Jia Ren now had a stable source of Spirit Stones, enough to supply his cultivation for the foreseeable future.

His urgent task was to improve his secret techniques and enhance his ability to preserve his life.

Throughout the journey, he did not use the Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat or the Wind Control Skill; instead, he used the Sword Control Technique for flying, increasing his Spell Proficiency Level.

His Proficiency Level in the Sword Control Technique had reached the Master Level. This was far from the Wind Control Skill at the Extraordinary Saint Level, yet his flying speed was even faster than the Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat.

The sole advantage of the Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat was its ability to carry people and fly at great heights.

The Sword Control Technique was mostly utilized for low to mid-altitude flights, consuming an immense amount of Spiritual Power over long periods; it was far less durable than a Flying Artifact.

For speed, one could use the Sword Control Technique for travel.

For long-distance journeys, Flying Artifacts were more desirable.

Flying with the sword, the sword transformed into a long rainbow, speeding towards the distant lands.

Whether it was the Wind Control Skill or piloting the Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat, neither experience compared to the thrill of the Sword Control Technique—the liberty and ease of traversing the world.

Previously, in the Great Wilderness, with Bizarre Demons rampant outside, there was little time to practice the Sword Control Technique, and the exhilarating experience of sword flight was entirely different then.

Free of restraints, he soared unfettered across the world.

He sped like lightning, transforming into a rainbow light that shot far away.

Not bothering to hide the fluctuations of his Foundation Establishment Cultivation Level, the Magical Beasts and bandit Cultivators he encountered along the way instinctively avoided him, daring not to provoke him.

For Cultivators, a distance of thirty-five miles was not far; at full strength with the Sword Control Technique, he could see a river several thousand feet wide, its length beyond his line of sight, in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

The river's surface roiled with tumbling waves, a surging tide, and raging muddy water.

One by one, fishing boats hurriedly moved away from the river, docking at the shore.

Jia Ren stopped his Escape Light and descended slowly on his sword.

An old town sat by the riverbank, its stony structures weathered by time.

The cobblestones underfoot were polished smooth, and areas seldom crossed by people were overrun with moss.

The townsfolk bustled about; the town was inhabited by thousands of mortals and nearly a hundred Cultivators.

With a sweep of the Spirit Eye Technique, the strongest among them were merely at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement, with the majority being at the Early and Mid Stages of Qi Cultivation.

As he drew closer, the scent of fish grew stronger, and various fish were often seen for sale on the streets.

Black River Trout, Green-Backed Shellfish, Jade Herring Fish, Three-tailed Phoenix Carp...

From ordinary fish to Spirit Fish, everything was available.

Cultivators came and went buying Spirit Fish, and there were also Loose Cultivators who lived here, subsisting on fishing.

Jia Ren's gaze swept over the Spirit Fish, many of which were species he had never seen before.

Magical Beasts came in a great variety, and so did species of Spirit Fish.

Different regions housed various kinds of Spirit Fish.

A vast river with ample Spiritual Energy provided a suitable environment for Spirit Fish to thrive, nurturing species unique to this place.

It so happens that I'm running low on Spirit Fish, he thought. Buying a few new kinds to experiment with on my return seems promising; I hope to induce atavism and breed a suitable Spirit Fish. But that's not urgent for now; I can purchase them before leaving. First, I need to focus on cultivating my secret techniques.

As Jia Ren approached the riverbank, he could see the fishermen panicking, hastily docking their boats.

"Don't come any closer, the River Dragon King is enraged!"

River Dragon King? Jia Ren mused. It does sound imposing. Could it be a Flood Dragon?

He turned his head, dismissing the thought. It couldn't be a Flood Dragon. I remember a Cultivator from the Great Wilderness Market who traded Xuan Yuan Heavy Water with me; this Cultivator was possibly of Yuding Sect origin. If there were Magical Beasts with a Flood Dragon Bloodline here, the Dragon Seeking Art wouldn't have failed to find them. Nor would there be a reason for them to spend a fortune to seek my help.

Activating the Spirit Eye Technique, he gazed toward the core area of the surging river waters.

Intense Spiritual Power Fluctuations emanated from within the river, their Spiritual Pressure far exceeding his own.

