Liao Xiaoli gave one of the dead guards' horses to Fang Mo. Together, they set off for Shan Lin State. Upon arrival, Fang Mo was struck by the sight of her residence. It became clear that the girls' status was no less than Yang Bo's. From atop his horse, Fang Mo gazed at the sprawling estate. It stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with houses of all shapes and sizes. The number of servants and guards easily surpassed that of the Yang family.
Shao Huiqing glanced at Fang Mo's dumbstruck expression with a sly smile. "Impressive, right? Liao Xiaoli's father is a duke. His influence and wealth easily surpass those of a lord from a small state like Cheng Hou."
Fang Mo nodded as his casual demeanor returned. Instead of responding, he turned to Liao Xiaoli. "I need to buy a few things in the city. How long until we leave for the capital?"
"Since it's already dark, we'll depart tomorrow at first light," Liao Xiaoli replied, dismounting from her horse. Fang Mo and Shao Huiqing followed suit as servants rushed over to attend to the horses.
"Is there a place where I can exchange spiritual stones for gold?" he asked.
Both Liao Xiaoli and Shao Huiqing stared at him, dumbfounded, as if he'd just said the most absurd thing in the world.
Fang Mo flushed and cleared his throat. "I lost everything I had in the Storm Forest, so aside from the spiritual stones you gave me, I'm completely broke."
Shao Huiqing burst out laughing. "Brother Mo, exchanging spiritual stones for gold? That's a waste! Gold is easy for us cultivators to come by, but it's only good for dealing with mortals. Let me lend you some instead. Consider it a favor you owe me."
With a grin, she pulled a pouch from her bosom and offered it to him. Fang Mo blinked, speechless, as he stared at the pouch in her hand. Does she keep everything in there...?
"Don't be shy, take it," she said, mistaking his hesitation. "Money's no issue for us."
Fang Mo smiled bitterly as he took the pouch. Judging by the weight, there were at least a hundred coins inside, more than enough to buy everything he needed, including a basic set of equipment to concoct the Opening Meridian Solution.
"Thank you, Shao Huiqing," he said sincerely.
Shao Huiqing giggled and waved her hand dismissively. "It's a small matter."
Fang Mo clasped his hands and took his leave, promising to return soon. Liao Xiaoli's estate was situated in the heart of Qingdu City, the capital of Shan Lin State. Thanks to its central location, Fang Mo had no trouble finding an herbal shop that sold everything he needed.
He had originally planned to purchase a rudimentary refinement set, but to his surprise, he came across a shop offering rental equipment, far superior to anything he could afford outright. Not only would he avoid the burden of transporting it, but the higher-quality tools also increased his chances of successfully concocting the Opening Meridian Solution.
Three hours after leaving, Fang Mo returned to Liao Xiaoli's residence with a satisfied smile on his face. He had successfully concocted thirty doses of the Opening Meridian Solution, and still had money to spare. Now, the only thing I'm missing is a source of lightning.
Returning to the Storm Forest wasn't an option, and if he had a choice, Fang Mo preferred a weaker lightning source, something he could use without the risk of dying.
At the estate, he was given a room of his own. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he began cultivating. As he circulated his technique, a small vortex of spiritual energy formed around him.
A person's cultivation speed was determined by the quality of their meridians. Factors such as the number of opened meridians, their thickness, and how clogged they were all played a role. Normally, a cultivator used their spiritual roots to stimulate their meridians, gradually opening and purifying them. The final quality of the meridians depended heavily on innate talent, meaning the higher the tier of one's spiritual root, the more suitable their meridians were for cultivation.
In Fang Mo's case, however, he had no spiritual roots suited for cultivation. Under normal circumstances, he would never have been able to open even a single meridian. But by forcefully combining spiritual energy, lightning, and the Opening Meridian Solution, he had managed to do it.
The process violently opened and cleansed his meridians, enlarging them while leaving them ravaged. But through destruction came healing, and through healing, growth. His meridians became far stronger and thicker than those of an ordinary cultivator.
Even those born with supreme immortal spiritual roots could not replicate this effect. The heavens dictated one's cultivation talent; Fang Mo went against the heavens' will and created a talent of his own.
