As the clerk was enthusiastically recommending books to Yuan Ming, another person walked into the bookstore. “Have my books arrived?” The man was obviously familiar with the clerk, and he shouted before even entering the door.

“Yes, they have arrived and are ready for you,” the clerk immediately shifted his attention from Yuan Ming and warmly replied.

Upon hearing the voice, Yuan Ming was slightly stunned, then turned to look at the person. He saw a fair, round-faced man with thick eyebrows and bright eyes, and a smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“Zhao Tong.” Upon hearing Yuan Ming’s greeting, the man also turned to look over, first stunned, then a smile spread across his face.

“Haha, Yuan Ming, you’re still alive?” Zhao Tong’s smile was genuine, filled with joy.

He completely ignored the approaching clerk, walked up to Yuan Ming, and after sizing him up, suddenly sighed, “I heard that our sect was destroyed by someone?”

“Done by the Dawn Scattering Alliance,” Yuan Ming nodded, giving a definite answer.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Tong did not show any sadness, but instead a sense of regret, sighing, “What is lost in the east is gained in the mulberry grove. I was exiled and disheartened back then, but I didn’t expect to come back with my life. It’s just that I can’t go back in good condition now…”

“Zhao, everything happens for a reason. There’s no need to go back. It’s almost a ruin there now. After the Dawn Scattering Alliance looted everything, I’m afraid there will be other forces and scattered cultivators coming to pick up the leftovers. I don’t even know whose territory it is now,” Yuan Ming said.

Although the clerk was not a cultivator, living in this area, he had been exposed to some knowledge about the cultivation sects, especially the destruction of the Blue Luo Cave, one of the five major sects, which had been widely spread in the Black Rock City.

But listening to the conversation between Yuan Ming and Zhao Tong, he didn’t dare to interrupt.

After a moment of lament, Zhao Tong suddenly turned to the clerk and asked, “Is my book ready?”

His change of topic was so sudden that the clerk was caught off guard and stammered, “Not yet, I’ll get it ready for you right away…”

The clerk hurried back to the counter, took a piece of thick cowhide paper, wrapped a book in the Central Plains language, “Jade Love” and “Brocade Screen Orchid,” and brought it over.

“Here are your ‘Seven Steps Poetry Collection’ and ‘Autumn Farewell,’” the clerk respectfully handed them over.

He really treated these books as some kind of classics… Yuan Ming’s mouth twitched as he watched.

“Whether immortal or mortal, one must read more books. In books, there are beautiful faces and the way of heaven. Where the heart goes, the realm follows,” Zhao Tong said without blushing, taking the books and muttering something while quickly paying.

Yuan Ming felt that his Southern Frontier version of “Childish Tales” was quite meaningful, so he also bought it.

“Do you like to read children’s fables?” This action surprised Zhao Tong, with a hint of teasing in his tone.

“It’s better than your preference for adult classics,” Yuan Ming emphasized the words “adult classics.”

“Yuan, it seems that we are kindred spirits. How about going for a drink?” Zhao Tong laughed and put his arm around Yuan Ming’s shoulder, leaving the store.

At the Mountain Treasure Tower.

Yuan Ming and Zhao Tong sat facing each other, and Zhao Tong also brought Gu Yue along. The three of them drank and chatted.

During this time, no one mentioned the Blue Luo Cave, only chatting about some interesting things in the Southern Frontier cultivation world.

“What are your plans for the future?” Finally, Yuan Ming asked about Zhao Tong’s plans.

“Me? I’m used to being idle. I used to read books and pass the time in the sect. Now the shop has been taken over by the owner of the market, so I’ll be a scattered cultivator for a while. The time here is soft, and the years are gentle, which suits me,” Zhao Tong smiled and said.

“I heard that the Southern Frontier might reopen trade with the Central Plains, especially with the Great Jin, which is an opportunity for the two of us. There will be a lot of business to be done in the future. Cultivation is about wealth first!” Gu Yue said.

“Right, with abundant resources, one can achieve immortality,” Zhao Tong nodded in agreement.

“Reopening trade means that the official trade routes will be opened?” Yuan Ming asked.

The business dealings between the Central Plains and the Southern Frontier had never been completely cut off, but it was all private trade under the official ban, essentially smuggling.

“Yes. I heard that some of the post roads have been rebuilt,” Gu Yue nodded.

“In that case, if we go to the Great Jin, we just need to follow the original post roads to get there?” Yuan Ming was suddenly delighted.

“Not yet… After all, the trade ports have been closed for too long. If they are reopened, not to mention rebuilding the system and procedures, it will take at least a year to rebuild some of the post station facilities,” Gu Yue said after thinking for a moment.

“Yuan, with your current strength, there’s no need to rush back to the Great Jin. Even in the cultivation world of the Great Jin, you are just a scattered cultivator without any support. It’s better for us to stay here together and take care of each other,” Zhao Tong added.

“Yes, Yuan, think about it. As long as you buy property in the Black Rock City, you won’t have to pay spirit stones every time you enter and leave. With the Green Scattered Hermit here, your safety will be guaranteed,” Gu Yue continued.

“Thank you both, my parents are still alive, and I miss them now,” Yuan Ming replied upon hearing this.

