Canglan Island held a distinct advantage for Lei Dong, a sight rarely seen in many parts of Kangzhou. Namely, this relatively small island was teeming with a large number of Foundation Establishment cultivators, along with a few Golden Core experts. The former, in particular, were overwhelming in number. In other locales, such as the large marketplaces inland, the Qi Refining cultivators far outnumbered those at the Foundation Establishment stage. Here, however, Qi Refining cultivators were the distinct minority, mostly serving as attendants in various shops.

What did a large concentration of Foundation Establishment cultivators signify? It meant there was a massive market catering to them—they required pills, spirit artifacts, and even materials for breaking through to the Golden Core realm. Merchants keen on profit naturally would not ignore such enormous market demand. Consequently, on Canglan Island, as long as one possessed spirit stones, nearly all goods specific to Foundation Establishment cultivators could be purchased. The prices were slightly steeper than those inland, as these cultivators on the island had a rather quick pace of earning spirit stones.

After browsing several markets on Canglan Island, Lei Dong gained a rough understanding of the pricing structure. Compared to Kangzhou, the prices for elixirs were significantly lower, and spirit artifacts were marginally cheaper. External items like talismans, puppets, spirit ghosts, spirit beasts, and flying boats were considerably more expensive than in Kangzhou. Spirit ghosts and spirit beasts of high quality, in particular, commanded exorbitant prices. A top-grade spirit ghost cost over 2.6 million spirit stones, and even then, one wasn't guaranteed a purchase. As a side note, there were cultivators in this Zhao Prefecture practicing arts similar to the Ghost Controlling Manual, reportedly one sect called the (Fierce Ghost Sect). Although not a top-tier sect, it was still rumored to be terrifying. Regarding this, Lei Dong mused that if the opportunity arose, he absolutely must seek out a peer from Zhao Prefecture to exchange insights on ghost controlling.

Of course, the prices mentioned above were specific to Canglan Island. If one traveled to the inland areas of Zhao Prefecture, the various price indicators should drop even further. Elixirs, especially, would certainly be much cheaper than in Kangzhou. This was a point Lei Dong greatly appreciated; what he lacked most currently were quality elixirs, meaning he could purchase more sustenance for the same amount of spirit stones.

Another point was whether Zhao Prefecture possessed a greater abundance of prime-grade spirit stones, as they seemed slightly cheaper than in Kangzhou. In any case, the exchange rate for prime-grade spirit stones on Canglan Island was set at 950,000. This prompted Lei Dong, having tasted the benefits of prime-grade stones, to immediately exchange for ten of them. In Kangzhou, while the nominal rate was 100-to-1, it was often impossible to actually achieve that exchange; securing prime-grade stones usually cost around 1.05 million.

Previously, Lei Dong had always been reluctant to use prime-grade spirit stones for cultivation, opting instead for high-grade ones. Now, at his current cultivation level, it only took a few days to consume one high-grade stone. A year of cultivation would require eighty to ninety high-grade stones. At this rate, not only could most Foundation Establishment cultivators not afford it, but even Golden Core cultivators could not consistently use high-grade stones for routine practice. However, the current Lei Dong believed that cultivating with the purer and more abundant spiritual energy of prime-grade stones would elevate his advancement speed to a new level.

Therefore, Lei Dong resolved to enter seclusion for the next few months, dedicating himself to cultivating solely with prime-grade spirit stones. If other Foundation Establishment cultivators knew of this, they would likely die of anger; normally, they relied on mid-grade stones for practice, reserving high-grade ones only for breakthrough attempts or fierce battles. Lei Dong, however, was being profligate to the point of scorning high-grade stones for slow cultivation. How utterly extravagant!

In truth, for Lei Dong, it was a mixture of speed and pain. If his spiritual root aptitude hadn't been so mediocre, why would he need to burn through wealth like this? It was a necessary evil. If he could advance rapidly using low-grade stones, who would bother with prime-grade ones?

Beyond the stones, Lei Dong also spared no thought for elixirs. Naturally, he hadn't reached the point of using something like the Ascension Pill for routine cultivation, although he reckoned that such a formidable elixir, if consumed, would propel him to the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment quickly. But what about his future attempt to break into the Golden Core realm? After all, the effects of certain extremely precious elixirs were maximized upon the first ingestion; subsequent uses yielded diminishing returns.

Thus, Lei Dong chose to endure, unwilling to place major obstacles on his path to the Golden Core. He had calculated that with the Ascension Pill, a collection of rare heavenly materials, and the aid of Qi Feifei, his success rate for breaking through to Golden Core could reach over eighty percent. For the sake of his future fortune, Lei Dong had to temporarily abandon the notion of buying and sampling an Ascension Pill.

Excluding overly dramatic breakthrough elixirs like the Ascension Pill, there were numerous speed-boosting pills suitable for accumulating strength during regular practice. Among these, the most luxurious one suitable for mid-to-late Foundation Establishment cultivators was the Mortal Transformation Pill, intended for daily cultivation. The problem was its utterly shocking price: a single pill cost thirty thousand spirit stones.

