Within the Nine Profound Sect, there are seven important locations, each possessing unfathomable profundity. Cultivating in any one of them for a period would lead to a surge in cultivation, which would merely be a secondary benefit.
For example, the Lei Ze Peak's Lei Chi sacred ground has the effect of refining the purity of spiritual power and strengthening the physical body. It also offers unexpected benefits to cultivators practicing lightning techniques.
Another example is Ku Mu Peak's Bai Jie Ling Tu, which is imbued with boundless life force. No matter how severe the injury, one can fully recover after spending some time within it.
However, these are merely the most superficial abilities of these sacred grounds. Deeper within lie various benefits unknown to outsiders.
Yet, to cultivate in a sacred ground, no amount of wealth is useful. One must expend a vast amount of merit points to gain entry.
Furthermore, each entry is only for a limited duration, after which the cultivator will be expelled. To enter again, one must exchange merit points once more.
"I wonder how many merit points we can earn from this discovery?" Lin Miaoyi asked with some uncertainty.
It wasn't just her; Zhao Yuansong was also full of curiosity. Although they had joined the Nine Profound Sect over a decade ago, they had accumulated very little merit, at most only a dozen or twenty points.
Tasks that earn merit are generally found within the inner sect. Normally, outer disciples have almost no access to them.
"Each person can likely receive around three to four hundred merit points," Wu Chengqing mused.
This amount was already considered quite substantial for him. Normally, to earn such a sum would require six to seven years of arduous effort, and even then, it would be a slim possibility.
Moreover, it would be necessary to ensure that every mission was completed perfectly with minimal cost. Otherwise, there might even be a deficit.
"Just this one instance, and even if we return to the sect now, we've already made a huge profit!" Li Junxian muttered to himself, drawing sincere agreement from those around him.
Yet, no one actually decided to return to the sect. Instead, they chose to continue exploring.
A dojo that has never been discovered before surely holds more opportunities than just this. There was no reason for them to give up.
However, over the next two days, the group was not so fortunate. Several cave dwellings they found yielded little harvest, and sometimes they couldn't even absorb any spiritual energy.
After traveling extensively, their collective gains were less than a thousand taels of silver, while they had spent a considerable amount on elixirs and talismans.
Occasionally, when they encountered fellow disciples, they would exchange maps of the areas they had explored, saving each other effort and precious time.
After all, as time passed, news of this place would inevitably spread, attracting cultivators from all factions.
Although the Nine Profound Sect possessed the strength to forcibly claim this dojo, there was no need to provoke such widespread anger.
It was sufficient to ensure that the greatest opportunities were grasped by their own hands. Even if some were distributed, it was not an unacceptable outcome.
For cultivators, grasping at everything would invite disaster from the heavens.
This was even more so for a sect. If a sect claimed everything, it might lead to backlash and unforeseen circumstances, or even a calamity capable of destroying the sect.
By the third day, Ji Yuan and his group had explored a considerable area. Combined with the maps obtained from other Nine Profound Sect disciples, they had covered roughly twenty to thirty li.
However, they still had not approached the core of this dojo and might even still be wandering in the outer regions.
This was because the cave dwellings they found were primarily left by cultivators of the first or second realm. The cave dwellings of one or two third-realm cultivators belonged to itinerant cultivators of the mountains and wilds, with little of value left behind.
"Someone has already beaten us to it again!" Lin Miaoyi sighed, a hint of helplessness in her voice.
This was already the third cave dwelling they had discovered that had been explored long ago, today.
"It seems other cultivators have entered this dojo," Ji Yuan was not surprised by this. It was within reason for other cultivators to enter this place.
He had initially thought there were still a few days left, but he hadn't expected these cultivators to arrive so quickly and, moreover, to find a way into the dojo so smoothly.
Although the sect leader of Lei Ze Peak, Xu Chengfeng, had used his great divine ability to blast open an entrance, with the elders of the Nine Profound Sect guarding it, it was naturally impossible for other cultivators to enter the dojo through it.
To blast open the earth concealing the dojo would require at least two or three third-realm cultivators working together.
"Let's head deeper," Wu Chengqing suggested after some thought.
For the past three days, to accommodate Li Junxian and the others, they had been intentionally lingering around the outer edges of the dojo. Now, they had no choice but to proceed deeper.
No one had any objections to his suggestion. After identifying the direction, the group headed towards the depths of the dojo.
In truth, they had already mapped out the deeper parts of the dojo. Another reason they hadn't gone there earlier was their lack of concern about being beaten to it.
Although hundreds of disciples had come to the Nine Profound Sect, those truly possessing second-realm cultivation were still a minority. Naturally, they weren't worried about all the opportunities being taken by others.
However, the current situation was different. With the suspected presence of other cultivators in the dojo, if they delayed any longer, there might truly be nothing left.
As they ventured deeper, they began to notice changes in their surroundings. Within two to three hours, they encountered several exotic beasts.
These beasts were similar to the stone monkeys they had encountered earlier in the stone forest, with petrified skin beneath a layer of fur that ordinary swords could hardly damage.
Later, they even sensed a few demonic auras, but they were not powerful, likely only at the first-order level. Even the strongest was only comparable to the mid-stage of the Enlightenment Realm.
Instead, while venturing deeper into the dojo, Ji Yuan and the others unexpectedly encountered cultivators outside the Nine Profound Sect. There were five of them traveling together, each possessing second-realm cultivation.
However, after a brief glance from a distance, both parties went their separate ways, without much interaction.