Without further ado, Gu Yue immediately took out a map made of water buffalo hide from his sleeve and pointed out the way for Yuan Ming.

After a full meal and drink, it was already getting dark, and the three of them parted ways.

Yuan Ming then hurried to the Fire Refining Master’s place.

He was still greeted by the bald man, but compared to the first time they met, his attitude was a bit better.”Refining a soft armor lining, that’s no problem. Will you be providing your own materials, or shall we supply them?” The bald man pondered briefly before asking.

“I have my own,” Yuan Ming replied.

With that, he flicked his wrist, and all the spiritual materials appeared on the table.

The main materials were the skins of the Golden Flower Poisonous Python King and Queen, along with some special materials Yuan Ming had collected. The materials were ready; the actual refining process would depend on what the Fire Refining Master had to say.

“The materials are well-prepared. During the refining process, the Fire Refining Master might add some of his customary auxiliary materials. Including the refining fee, the total comes to fifteen spirit stones, with a deposit of ten to be paid upfront,” the bald man stated.

As always, it was expensive, but at least the quality was guaranteed.

“Money is not an issue, but I wonder when the Fire Refining Master will have it ready?” Yuan Ming inquired.

The bald man thought for a moment, took out a small ledger used for keeping accounts, flipped through it, and then gave his answer:

“Eight days later.”

“It takes eight days to refine?” Yuan Ming asked, surprised.

“The actual refining won’t take eight days, but the Fire Refining Master’s schedule is fully booked for the next few days. Your soft armor lining can be refined on the evening of the seventh day, and you can come to collect it on the eighth day,” the bald man explained.

“Alright,” Yuan Ming considered and then nodded.

After speaking, he took out another item and placed it on the table.

“A high-grade magical instrument?” The bald man, who had seen much of the world, recognized it at a glance.

What was placed on the table was the Bagua Mirror he had previously obtained from Elder Meng Shan.

He had hastily refined it before, and Elder Meng Shan had cracked the mirror with a strike. Fortunately, the damage was not too severe, and it should still be repairable.

Besides the Bagua Mirror, Yuan Ming had also obtained from Elder Meng Shan’s storage ring a pair of black hooks and a dagger with a verdant sheen, both middle-grade magical instruments. One was called the Wushan Claw, and the other was the Short Verdant Dagger, both were poison-infused magical instruments.

In addition, he had acquired some healing and cultivation pills suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators, as well as more than two hundred low-grade spirit stones and three middle-grade spirit stones.

“Not bad, this is a high-grade defensive magical instrument. I wonder if the Fire Refining Master can repair it?” Yuan Ming asked.

“That… I’ll have to let the Fire Refining Master take a look himself. Please wait a moment, I’ll take it to him,” the bald man hesitated slightly before taking the Bagua Mirror and turning to leave.

Before long, the bald man returned with the Fire Refining Master’s reply:

“The damage is not severe; it can be repaired. Same as the other, come to collect it in eight days.”

“I have some questions. If the Fire Refining Master can repair high-grade magical instruments, why does he limit himself to only refining lower-grade ones?” Yuan Ming wondered aloud.

“That’s the Fire Refining Master’s business. I’m not clear on it, and I can’t give you an answer,” the bald man shook his head. “Alright then.”

Yuan Ming reluctantly paid the deposit for the two magical instruments and left.

He was going to stay in Black Rock City for a while, so he wasn’t in a hurry to leave. He immediately found a quiet inn in the market to settle down.

In the deepest room of the inn’s courtyard, the lights were bright.

Yuan Ming cradled an incense burner, with a homemade black incense stick inserted on top, yet to be lit.

After some hesitation, he chose to possess Tu Ya, the daughter of his father’s friend Ha Gong, rather than his own father.

He was about to leave the Southern Border soon, and if there was anything he was concerned about, it was Ha Gong’s wife and daughter.

This was also the last tie to his first friend since he had embarked on the path of cultivation.

Looking back, his actions seemed reckless to Xiying, and he also realized that in the world of cultivation, acting impulsively without absolute strength was not only futile but would only lead to more casualties.

However, since he had already made a promise, he hoped to fulfill it as much as he could, so as not to affect his future cultivation mindset.

If Yuan Ming was willing to put in the effort, he could certainly find them, but he chose not to.

He was unsure of what kind of life the mother and daughter were leading now, and whether he should reappear in their lives and disturb them.

Thus, possessing their spirits became the best way.

Having made up his mind, Yuan Ming lit the black incense, closed his eyes slightly, and in his mind, he sketched the young face of Tu Ya, softly calling her name.

Before long, wisps of blue smoke rose, and Yuan Ming’s vision began to blur.

“Tu Ya, Tu Ya, it’s time to eat…” The voice of a woman calling out came through.

Yuan Ming’s vision brightened, and a small but clean and tidy room appeared before him.

“I know, I’ll be right there,” the young girl’s tender voice responded.

Yuan Ming confirmed that his attempt was successful, and he had possessed Tu Ya’s body.

At that moment, Tu Ya’s gaze moved downward, and Yuan Ming saw that she was sitting cross-legged on the bed.

In front of her was a slightly yellowed piece of paper, which he recognized. It contained the cultivation mantra of the “Biluo Art.”