Chen Chuan sat on the beach reading his book, losing track of time as half the day slipped past. That senior from the Wilderness faction had recorded his experiences as a series of short tales, each remarkably entertaining.
The volume touched upon every facet of the Linakes Federation, spanning society and state, scenic journeys, and local culture.
Even though the author was one of the First People, he bore no bitter grudges or deep-seated resentment. Instead, he related events in a lively, witty voice tinged with gentle mockery, leaving a deep impression on the reader.
Even setting aside its background context, it made for a delightful piece of leisure reading.
Chen Chuan would soon be heading to the Federation. Much of the book described things from over fifty years ago, yet it retained considerable reference value. Technological progress might have brought forth a flood of new innovations, but certain things ingrained in the bones never truly changed.
Around this time, Nian Fuli and Yu Wan returned from touring Center City with the two little ones. Chen Chuan closed his book and walked over to meet them.
Over the next two days, he and his aunt's family explored other worthwhile spots across the island before taking their leave. They continued their journey through places like Gaoshi Island and Cannibal Island for several days, finally reaching the terminus of this trip, Luowang Island. After four days of sightseeing there, he made a special trip to nearby Feiguang Island before departing to meet with Talu and the others and catch up on old ties, after which they set off on the return voyage.
The journey back took the southern route, offering scenic vistas and local delicacies. Throughout those days, he did not look into anything regarding the next stage of cultivation, dedicating himself entirely to keeping his aunt's family company. It served as a rare opportunity for him to unwind.
Moreover, he knew that going forward, it might be quite a long time before he would have another chance to accompany his family like this.
In early September, the cruise ship finally returned to Jibei Dao. The two youngsters were sent off to school the very next day.
Chen Chuan received a notification from the Government Affairs Hall stating that the delegation sent from the capital to confer his official rank and post would arrive in mid-to-late September, requesting that he refrain from traveling during this period.
He had no plans to go anywhere anyway. Instead, he intended to embark on the next phase of cultivation while making preliminary preparations for his journey to the Linakes Federation.
Good news arrived from Mr. Zhuan. Not wanting to disturb Chen Chuan during his vacation, he had waited until the trip concluded before sending a telegram, informing him that he had contacted a senior within the faction. They were currently striving to secure an important cultivation resource for him, with high hopes of obtaining it before October.
Chen Chuan pondered the matter. Through the cultivation manual, he knew that cultivating this technique most commonly required three specific resources.
The Purist Faction still employed the terminology of the old era, referring to these three items as Hollow Marrow Dew, Purple Blood Gum, and Jade Bone Paste.
All three were harvested from higher lifeforms within the Confluence, every single one derived from a limit-breaking creature. That alone would have been manageable, but the creatures providing these resources could not simply be chosen at random. Not only did the required quantity vary from person to person, but the quality of the materials mattered immensely, directly determining the speed and efficiency of one's progress.
The faction appeared to have reached some form of cooperative arrangement with these limit-breaking creatures. If so, it was no wonder that internal resources were so constrained.
Still, if Mr. Zhuan could secure one, Chen Chuan would only need to find the remaining two himself. If that yielded nothing, he could seek out other avenues.
In truth, he knew that certain megacorporations and government figures surely possessed corresponding channels. However, since he had never intended to walk that path from the start, he naturally would not turn around to seek them out now.
The most convenient option was undoubtedly to procure them through the Wansong Commission Company. One had to admit that the company's presence offered martial artists like him an immense degree of convenience.
With that thought in mind, he sat down in his study and tapped his dedicated contact frequency.
Almost the next instant, that gentle female voice rang out once more:
"Greetings, Mr. Chen. The Wansong Company is dedicated to serving you. How may we assist you today?"
Chen Chuan said, "I wish to purchase the cultivation method for the Dongxuan View realm, and I require the most complete technique you can provide."
The female voice responded, "The Wansong Company can provide the item you require, Mr. Chen. Currently, the company's most complete Dongxuan View cultivation method costs four platform coins in total. Would you prefer to pay with platform coins or another method?"
"Platform coins," Chen Chuan answered. He still had a fair amount of platform coins remaining, so he chose to pay with them directly.
"Please wait a moment."
After a brief pause, Chen Chuan saw transaction details transmitted through his boundary credential and tapped to confirm the purchase.
The female voice said, "Thank you for purchasing the Wansong Company's services, Mr. Chen. Much of the cultivation material you require cannot be rendered over a boundary credential and is unsuitable for electronic transmission. The physical item will be delivered to your residence within three days."
