Chapter 71: Teleportation Array

Walking by himself would waste too much time, and Chen Mobai didn't know the way.

Chen Mobai wanted to try the teleportation array, but the price of 10 spirit stones was simply too expensive.

So, the only option left was to join a caravan. The cost was only 1 spirit stone, though it would take longer—five days on the road.

The four major cultivation families of Nanxi Market City were the Liu Family, the Wu Family, the Lou Family, and finally, the Luo Family, who specialized in breeding spiritual camels.

Only Foundation Establishment cultivators could fly with their artifacts for extended periods, but these individuals were the pillars of their cultivation families. It would be undignified to have them transport goods.

Thus, the spiritual camels were bred. These spirit beasts could grow up to the second tier, possessed great endurance, could travel a hundred miles a day, carry a thousand catties of goods at once, and could run tirelessly for seven days and seven nights.

Relying on this unique skill, the Luo Family had secured most of the logistics business in Nanxi Market City.

Due to the unique environment of Yunmeng Marsh, spiritual rice could not be grown there. Therefore, supplies had to be regularly transported from the major market cities in the nearby Yun Kingdom.

In addition to their own cultivated spiritual rice, the Luo Family also packaged and sold the Liu Family's spiritual fish, the Wu Family's spiritual wood, and the Lou Family's spiritual herbs. Of course, they also charged a fee to transport people to Yunmeng Marsh.

After paying the deposit, Chen Mobai received a ticket.

He checked the time on it and found that it was three days later.

Was He Qun also planning to take this caravan?

To be safe, Chen Mobai asked the young man at the counter. The latter did have an impression of He Qun, considering he had booked tickets for six people at once, making him a significant customer.

After confirming that He Qun was indeed on the same departure, Chen Mobai frowned. After some consideration, he decided to cancel his ticket for safety, earning a roll of the eyes from the Luo Family cultivator.

However, this was 1 spirit stone, and since Chen Mobai no longer intended to travel, he naturally wanted a refund.

After getting his deposit back, he wasted no more time. With only one month left until the entrance exam for the Daoist Academy, he had to master the Ice Spell within that month.

Gritting his teeth, he walked towards the teleportation array within the market city.

This was a small teleportation array, set up by the Five Elements Sect. However, fifty years ago during a period of internal strife, it was occupied by the Divine Wood Sect. After several conflicts between the two factions, they grudgingly reached a consensus.

Officially, the teleportation array still belonged to the Five Elements Sect, but the revenue from each teleportation was to be split equally with the Divine Wood Sect.

Chen Mobai reluctantly paid 10 spirit stones and waited for nearly an hour until a group of ten people was assembled.

Amidst a flash of silver light, he noticed something strange.

This was quite similar to how the Turtle Treasure had transported him from Earth Star to Heavenly River Realm.

Could it be?

Was the Turtle Treasure a portable teleportation array?

Chen Mobai felt he had hit upon a crucial insight. Just then, a bright flash enveloped his vision, and his group had arrived in Yunmeng Marsh Market City.

"Everyone's here."

A guard counted the passengers, confirmed all ten were present, and nodded, ticking a box on a form.

Chen Mobai followed the majority out of the teleportation array's location and found himself on an island.

All around him were endless lakes, rich with water vapor.

He took a breath and felt at least mid-grade Tier 1 spiritual energy in the air, nodding in satisfaction.

He walked around the island and found that the market city was not large, similar in size to Nanxi Market City. However, he had already mentally prepared for this.

Lu Shu had told him that due to the numerous islands and vast lakes in Yunmeng Marsh, there were many market cities spread across various islands, collectively known as Yunmeng Marsh Market Cities.

The island they had teleported to was merely a foothold for the cultivation world of the Yun Kingdom.

The deeper one went, the more prosperous the market cities would become.

And near the very center of Yunmeng Marsh was the main base of the Five Elements Sect's Water Vein, Fengyuwu.

However, that was also where the fiercest battles took place. If it weren't for the suppression by the seven major sects, those Tier 3 demonic beasts would have long since surged out and wreaked havoc across the Eastern Wilderness.

Chen Mobai did not linger there. Following Lu Shu's instructions, he found a boat marked with the Liu Family's emblem at the dock and headed for the largest nearby island, Qingguang Island Market City, which was operated by the Divine Wood Sect.

On this island, rows of neatly arranged wooden houses stood upon spiritual fields.

This was one of the resting places for cultivators in Yunmeng Marsh. The Divine Wood Sect provided protection, and the island was a blessed land with a high-grade Tier 2 spiritual vein, allowing for both rest and cultivation without hindrance.

Chen Mobai inquired about the prices and found that places with abundant spiritual energy cost 10 spirit stones a month. Being short on funds, he could only rent a cave dwelling with the most meager spiritual energy. The steward didn't mind, happily collected 1 spirit stone, and led him to the lowest point on the back of the island.

"Fellow Daoist, this place tends to accumulate water when it rains, but the spiritual energy is still quite good."

Chen Mobai felt the surrounding spiritual energy and found that it was actually high-grade Tier 1, which made him feel slightly better.

After seeing the steward off, he activated the cave dwelling's formation. Immediately, a green light shone from a stone at the entrance, indicating that someone had moved in and was under the protection of the Divine Wood Sect.

Chen Mobai surveyed the interior. The wooden house was a single-story structure with a bed, a table, and three stools—quite spartan.

He went out again to observe the surroundings and found that this area had nearly a fifty percent occupancy rate. However, his location was not ideal, as the wooden houses to his left and right were empty.

But that was fine; he preferred peace and quiet.

After cleaning up with a cleansing spell, Chen Mobai went out to explore the market city on Qingguang Island again.

Due to the high foot traffic, there were surprisingly more goods available here than in Nanxi Market City.

However, the prices were higher.

Chen Mobai inquired about "black water." As luck would have it, the spiritual herb shop operated by the Divine Wood Sect had it for sale, but at 15 spirit stones, he couldn't afford it.

It seemed that before refining his combat skills, he first needed to earn money.

He would have to return to his old trade.

Setting up a stall.

Setting up a stall here was different; there was no need to pay fees to the Divine Wood Sect. He just needed to find an unoccupied spot.

Chen Mobai placed the blanket he had brought from Nanxi Market City in a corner and laid out a stack of talismans.

He had initially feared that, like Nanxi Market City, there would be no one who truly recognized quality. However, he soon discovered that the cultivators in Yunmeng Marsh were entirely different.

Because people here frequently battled demonic beasts, talismans were in high demand. Practically every cultivator could discern the quality of a talisman.

Chen Mobai's talismans were naturally of top quality. Before long, half of the low-tier talismans he had acquired from the Wood Spirit Talisman Shop a few days prior were sold, and all of his mid-tier talismans were gone.

Even his only high-grade Tier 1 Revival Talisman was bought by a Qi Cultivation ninth-layer cultivator for 3 spirit stones.

Holding 13 spirit stones and a gold note worth twenty thousand taels, Chen Mobai immediately went to the Divine Wood Sect's spiritual herb shop and bought a bottle of refined "black water."