In a single night of cultivation, Fang Mo advanced to the peak of the first level. To reach the second level, he would need to open more meridians.
The next morning, before the first rays of light touched Liao Xiaoli's estate, Fang Mo was already waiting at the front gates. Despite a sleepless night, he felt more energized than ever. His body was brimming with strength.
Liao Xiaoli and Shao Huiqing soon appeared, accompanied by two men who seemed to be guards. "These are Guo Qingsheng and Zeng Chonglin," Liao Xiaoli said. "They work here and will be accompanying us to the Winter Immortal Conference."
After exchanging greetings, they set off for the capital, where Fang Mo believed the Winter Immortal Conference would take place.
The journey to the Yun Han Empire's capital, Lianhua, took seven days.
Fang Mo was awestruck by the sight before him. Compared to the other cities he had seen in this world, it was like comparing a bustling metropolis to a rural village. Lianhua boasted towering buildings, some reaching as high as ten stories. The streets were crowded with people, all moving from one point to another without pause. Among them, Fang Mo could sense numerous cultivators living side by side with mortals.
Shops selling spiritual items lined the streets, far more common here than in the places he had visited before. A smile tugged at his lips as his excitement for cultivation swelled.
"Where is the Winter Immortal Conference being held? Is it near the royal palace?" Fang Mo asked.
"The Winter Immortal Conference isn't held here," Liao Xiaoli replied.
Fang Mo raised an eyebrow. "It's not in the capital? Then why did we even come here?"
A chuckle escaped Shao Huiqing's lips. "Brother Mo, the Winter Immortal Conference isn't exclusive to our Yun Han Empire. It's a gathering for cultivators from all Five Empire Regions. The only place capable of hosting such a grand event is the Dao Seeking Sect, the only Heaven-ranked sect."
"But then, why come to Lianhua City instead of going there directly?"
"If we traveled by horse from the Yun Han Empire to the Dao Seeking Sect, it would take at least three years, if we even made it alive," she explained. "The path is filled with dangerous territories crawling with demon beasts. Mortals and weak cultivators like us wouldn't survive unless we were willing to spend an enormous amount of spiritual stones on safe transportation."
Even at a conservative estimate, that means the distance between the Yun Han Empire and the Dao Seeking Sect is at least three hundred thousand kilometers. That's already far greater than a full lap around Earth, Fang Mo thought.
"We've arrived," Liao Xiaoli said, snapping him out of his thoughts.
They now stood in a massive plaza brimming with people. Hundreds of young masters and ladies from all corners of the Yun Han Empire gathered there, each accompanied by guards. Most were surrounded by three to five attendants, bringing the total number present to well over three thousand.
Fang Mo glanced around but didn't see Yang Bo or Qian Qi. He wondered if the latter had killed the former. "Are these all the people going to the Dao Seeking Sect?" he asked.
Liao Xiaoli was about to respond when a mocking laugh rang out beside them. "Liao Xiaoli, you brought along such a clueless country bumpkin without explaining anything to him? The Duke's household has fallen so low," a voice sneered. "Idiot. Do you think this measly number of people is the only ones participating in the Winter Immortal Conference?"
Fang Mo turned toward the source of the voice. A pale-faced young man stood there, smirking at them. "The flying ship takes twice this many people every day for two weeks straight. This is just one small batch," he said.
Liao Xiaoli's brows furrowed. "What does that have to do with you, Zheng Niu?"
Zheng Niu sneered. "As a fellow son of a duke in the Yun Han Empire, I find it disgraceful to see another noble house in such a state."
While Zheng Niu spoke, Fang Mo calmly looked him over from head to toe, a faint smile playing on his lips. Then, with mock politeness, he chimed in. "Young Master Zheng, instead of worrying about another duke's household, perhaps you should be more concerned about your own. I hope your father has more sons. Otherwise, the Duke Zheng's bloodline might just end with you."
Though Fang Mo hadn't raised his voice, many nearby heard him. His words immediately drew the attention of a small crowd. How could a mere attendant have the audacity to threaten a duke's son?