There is still half a month left.
Lu Changan checked for any leaks and made up for them, and all kinds of supplies and life-saving means were prepared.
A few days later.
The puppet master neighbor opposite came back carrying a bamboo basket and looked dusty.
"Master Sang has also arrived at the ninth level of Qi Refining."
"Hey! Divine consciousness is much stronger than ordinary Qi refining in the later stage. Is there some chance?"
Lu Changan narrowed his eyes slightly and watched the muscular middle-aged man enter the courtyard.
Master Sang is usually taciturn and seldom communicates with others.
However, neighbors of twenty years inevitably have some interactions.
A few years ago, Master Sang bought a high-grade talisman and talisman from Lu Changan, and he was received by Guan Qiaozhi at that time.
The puppet master's means of strength mainly rely on puppets. In the face of certain emergencies, talismans are more convenient and practical.
The next day, Lu Changan went to the other courtyard opposite with a small gift.
He knew that Master Sang was withdrawn and would not go around any circles and directly explained his purpose.
"What level of puppet does Master Lu want to buy?"
Master Sang's expression was slightly dull.
The two stood in the yard communicating, and they didn't know to invite Lu Changan into the room for a sip of tea.
Lu Changan didn't take it seriously and said:
"Are there any second-level puppets for sale?"
Master Sang's eyelids twitched, he looked at Lu Changan in astonishment, shook his head and said:
"Sang can only create a late-stage first-order puppet at most."
Lu Changan had doubts about this.
Looking at the details of Guan Qiaozhi's puppet dog and the spiritual consciousness of Master Sang, it should not be limited to this.
"Master Sang, don't be humble. I heard someone say your true skills."
"Who said that?"
Master Sang's expression changed slightly and he said subconsciously.
"It doesn't matter who said it. I don't want second-order puppets. You can sell me two top-notch first-order bird puppets."
Lu Changan suggested.
Evergreen's magic power is not good at fighting, and the first-level top puppet can be used as a supplement to his combat power.
If it doesn't work, act as cannon fodder to increase the fault tolerance rate.
The Earth Rock Rat has been promoted to the second level and is no longer suitable for doing such dirty work.
Puppet has one advantage: it is not afraid of life and death, and is not afraid of most poisons.
Master Sang hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly said: "I only have one first-level top-level bird puppet. You have to exchange it for a second-level talisman."
"The second-order talisman is so precious, it is many times more valuable than the first-order talisman..."
The two negotiated for a while and reached a deal.
Master Sang sold two top-level first-level puppets to Lu Changan.
A bird puppet and a heavily armored humanoid puppet.
Lu Changan paid for a few inferior second-level talismans.
These inferior second-level talismans were made by Lu Changan when he first came to Huanglong Immortal City, and the materials were restricted, so they were simply eliminated by Master Sang.
This is also in line with his current level of fu skills.
The cost of a puppet is often twice that of a magical weapon of the same level. It can be used for many years without major damage.
The talisman is a consumable item, and its value skyrockets from the second level.
"Master Lu Fu needs to be aware that these two top-level first-level puppets, in the hands of most Qi-refining monks, can only exert their strength in the late stages of ordinary Qi-refining."
In addition to the two puppets, Master Sang gave Lu Changan a jade tube with a puppet control technique inside.
"To exert the peak level one strength, there are high requirements for the operator's spiritual consciousness and proficiency in puppet control techniques."
"Thank you Master Sang for the reminder."
Lu Changan knew this very well.
In this life, his spiritual consciousness is strong and he has a lot of free time, which is suitable for studying the way of puppets.
Controlling puppets can also show considerable strength.
In his previous life, he had some involvement or concern in the inheritance of the more mainstream immortal cultivation arts, such as alchemy, formations, spiritual plants, breeding, etc.
Among them, the formation has some achievements.
Unpopular skills, such as puppetry, are not included here.
Every monk has a limited amount of energy in his life.
In his previous life, he was able to cultivate to the point of forming pills, and at the same time promoted his talisman skills to the third level. He also had to take care of a huge family and compete for the opportunity of Nascent Soul. It can be said that he was exhausted.
Unlike this life, limited by time, I have a lot of free time every day.
In the second life, he is not sure that he can continue reincarnation, and his cultivation comes first.
In this life, he still does not dare to ensure that there will be an afterlife.
Only by being promoted to Nascent Soul and experiencing a qualitative change in the soul can the true secret of the Nine Seal Monument be explored.
…
Ten days later.
A flying boat carrying a man and a woman flew out of the north gate of Huanglong Fairy City and headed for the endless gray mountains.
Zhao Siyao wore a white dress, elegant and cool, and drove the flying boat in front.
The biting cool breeze blew the three thousand blue hairs, and the fairy skirt floated back, outlining her plump and graceful figure.
Lu Changan was dressed in a white robe, looking calm and peaceful, like an ancient tree taking root in the flying boat.
Looking out over the faint mist of the distant mountains.
The information about the Black Mist Mountain Range appeared in Lu Changan's mind:
"The Black Mist Mountain Range crosses half of the Daqing Cultivation World. There are many groups of monsters and beasts. They are a powerful force that cannot be ignored in this cultivation world."
"One of the large branches passes through the northern part of the Liang Kingdom. It is also the Black Mist Mountain Range in the narrow sense mentioned by the cultivators in Huanglong Immortal City."