This is akin to a Second-Order Magical Beast at the Foundation Establishment Stage, he realized. I haven't come here to slay Magical Beasts or exorcise demons – and besides, I'm not capable of defeating it...

Raising his hand, Jia Ren swallowed a Grandmaster-level Profound Water Pill, simultaneously activating the Xuan Gui Aquatic Gift. In an instant, he felt the water-elemental Spiritual Power become incredibly dynamic, its lively movements fluttering around him.

With a single thought, the water-elemental Spiritual Power converged, rapidly gathering river water and progressively compressing it.

By the time it reached Jia Ren, it had become loach-like thin streams of water, wrapping around his fingertips, ultimately condensing into a bean-sized dark water bead.

He had easily formed a drop of Single Xuan Yuan Heavy Water.

After Foundation Establishment, the transformation by Heavenly and Earthly Spiritual Energy made his body even more attuned to Spiritual Power.

With the same Spell, he could cast faster and unleash greater power, as if assisted by divinity.

The Grandmaster-level Profound Water Pill, the Four Mysteries Primordial Heavy Water of the Xuan Yuan Heavy Water Technique, combined with various methods, made the gathering of ordinary Xuan Yuan Heavy Water seem effortless and straightforward.

What followed was a repetitive process: condensing ten drops of Single Xuan Yuan Heavy Water into one drop of Double Profound Primal Heavy Water.

Ten drops of Double Profound Primal Heavy Water were combined into a droplet of Triple Profound Primal Heavy Water...

His Proficiency Level continuously rose, and his progress was rapid.

Time passed indiscernibly; eventually, a new droplet of Four Mysteries Primordial Heavy Water coalesced at his fingertip.

Four Mysteries Primordial Heavy Water possessed might surpassing that of an ordinary High-Grade Magical Artifact, and when coupled with formidable gravity, its destructive power was even more tremendous.

Once raised to Five Xuan Yuan Heavy Water, even a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator would struggle to bear its explosive power, Jia Ren considered.

With one droplet of Four Mysteries Primordial Heavy Water complete, Jia Ren felt a tinge of fatigue.

Concentrating Xuan Yuan Heavy Water is delicate work; the further one progresses, the more demanding the requirements become. Creating Four Mysteries Primordial Heavy Water in one go is indeed exhausting. One droplet is sufficient for now; repeating the cycle, I can produce ten droplets of Four Mysteries Primordial Heavy Water in eight days, culminating in the formation of Five Xuan Yuan Heavy Water. By then, I will possess a formidable method of assault.

Time to cultivate the Xuan Shui Escape, he decided.

With a thought, all knowledge of the Xuan Shui Escape flowed through his mind, and his Spiritual Power circulated accordingly.

His spiritual sense merged with the Surging River, resonating with it.

In an instant, Jia Ren vanished from sight.

He seemed to become part of the river itself, his intentions directing his movements.

Ten miles away on the surface of the river, a ripple emerged, and the vanished Jia Ren appeared out of thin air.

The Xuan Shui Escape was successfully executed, he thought with satisfaction.

Spiritual Power converged within Jia Ren's body as he stood on the surface of the river, allowing the waves to surge without touching a single thread of his Taoist Robe.

He looked toward the distance; the small town along the river had already turned into a speck.

The effect is surprisingly good! With just the entry level, it has such an effect. As the Proficiency Level increases, the range of the Xuan Shui Escape can continue to expand. In the future, I can choose to escape to areas with rivers and seas. The only downside is... the consumption of Spiritual Power is too great.

Jia Ren had not been at the Foundation Establishment Stage for long, and he didn't have much Spiritual Power in his body. A single use of the Xuan Shui Escape consumed a third of his Spiritual Power.

At present, I can use the technique at most three times consecutively. As my Cultivation Level increases, the number of uses will grow. Let's try taking a Profound Water Pill to see if it can increase the distance of the Xuan Shui Escape.

The Profound Water Pill could enhance the power of Water System Magic, and its effect was even stronger after reaching the Grandmaster Level.

After swallowing a Profound Water Pill, Jia Ren's sensitivity to water greatly increased, and he used the Xuan Shui Escape again.