It must be remembered that the Mortal Transformation Pill was not like the Ascension Pill, reserved only for the most critical breakthroughs, but a drug to accelerate the speed of ordinary practice. Even Lei Dong gasped when he saw the price. If he utilized the residual effect of the Heavenly Demon Transformation along with this pill, after estimation, one prime-grade spirit stone could last forty to fifty days of cultivation. This meant his daily consumption rate of spirit stones would approach fifty thousand.

After some calculation, Lei Dong felt both tempted and heartbroken. Undeniably, cultivating in this excessively extravagant manner would cause his progress to soar. But the cost was simply too terrifying. Lei Dong believed that even Nascent Soul cultivators could not sustain a resource-draining method such as his. Although the Mortal Transformation Pill was nominally for regular training, it was fundamentally unaffordable for Foundation Establishment cultivators. Only a few exceptionally wealthy individuals might use ten or twenty annually to slightly quicken their pace.

Lei Dong re-calculated his assets: his initial spirit stone savings, combined with the wealth amassed from several years of warfare, plus his income since arriving in Zhao Prefecture.

His total liquid spirit stones reached a staggering over 42 million. After setting aside five million to support Captain Qian, Lei Dong had thirty-seven million remaining. If he did nothing now and focused entirely on cultivation, this amount could sustain him for two years. The reason he amassed so many stones was twofold: firstly, war was extremely lucrative; secondly, he fought for his sect, and the contribution points earned were sufficient to exchange for elixirs for his cultivation, meaning his spirit stones could largely be saved.

He couldn't definitively say how much his cultivation would advance in those two years, but Lei Dong knew the results would not be poor unless he encountered a particularly vexing bottleneck. After much deliberation, Lei Dong decided to first test the method for three months. He purchased thirty Mortal Transformation Pills from the largest trading firm on Canglan Island, pre-ordered another sixty, and then sought out a secluded small island to begin his seclusion.

While cultivating on Canglan Island would be a decent option—offering both spiritual energy and security—Lei Dong knew his cultivation method was rather unique, especially using the variations of the Heavenly Demon Transformation, which he preferred not to expose. He flew rapidly eastward for several thousand miles, eventually locating a solitary islet devoid of spiritual energy. It hosted only birds and beasts, with no mortals. The sea waves relentlessly pounded the reefs in an unending rhythm.

Lei Dong spent some effort excavating a secret chamber in a concealed spot. He then began testing his new cultivation method. Following routine, he first released his Ghost Guards, puppets, positioning them strategically to prevent anyone from disturbing him during cultivation. He then activated the Heavenly Demon Transformation. His entire being instantly became cold and overwhelmingly powerful, radiating an intense aura of slaughter.

He had been using this method to cultivate for a long time now. Lei Dong was no longer like his initial attempts when cultivating the Heavenly Demon Transformation, nearly falling into an unconscious state. Now, deep within his heart, though still in a relatively savage and restless condition, through such extensive, repeated practice, he could exert initial control over the changes in temperament brought on by the transformation. He no longer lashed out wildly or attacked indiscriminately.

By fiercely attacking the sea, Lei Dong quickly drained the power within his body. Utilizing the last vestiges of strength, he flew back into his secluded chamber. Once the momentum of the Heavenly Demon Transformation subsided, he collapsed into a state of utter weakness, his bones and meridians feeling as if they were shattered. At this point, he forced himself to rise, enduring the extreme pain, swallowed one Mortal Transformation Pill, and placed a prime-grade spirit stone in his palm, commencing his cultivation.

The Mortal Transformation Pill was truly extraordinary. As soon as the medicinal power entered his lower abdomen, it dissolved, and streams of warmth flowed along the minute meridians, spreading throughout his entire body. It felt like heatwaves or rushing torrents. Especially when his true energy was completely depleted, the sensation of this power surging through his blood vessels was intensely strong and swift.

In his palm, a breath of spiritual energy, almost purely refined, slowly seeped into his meridians, being drawn inward to the Dantian. Lei Dong quickly guided this spiritual energy along his meridians, gently nourishing and permeating his entire being. Simultaneously, his state of mind ascended into one devoid of joy or sorrow. Time trickled by as Lei Dong slowly tempered his meridians, blood, and flesh. After one day and one night, he withdrew from the endless cycle of true energy. When he opened his eyes, he felt an unusual clarity, his mind utterly pristine. His entire person, from flesh to spirit, felt as comfortably refreshed as if he had taken a thorough bath.

He caught a faint, fishy odor in his nostrils; impurities were expelled through the pores across his body. This filled Lei Dong with joy and surprise; it seemed this single day and night of cultivation had been exceptionally effective. While nowhere near the level required for a breakthrough, his cultivation base had nonetheless increased significantly.

…… (To be continued. For the next installment, please log in to Qidian for more chapters, support the author, and enjoy authentic reading!)