Chapter 308: Robbery and Rescue

The kidney, belonging to the Water element, is associated with the color black.

Cultivating this aspect strengthens the essence and consolidates the innate foundation.

The fleeting trance between Su Yi's eyebrows vanished, and he couldn't help but smile as he recalled last night's enlightenment experience.

Having spiritual consciousness allows one to perceive the subtleties of the world and naturally opens up the possibility of "enlightenment"!

This is much stronger than diligent cultivation and rigorous training. The breakthrough achieved aligns with the Dao, and the foundation built is naturally extraordinary.

Unfortunately, enlightenment is something that can be encountered but not sought after...

"At the Grandmaster Fourth Stage, nurturing four types of spiritual lights surpasses the Grandmaster Third Stage, whether in terms of foundational principles or combat strength. It's a step onto a new level."

Su Yi calmly felt the changes in his cultivation.

"If I can step into the Grandmaster Fifth Stage and refine the true 'Five Essence Spiritual Lights,' my cultivation will undergo a qualitative transformation!"

The Grandmaster realm refines the crucible of the five organs.

In the first four stages of the Grandmaster realm, it accumulates step by step. When it reaches the Fifth Stage, the crucibles of the five organs undergo refining and nurturing, resulting in a transformation akin to a fish leaping over the dragon gate and a serpent turning into a dragon.

At that time, it will be the pinnacle of the Grandmaster realm!

Possessing the foundation of the "Five Essence Spiritual Lights" is equivalent to having the most solid and abundant cultivation foundation. When cultivating the Innate Martial Ancestor realm, one can condense the "Dao-Quality" level of innate qi!

Innate qi is the fundamental essence of the Innate Martial Ancestor's cultivation. The innate qi condensed by different martial artists varies greatly.

This power is roughly divided into three levels: upper, middle, and lower.

Each level is further divided into nine grades.

Ordinary Innate Grandmasters generally condense "lower-grade" innate qi at the beginning. As their cultivation progresses and they continue to refine it, the quality of their innate qi undergoes transformation.

However, even with extreme refinement, it is impossible to break through the category of "lower-grade first grade."

Powerful Innate Martial Ancestors can condense "middle-grade" innate qi.

Characters like Haohou Ling and Moyun Shanshan, who previously died at Su Yi's hands, possess this level of innate qi.

Similarly, the limit of middle-grade innate qi is "middle-grade first grade."

Extraordinary talents can condense "upper-grade" innate qi.

Figures like Zhongyue Wang Muxi, Ningyi Hua, and other Innate Martial Ancestors who emerged from influential cultivation forces possess this level of innate qi.

Likewise, the limit of upper-grade innate qi is "upper-grade first grade."

A few days ago, during the battle at the Moyun Army's camp, You Xinglin from the Great Qin Xuan Yue Observation regarded Su Yi as a whetstone to refine the "upper-grade first grade" innate qi.

This level of innate qi can also be referred to as the top-tier power at this realm.

In the vast wilderness of Jiuzhou, there exists a nearly legendary "Dao-Quality" innate qi specific to the realm of Innate Martial Ancestors!

This kind of innate qi contains the essence of the Dao and is filled with spiritual vitality, making it exceptionally profound.

Throughout countless ages from ancient times to the present, those who can refine such innate qi are considered "rare as a unicorn"!

Su Yi's goal is precisely the Dao-Quality innate qi.

And now, he is not far from reaching this goal.

...

After a long time, Su Yi calmly stood up, put away the rattan chair, and looked at the faint morning light outside the dilapidated temple. He said, "Let's go."

With leisurely steps, he walked out of the temple. The breeze and drizzle filled the air, bringing a refreshing feeling that invigorated the mind and spirit.

Qing Wan accompanied him by his side.

One man and one ghost strolled through mountains and rivers, enjoying themselves.

...

Leaving the Zhegu Ridge, after traveling another three hundred miles, they arrived at the capital of the Great Zhou Empire, the Jade Capital.

Along this journey, Su Yi clearly felt that it became livelier. Whether on the mountain paths or the spacious official roads, he often encountered many travelers heading in the direction of the Jade Capital.

There were martial artists escorting caravans, merchants conducting business, scholars on distant travels, and dusty travelers on the road... They all had different identities but were heading towards the Jade Capital.

For the ordinary people of the Great Zhou Empire, the Jade Capital was not only the imperial capital but also the most prosperous and affluent place in the world.

For cultivators, the Jade Capital was a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers resided, filled with numerous strong individuals.

But for Su Yi, it was just a city in the mundane world.

If it weren't for his current reincarnated identity and the grievances he had with the Su family in this city, he would have had no interest in visiting.

Compared to the Jade Capital, he was more interested in places like the "Eight Great Demon Mountains" that held opportunities.

On a remote mountain road.

Su Yi looked ahead and continued on for dozens of miles until he reached the banks of the Qinglan River.

The Qinglan River was the largest river in the Baizhou region, stretching for thousands of miles. The river was wide, with rushing and turbulent waters.

Once he crossed this river and arrived on the other side, he would need to travel another hundred miles to reach the Jade Capital.

"Is this young master heading to the banks of the Qinglan River?"

Suddenly, a dark-skinned woodcutter appeared on the nearby mountain road, smiling and inquiring.