A marvelous sensation appeared again, more intense than before, expanding its influence to a greater and wider range.

In a short while, more than twenty miles away, Jia Ren's figure reappeared on the river's surface.

It was a success! The distance of the Xuan Shui Escape has increased from ten miles to over twenty miles; the effect is significant. The only downside was...

Jia Ren felt his Spiritual Power drained within, on the verge of tears.

As a side effect of the increased range of the Xuan Shui Escape, the consumption of Spiritual Power also rose. This isn't really a drawback since ample Spiritual Power at peak times means the impact isn't too significant. However, it has to be used cautiously when Spiritual Power is insufficient. The increased range of the Xuan Shui Escape means a greater hope for me to escape with my life. As long as the distance is sufficient, I could escape even in situations like the previous encirclement by the Black Blood Bizarre, using the Xuan Shui Escape to flee to safety. The Xuan Shui Escape still has more potential to be tapped; it's far from reaching its limit. First, I must recover my Spiritual Power.

Jia Ren took out a Recovery Pill, a Superior Grade Elixir for recovery. The effect on myself... Too weak! It's hardly better than meditating. The Recovery Pill's quality is too low, and the impurities in the Elixir make it unsuitable for Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Jia Ren decided not to take any more Elixirs. With his right hand, he clutched a Medium-grade Spirit Stone, quickly absorbing the Spiritual Power within.

The Medium-grade Spirit Stone's effect in replenishing Spiritual Power was far superior to the inferior Qi Recovery Pills; his Spiritual Power was swiftly restored.

The only downside is that it's overly extravagant. Still, in the midst of the river, safety is paramount. The faster I recover my Spiritual Power, the better.

Jia Ren's worries weren't unfounded. He faintly sensed something and stared at the gradually calming river waves.

A massive silhouette hurriedly approached from the distance.

He whipped out a Demon-Spotting Talisman, and in a flash, the presences of many Magical Beasts faintly manifested.

The optimal position for the talisman is always on land, as the water can interfere with it. Even so, it can still produce a certain effect.

Tens of thousands of presences dispersed in the river water, ninety-nine percent of which were harmless white ones. However, there was one...

A blood-red presence rapidly closed in on him.

A Foundation Establishment Magical Beast? Could it be the so-called River Dragon King?

Jia Ren had no interest in slaying Magical Beasts or exorcising demons, especially not a Foundation Establishment great Magical Beast whose strength exceeded his own.

Safety first; it's time to get away. With insufficient Spiritual Power, I can't afford to battle it. It's best to avoid its edge. What to do? Of course...

He pulled out a bottle of Spirit Attracting Bait and smashed the Jade Vase, scattering its contents around him.

This Magical Beast is likely a Fish Demon, and the Spirit Attracting Bait (fish version) was specifically made for Spirit Fish. It can be used to divert the Fish Demon's attention. The only unknown is whether it will work on a Foundation Establishment Stage Fish Demon.

Jia Ren didn't wait to see the result, flying in the complete opposite direction of the Spirit Attracting Bait.

The menacing Magical Beast paused for a moment, then pursued the scattered Spirit Attracting Bait.

Other Spirit Fish, drawn by the bait's scent, surged from their hiding spots in the river toward it in droves.

The swarm of fish was a marvelous sight.

The Spirit Attracting Bait reveals its strange magic over the Spirit Fish, Jia Ren noted.

All mine! a thought seemed to echo from the depths.

A massive, dark greenish-black fish gulped down both the bait-stealing Spirit Fish and the bait in one swallow.

A huge whirlpool formed in the river, pulling in the currents carrying the Spirit Attracting Bait and funneling it like a water column into its mouth.

All ten pieces of Spirit Attracting Bait Jia Ren had scattered were devoured by this fish without a trace.

The fish's broad back rose above the river's surface. Its most noticeable feature was its dark head, shining with a black gloss. Its dark bluish-green Scale Armor was sturdy, and its presence far surpassed that of an average Foundation Establishment being by more than tenfold.

Its eyes fixated on the receding figure of Jia Ren flying into the sky as it leaped out of the river, emitting strange cries from its mouth.

Could you drop a few more?

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