"Most areas of this mountain range are shrouded in fog all year round, which has an isolating effect on the monks' spiritual consciousness. From the outside to the inside, the darker the color of the fog, the more dangerous the area you enter."
Half an hour later.
The flying boat entered the outskirts of the Black Mist Mountains.
Lu Changan's spiritual senses were at least half restricted.
The aura and mist of this land contain a quality that is more suitable for the cultivation of monsters.
Here, human monks feel a sense of difficulty in practicing or recovering their magic power.
"Let's go down and be on our way."
Zhao Siyao put away the flying boat and the two of them landed on the ground.
"Flying in the sky of the Black Mist Mountains, the mana fluctuations of human monks are like bright lights in the dark night, which can easily attract the attention of large-scale monsters. Especially flocks of birds!"
Lu Changan has read records: There are some flocks of birds, hundreds or even thousands, even if most of them are first-order demon birds. If the monks in the foundation-building stage fall into them, they will have to shed their skin even if they don't die.
The two of them entered the outer reaches of the mountains for dozens of miles.
From time to time, we see monsters in the early and middle stages of the first order.
Traces of human monks appear occasionally, mostly casual cultivators.
Some are hunting parties in small and small groups.
As a foundation-building monk, Zhao Siyao immediately stepped aside in awe when the nearby monks approached.
…
Two hundred miles deep into the mountains, Zhao Siyao slowed down.
At this time, the mist in the sky was light gray, and the strength and intelligence of the monsters encountered were significantly improved, and they were basically at the mid-to-late first level.
Some monsters with higher intelligence not only did not attack the two of them, but instead stayed away from them.
Hunting monsters in the world of cultivating immortals is not as simple as pulling monsters in online games.
A few alone or a dozen monster beasts pose no threat to the two of them.
However, be wary of monster swarms. If the number exceeds a hundred, it will also pose a threat to the foundation building period.
The two of them just need to avoid it in time and not be surrounded by the monsters.
At this time, the territory of the second-level monster has not yet been reached.
The reason for slowing down.
The first is to identify the location and avoid some risks.
The second is to look for precious medicinal herbs and spiritual ores.
The "Huanxincao" supplement that Lu Changan got was picked by Zhang Tieshan from the Black Mist Mountains.
If you are very lucky, it is not impossible to find the "Xuanling Fruit" deep in the Black Mist Mountains.
…
A few days later.
Whoosh!
The ground rock rat, as strong as a leopard, flew over from the ravine not far away.
There was a bloody flower in his mouth.
"Second-level spirit flower, blood ink flower."
Lu Changan took the flower branch and was slightly surprised.
Blood-ink flower is the main ingredient of several second-level elixirs and is quite beneficial to blood path techniques.
It can also be modulated into the spiritual ink of the talisman to improve the quality of the second-level spiritual ink!
"Fellow Daoist Lu, this Blood Demon Flower is at least four hundred years old. You, a spirit rat, really have a keen sense of smell."
Zhao Siyao was amazed and praised.
In the past few days, since Lu Changan released the rock rats to explore, he has gained something every once in a while.
Most of them are first-level spiritual objects from the previous year.
The four-hundred-year-old second-order blood-ink flower, such a precious spiritual object, appears for the first time.
"Mainly because of good luck! It's also because we entered the second-level monster area and have more abundant resources."
Lu Changan looks humble on the surface, but has already made a judgment in his heart.
Ordinary rat monsters have a sensitive sense of smell.
After the bloodline mutation is improved, the ground rock rat's senses become more sensitive.
In the Black Mist Mountains, human monks' spiritual consciousness and senses are limited, but the Earth Rock Rat is at home like a duck in water.
…
Half a month later.
A frightening beast roar resounded throughout the mountains.
A three-foot-tall second-level bear demon with numerous scars on its body was being attacked by two monks, a man and a woman.
The main combatant is the female cultivator in the white dress, who controls an iron umbrella magic weapon.
The iron umbrella magical weapon sometimes turns into a sword and spear, sometimes turns into an umbrella shield, and sometimes emits several steel needles.
Surrounding the second-order bear demon, the land is sunken and dotted with thorns and earth walls.
There are also many deep caves.
It is impossible to predict which hole will suddenly burst out of a vicious rat.
The bear demon kept roaring, leaving dozens of bloody claw marks on its back.
Far away, a man in white clothes holds a bone bow and arrow, with full mana, and shoots a cold arrow from time to time.
to be exact.
The man in white used a tall and heavily armored puppet as a cover to prevent the bear demon from throwing rocks from a distance.
In the sky behind it, there is also a bird puppet hovering, responsible for taking care of it.
"Boom" sound.
The huge second-level bear demon fell in the mound, with a black-smoking white bone arrow stuck in its ribs and buttocks.
"Fortunately, I have the help of fellow Daoist Lu. If I were alone and my mana was exhausted, I wouldn't be able to kill this bear demon."
Zhao Siyao's eyes were bright and she said happily.
"I'll just start with a strike, mainly relying on fellow Daoist Zhao to suppress them head-on."
Lu Changan looked at the huge bear demon corpse and estimated the area of animal skin on its body. As the main material, he didn't know how many second-level talisman papers could be made.
