Ascended Without Me: Cultivating with a Genius Son | Chapter 20 | The Teleportation Array | Novela.app

With spirit stones in hand, a sense of security finally settled in their hearts. Li Xue and her companions headed to the only general store in the market square. They were there to buy a storage bag and an offensive magic tool for Ji Rufeng. For a cultivator, these items were inextricably linked to one’s very life and were absolute necessities. Storage bags were relatively inexpensive, costing only twenty to thirty spirit stones. There was no need for anything extravagant; one with a capacity of a few square meters would suffice. The choice of an offensive magic tool, however, required more deliberation. Ji Rufeng possessed dual Water and Wood spiritual roots, so a flying sword of either attribute would serve him well. The Dragon-Binding Rope he had used previously was merely a restrictive tool meant for trapping enemies and lacked true offensive power. The general store sold a variety of items used by low-level cultivators, ranging from talismans and cultivation techniques to medicinal pills and magic tools. While the shop carried a wide selection, the quality was strictly low-grade. Ji Rufeng eventually set his sights on a water-attribute flying sword. Although its quality was significantly inferior to the ones used by Li Xue and her son, it was affordable at only one hundred and thirty low-grade spirit stones—well within their budget. In addition, Li Xue purchased a good number of low-grade talismans, including offensive and defensive types, as well as communication talismans. She found talismans to be incredibly convenient; one simply had to throw them to activate their power, bypassing the need for complex technical maneuvers. It was a style she quite liked. After purchasing the essentials and setting aside the fees for the teleportation array, the three of them were left with just over fifty spirit stones. They divided the remainder, ensuring each person carried a dozen or so stones and a few talismans for easy access in case of trouble. By now, Ji Rufeng truly considered Li Xue and her son as family. He did not engage in empty politeness, accepting what was given without hesitation, though he silently vowed to ensure they lived well once he gained the strength to do so in the future. Li Xue admired this trait in him—his ability to be decisive and his upright character. The three of them were now like locusts tied to the same rope, bound together for better or worse. Before their departure, Ji Rufeng sent a communication talisman to Tang Yiran to inform him of their plan to leave. Tang Yiran came to find him that very day. "Brother Ji, are you leaving already?" Tang Yiran and Ji Rufeng had hit it off from the start and had long since begun calling each other brothers. "Indeed. We intend to head toward the inner regions to see the world and gain some experience," Ji Rufeng replied. "Sigh, I wish I could go with you," Tang Yiran said dejectedly. "But three years from now is the Flying Spirit Sect’s quinquennial disciple recruitment assembly. If I haven't reached the fifth level of Qi Condensation by then, I won't even have a chance to enter the sect, let alone be selected. Our Tang Clan Head has ordered all clansmen below the fifth level to enter secluded cultivation!" "That is a matter of great importance. I am certain you can break through to the fifth level within three years, Brother Tang," Ji Rufeng encouraged him. Tang Yiran possessed triple spiritual roots and was currently at the third level of the Qi Condensation stage. "Yes, I certainly will!" Tang Yiran said with renewed confidence. He then turned to Li Lin. "Little Lin, here is a little toy for you." Li Lin took the item and saw it was a small mesh net. It could be used to house spirit beasts or to capture them. By infusing it with spiritual power, the net would expand, functioning much like a fishing net. Li Lin thanked him with a bright smile. "Thank you, Uncle Tang!" Li Xue also stepped forward to offer her thanks. Tang Yiran looked a bit embarrassed and said, "These beast-catching nets are quite common around Beast Spirit Mountain." Li Xue quickly interjected, "Even so, it is the thought that counts. We truly appreciate your kindness." After a few more words of farewell, Tang Yiran took his leave. Ji Rufeng gave detailed instructions to the manager of the Ji family shop, and early the next morning, the trio set out for the teleportation array. The array was located in the Kingdom of Chen, some five hundred li away from the Kingdom of Tang. This was the outermost teleportation array in the southeastern part of the Mangyun Mountains; cultivators who lacked the strength to traverse the mountains on foot usually passed through here. Li Xue and her companions arrived at a small town in the Kingdom of Chen. Ten li outside the town stood a temple, behind which the teleportation array was hidden. This was done to avoid drawing the attention of mortals. Behind the temple was a simple defensive formation that ordinary people could not penetrate. The three entered the formation and found themselves in a large chamber. In the center was a pentagonal array structure, guarded by two cultivators at the second level of Qi Condensation. Seeing the trio enter, the guards hurried forward. "Do the three Daoists wish to teleport?" The trio nodded. One of the guards beamed and said, "That will be twenty low-grade spirit stones." Ji Rufeng handed over the stones. The two guards took them and practicedly placed two stones at each corner of the array. They then performed several hand seals to activate the mechanism and invited the three to step into the formation. Li Xue and the others watched with curiosity, seeing how a teleportation array was powered for the first time. "Stand firm," one of the guards commanded. "Initiating!" White light surged as the pentagonal array began to rotate, spinning faster and faster. The three felt a wave of intense dizziness and quickly closed their eyes to steady their minds. It took a full fifteen minutes before the sensation subsided. When they opened their eyes, the white light was slowly dissipating. They found themselves standing within another pentagonal array, but the surroundings were entirely different. Standing outside this array was a cultivator at the fourth level of Qi Condensation—an elderly man with thinning white hair. He looked up at them and said coldly, "Identity tokens."