This encounter also instilled a sense of urgency in them. Although no one mentioned it, they subconsciously quickened their pace.
After five hours, they finally discovered a cave dwelling hidden within a mountain cliff, shrouded by a relatively intact illusion formation.
If not for Ji Yuan's powerful spiritual sense detecting the sluggish flow of spiritual energy within, they might not have found this cave dwelling.
Undoubtedly, this was the cave dwelling of a third-realm cultivator, and the original owner was at least an itinerant cultivator. The formations and restrictions within were all intact, so many good items were preserved.
Although most of these items were deficient in spiritual energy, or had severely lost their spiritual essence, they could still be sold for at least thousands or tens of thousands of taels of silver.
The harvest from this single instance far surpassed their gains from the previous two days, naturally invigorating everyone and making them even more eager for what lay ahead.
At this moment, the group found a relatively safe spot and began to recover the spiritual power they had consumed.
Several hours of travel, coupled with exploring a cave dwelling, had left them all with varying degrees of exhaustion.
In an environment of uncertain safety, maintaining one's condition was paramount, to guard against any potential situations.
RUMBLE!!!
However, at this very moment, a deafening roar suddenly echoed from afar, and even the ground beneath their feet began to tremble slightly.
Ji Yuan and the others quickly got up and immediately felt a surge of magnificent spiritual energy sweeping towards them from the depths of the dojo.
Within this wave of spiritual energy, they felt pressure bearing down on them. Their vital energy and spiritual power were involuntarily mobilized, and only then did they feel slightly better.
"Is a rare treasure about to emerge?"
The group exchanged glances, and this thought immediately flashed through their minds.
To cause such a commotion, if not for the emergence of a rare treasure, it must be that a senior's cave dwelling has been discovered, and the anomaly arose from the opening of its sealed formation.
Either way, it signified a great opportunity!
Without the slightest hesitation, Ji Yuan and the others immediately sprinted towards the direction from which the spiritual energy was surging.
Half a day passed. As the concentration of spiritual energy in the surroundings increased, streaks of spiritual light rose from afar, illuminating the darkness within a radius of two to three li.
Another hour passed before they reached the place where the spiritual light was rising. As they looked up, they saw a mountain peak tens of feet high emerging from the radiance.
This mountain peak was already more than half shattered, with the upper section of the mountain body transformed into countless fragments scattered across the surrounding land.
At the remaining summit, which was the original mountainside, countless rays of light emanated, each condensed from pure spiritual energy.
If all this spiritual energy were to be absorbed, it would fetch an astronomical price, at least equivalent to half or even a whole magical artifact!
They were not the only ones with this thought. Some people were already doing so.
Around this mountain peak, at least twenty to thirty people had gathered. Among them, only two groups, totaling no more than seven or eight individuals, were inner disciples of the Nine Profound Sect. The rest were cultivators who had rushed over upon hearing the news.
At this moment, almost half of the cultivators were using various specially made vessels to absorb the surging spiritual energy from heaven and earth.
"There's a formation on the mountain. It shouldn't be opened easily!" Wu Chengqing said in a low voice.
This was why all the cultivators were willing to absorb spiritual energy here rather than ascending the mountain to compete for opportunities.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan's hesitation vanished. He immediately took out a white porcelain bowl and began to absorb the spiritual energy from heaven and earth.
Beside him, Wu Chengqing and the others did the same, each taking out specially made vessels of varying shapes and sizes to absorb spiritual energy together.
Such a massive amount of spiritual energy was unimaginable in normal times. It was either occupied by a senior or belonged to a certain faction. How could others be allowed to absorb spiritual energy?
Therefore, when such an opportunity presented itself, no one was polite. They used all their means to absorb as much as possible.
Unfortunately, there were quite a number of cultivators here, at least nearly twenty, all absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan's mind suddenly moved. Disregarding whether it would expose his possession of a treasure, he secretly activated the Xuan Tian Shi Ling Pagoda within his dantian!
In an instant, an immensely powerful suction force was released from his body and directed towards the mountain peak not far away.
Within a few breaths, spiritual light erupted everywhere, and the magnificent spiritual energy enveloped everyone present. Most of it transformed into swirling vortexes, constantly surging into Ji Yuan's body.
Feeling the Xuan Tian Shi Ling Pagoda devouring this spiritual energy, a look of joy appeared on his face, but it was quickly replaced by pain.
Such a massive influx of spiritual energy was difficult for his second-realm physique to withstand. Under the torrent of spiritual energy, even his own spiritual power was squeezed into the corners, rendering it immobile no matter how he tried to control it.
After a moment, Ji Yuan even had the urge to simply unleash the Xuan Tian Shi Ling Pagoda and let it directly absorb the spiritual energy from heaven and earth.
"Not good! Someone is trying to attack us!" Wu Chengqing's expression changed. Some cultivators nearby were already stirring and stealthily approaching them.
Under these circumstances, the other party couldn't just be there to say hello; they clearly intended to attack them, aiming to seize their treasures while eliminating competitors for spiritual energy.
At this moment, anyone could see that Ji Yuan must possess a rare treasure, as it allowed him to absorb such magnificent spiritual energy so aggressively!
As itinerant cultivators of the mountains and wilds, who would care about the other party's identity when faced with opportunity? At worst, they could flee a thousand li after succeeding. If that didn't work, they could simply escape the borders of the Great Yu Dynasty.
With sufficient strength, where in the world could they not go?