Su Yi glanced at him and replied, "Yes."

"Would you like a ferry to cross?" the woodcutter asked again.

Su Yi replied, "Naturally."

The woodcutter smiled and said, "I happen to have a ferry under my command. If the young master is willing, you only need to pay one thousand gold or ten second-grade spirit stones as the fare. I'm willing to personally steer the ferry and accompany you on the journey."

"One thousand gold?" Su Yi exclaimed, "How is this any different from robbery?"

The woodcutter grinned and said, "I won't hide it from you, I am indeed here to rob."

Su Yi nodded and glanced around before saying, "In these desolate wilderness, it is indeed a good place for robbery."

Since departing from the city of Gunzhou until now, Su Yi has encountered quite a few bandits along the way, so he wasn't surprised.

The woodcutter's expression turned sincere as he said, "If the young master can produce some valuables, I guarantee that I will ensure your safe arrival on the other side of the Qinglan River."

"And what if I don't?" Su Yi asked with a smile.

The woodcutter scratched his head and sighed softly, "That does pose a problem. Recently, I've encountered individuals like yourself who are confident in their cultivation and fear nothing. They see me as an ignorant bandit who doesn't know any better, but in the end..."

He showed a simple smile to Su Yi, "They all died. Even mighty grandmaster figures became dry bones in these mountains, but I... am still alive and well."

Su Yi chuckled and said, "As long as you answer my question about whether you truly have a ferry under your command, I can give you a spirit stone."

The woodcutter's eyes brightened and he said, "I would never deceive anyone!"

Su Yi asked, "Where is it?"

The woodcutter extended his hand and said, "Show me the spirit stone first."

Su Yi took out a third-grade spirit stone from his sleeve, just about to hand it over when a sweet voice exclaimed, "You can't give it to him!"

Swoosh! A graceful figure approached from behind Su Yi.

It was a young girl dressed in a light blue garment, beautiful and elegant, with a heroic and charming posture. She had two scabbards hanging at her waist.

The girl first gave Su Yi a glare and said in a clear voice, "You seem intelligent, why are you acting so foolishly? Since you know this guy is a road-blocking bandit, why would you believe his words?"

Without waiting for Su Yi to speak, the girl's gaze turned to the woodcutter, her eyes icy cold as she said, "This is my friend. If you don't want to die, you better leave now!"

The woodcutter's eyes flickered as he looked the girl up and down, and he chuckled, "Little girl, it's a good thing to draw your sword and help when you see injustice, but if you end up losing your life..."

Before he could finish his words, an arrow whizzed through the air from a distance.

Shua!

Like a bolt of lightning tearing through the sky, it pierced directly through the woodcutter's left shoulder, the tremendous force sending him flying.

"Damn it!" the woodcutter's face changed, and as soon as he regained his balance, he turned and fled towards the distant wilderness.

The young girl was about to chase after him but was intercepted by a white-robed young man swooping down from the sky.

"Sister, don't pursue a desperate bandit," the white-robed youth said.

The white-robed youth was handsome and dignified, holding a large bow and carrying a quiver. It was clear that the arrow just now came from his hand.

The girl was displeased and said, "Brother, why didn't you kill that thief with one arrow?"

The white-robed youth helplessly replied, "That was a grandmaster-level figure. How could we easily kill him?"

With that, he put away his bow and smiled, clasping his hands towards Su Yi. "We meet again, young master. The scene just now didn't frighten you, did it?"

Su Yi shook his head.

On their previous journey, he had seen this white-robed youth and the beautiful girl in a tavern, but they were strangers to each other at best.

The girl also looked at Su Yi and spoke chirpily, "How could you believe the words of a bandit who blocked your way? Do you know that if you gave him the spirit stone, he would surely think you had many treasures on you and wouldn't let you go easily?"

Su Yi couldn't help but smile. Undoubtedly, this girl regarded him as an inexperienced youngster.

He didn't bother explaining anything.

"Alright, you lack experience, but it's understandable. How about this, from now on, you can travel with us, and we can take care of each other on the way."

The girl waved her hand and said generously.

The white-robed youth also smiled and said, "The young master is also heading to Yujing City, right? We can accompany each other. Although my junior sister and I may not be very powerful, we can handle some bandits."

Su Yi didn't decline.

After all, this pair of siblings had a good temperament, a chivalrous spirit. They were willing to help a stranger like himself, which was quite rare.

"Let's go. When we reach the 'Qiuming Ferry' on the bank of Qinglan River, we'll cross the river together on a boat."

The girl took the lead.

The white-robed youth smiled at Su Yi and said, "Young master, please."

Immediately, the three of them set off together.

However, the siblings were unaware that the woodcutter who had been injured by the arrow had mysteriously died in the jungle a hundred zhang away.

One hundred zhang was just within the range of Su Yi's divine sense!

How could someone who dared to rob Su Yi be allowed to leave alive?

"Where are you from, young master? What is your name? And what are you going to do in Yujing City?" the girl asked crisply on the way.

She was spirited and straightforward, beautiful and lively.

This reminded Su Yi of Wen Lingxue, and his gaze towards the girl became much gentler. He replied, "I am going to Yujing City to accomplish something. As for my name... it's better left unsaid."