Chen Chuan nodded. This was completely normal. Certain contents could not be fully conveyed through text alone and required spiritual transmission, making a physical book far more effective.
He then inquired whether they could supply the corresponding cultivation resources.
The female voice explained that while lower-quality supplies were available immediately, higher-quality stock would require a certain waiting period.
He asked for an estimate. The other side replied that the fastest turnaround would likely take six months to a year, and potentially two to three years at the latest.
He shook his head. To other martial artists, such a timeframe might genuinely be brief, but to him, it felt rather long.
He examined the informational material transmitted by the Wansong Company. Attached below were brief explanations noting that, unlike in former times, synthetic pharmaceutical substitutes now existed for all three items. Much like the Six Sun Gold from before, these were also classified as limited-supply goods, meaning that even if he chose to purchase them, only modest quantities could be provided.
He considered this and decided he would have to find a way to search elsewhere.
***
Fengde District, Wansong Company Branch.
The man who had been keeping an eye on Chen Chuan received word of the transaction almost immediately. An expression of wonder surfaced on his face, and he murmured in admiration, "Ready to cultivate the Dongxuan View already? So fast... Such talent is truly unprecedented. Perhaps—"
He sank into deep thought, his fingertips tapping rhythmically against the desk. At last, having seemingly reached a decision, he tapped his boundary credential.
A female secretary stepped in from outside. "Sir, what are your orders?"
The man tapped his boundary credential and said, "Retrieve a technique manual from my display case and deliver it to Mr. Chen. You know the one—the book I specifically instructed you never to approach. Put on protective gear when retrieving it, and be careful."
The secretary said, "Sir, you previously stated that the contents of that item must not be lightly shown to anyone, as it could lead to dire consequences. Mr. Chen is the Chief of the Jibei Dao Defense Department. If something goes wrong after he reads it, our branch cannot bear the responsibility."
The middle-aged man seemed brimming with confidence. Eyes burning with intensity, he said, "Others might not be able to handle it, but he should. Besides, I want to see what he can glean from it."
Having fulfilled her duty to advise him, the secretary pressed no further and nodded. "Yes, sir. I will arrange it at once."
"Wait," the man called out, stopping her.
The secretary halted.
The man seemed to hesitate, ultimately shaking his head. "Never mind. The time is not yet right. Let us wait a while longer. When the moment comes, I will meet with him in person."
The secretary understood that what her employer meant by "in person" did not refer to his current identity. Seeing that he had no further instructions, she turned and took her leave.
***
After two days of waiting, the Wansong Company dispatched a security detail to deliver the package directly to Chen Chuan's door.
Once both parties had signed the confirmation and the personnel departed, he carried the parcel into his study. Sitting down, he unpacked the wrapping and drew out a thick manual.
Flipping through it, he found it completely blank, just as expected. It required connecting with the glabella eye's spiritual awareness to perceive the contents. A faint glimmer flickered at his brow, and text and diagrams gradually materialized before his sight.
Reading through it once, he discovered that what was recorded here differed significantly from what the Purist Faction had provided. If the Purist Faction's teachings leaned toward a higher plane, then this manual represented a comparatively lower stratum.
Of course, anyone capable of surpassing the Longevity View realm and peering into the upper reaches of cultivation was hardly ordinary. What the Wansong Company offered was an entry-level method with the lowest threshold, and one could tell it had been entirely compiled and synthesized during the new era.
Even so, the material proved immensely illuminating. Just as when he had cultivated the Longevity View, studying two methods side by side broadened his horizons and deepened his comprehension. The four platform coins had been well worth the expense.
After finishing, he set the manual aside and prepared to contemplate his future path in detail. Yet all at once, a feeling struck him that he had overlooked something. Stirred by intuition, he retrieved the booklet before fully letting go and flipped through it from beginning to end once more.
Still, he saw nothing amiss.
*No.*
He reflected for a moment. An instinct of this sort never arose without cause; there was definitely something hidden within that he had failed to detect.
He closed the heavenly eye at his brow. After a brief pause, he opened it once more, and this time he caught a trace.
He abruptly turned the entire manual over, flipping two pages from back to front. The sensation remained off, so he flipped the booklet completely upside down. This time, as though fulfilling some prerequisite ritual, newly revealed contents emerged upon turning the page.
What appeared across the surface was not text, but streams of bizarre spiritual intent—resembling countless shattered fragments kneaded violently back together, each pulse carrying ferocious aggression.
Chen Chuan's gaze flickered slightly as his second self instantly showed signs of blurring into incorporeality.
*What is this thing?*
Chapter 1048