the edge of the marketplace in front of a massive flying boat.
A staircase for boarding had been built where the flying boat was docked.
The boat had three levels of cabins, and the words "Tianxia Tower" were printed in large letters on its side.
A scroll hung from the gunwale, marking the route. Its final destination was Donglin City at the easternmost edge of Cangzhou.
Next to the landmark for Donglin City, the fare was listed: three hundred low-grade spirit stones.
Roughly the price of twelve yellow-rank mid-grade Swift-Walk Talismans.
“Where are you headed, fellow Daoists?” The boat's arrays glowed as a female cultivator leaned over the deck.
Mu Chenze pointed his folding fan at the scroll. “Senior, we wish to go to the final stop, Donglin City.”
The female cultivator took out a jade token and performed a hand seal. The flying boat's array fluctuated for a moment, revealing a passage large enough for one person at the top of the stairs.
After boarding the deck, Gu Ningyun reached into her storage bag and pulled out three hundred low-grade spirit stones.
Speaking of which, these spirit stones and the storage bag were spoils from when they were mugged outside of Cangzhou.
“Grandpa, Donglin City is so far. Why aren't we taking the flying boat?”
A boy's voice came from below the boat.
“Shu'er, if we take the flying boat, we won't have any spirit stones left for cultivation resources.
We're not in a hurry, so walking is fine. If you get tired along the way, we'll rent a carriage.”
Hearing this, Mu Chenze's hand hesitated as he handed over the spirit stones.
It wasn't for any other reason than he suddenly realized their current public identity was that of small sect disciples. Was spending three hundred low-grade spirit stones on a flying boat inconsistent with that identity?
Since it was a sect requirement, they should probably act the part.
Gu Ningyun patted his shoulder. “Our time is limited.”
Counting the time spent on body tempering, four months had already passed since they left Xiaoyao.
The sea was complex. If they didn't want to miss the opportunity for sea trials, they had to leave at least five months as a buffer.
Taking a flying boat was the most suitable choice.
Besides, even for small sect disciples, spending spirit stones on a flying boat when time was short was reasonable.
“I'll say, your Tianxia Tower's flying boats are too expensive. Forget rogue cultivators, even ordinary small sect disciples can't afford them.”
A coarse voice boomed in her ear. Gu Ningyun suppressed the urge to rub her ears and looked over.
A large man with a beard, wearing a brown tunic, stood behind her.
She pulled Wen Xuan aside to make room.
The female cultivator from Tianxia Tower had already collected their fares and smiled indifferently. “Customer, please don't think the fare is expensive.
You must realize that Conghe City is in the west of Cangzhou, while Donglin City is at the easternmost point. Traveling from Conghe City to Donglin City means crossing almost the entire continent.
If you go on foot, even taking the shortest route and traveling day and night, it would take at least six months to a year to arrive.
That's not even mentioning the dangers you might encounter on the road.
But taking our flying boat is different.
Safety is guaranteed, you get a private cabin for meditation, and once the boat sets sail tomorrow, it will only take ten days to reach Donglin City.”
The bearded man crossed his arms. “You say it's safe, but is it? I heard that the demon criminal imprisoned by the Changxuan Sect has escaped.
That demon is at the early Nascent Soul stage. If we run into him, can your flying boat withstand it?”
Before the woman could speak, the young boy, hearing that walking would take six months to a year, became upset. He pointed at Gu Ningyun and shouted, “Why do those five bald donkeys get to take the flying boat while I have to walk?
I don't want to! Grandpa, I want to take the flying boat too!”
Gu Ningyun and the others were standing by the gunwale because their cabins hadn't been assigned yet. They were waiting and watching the commotion.
They hadn't expected the trouble to find them.
Jiang Yao rubbed his smooth head, looked at Gu Ningyun, and then pointed at himself. “Us? Five... bald donkeys??”
After leaving the Miao Manor, their hoods had been blown off by the wind because they were too loose.
They had simply given up and taken the hoods off.
Who would have thought that before even leaving Cangzhou, they would be called bald donkeys to their faces? How rude.
The old man's face turned beet red. “Watch your words! Fang Shu, how can you be so disrespectful!”
“I'm not wrong! Daddy said that anyone with a big bald head is a bald donkey.”
The boy clung to the railing of the stairs, refusing to move. “I don't care! I want to take the flying boat!”
The old man covered the boy's mouth and looked up to apologize to Gu Ningyun and the others. “I'm sorry, truly sorry. We haven't taught this child well.”
The child was only four or five years old. Since the guardian had apologized and was disciplining him, Gu Ningyun and the others didn't say much, only shaking their heads to show it was fine.
In truth, since overcoming their internal awkwardness, the five of them—especially the girls, Gu Ningyun and Wen Xuan—found the sensation of having bald heads quite novel.
After all, as the saying goes: if one person does it, it's social suicide; if a group does it, it's a trend.
With the child's mouth covered, the female cultivator finally found an opportunity to speak.
“Our Tianxia Tower's flying boats are refined by the tower's high-rank array masters and high-rank artifact refiners.
Setting aside the defensive strength of the boat's material itself, as you can see, there are many unlit array patterns all over the boat.
If these array patterns are activated, even a middle Nascent Soul stage demon beast would find it difficult to break through.
That demon cultivator is only at the early Nascent Soul stage. Even if we encounter him, it won't be a problem.”
As if anticipating what the bearded man would say, the female cultivator spoke with clear logic before he could open his mouth.
“As everyone knows, besides the flying boats in the marketplace, the World Carriage House and Tianxia Home Furnishings are also properties of Tianxia Tower.
Excluding food from the necessities of life—clothing, housing, and travel—Tianxia Tower has a presence in every field.
Most of you have used home furnishings from Tianxia Tower or have ridden in or rented carriages from us.
I believe everyone present has experienced the credibility of Tianxia Tower firsthand.”
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