Chapter 1074: Chapter 329: Reaping Rich Rewards, Advancing to 5,000 Spirit Seals

"In that case, I won’t hold back. Recently, I do need some Spirit Stones," Luo Lingling’s eyes curved into crescents, "wait until the future..."

"Between us, such talk would be too formal." Zhou Qing interrupted with a smile, but when he lowered his head, a hint of seriousness appeared in his gaze.

The Blood Phoenix Tribulation Crystals inside the Storage Bag were emitting a strange red glow. Thinking about the massive energy required for the Spirit Severing Realm in the future, his heart grew heavy.

Top-Grade Spirit Stones, it’s best to accumulate them early, the more, the better! 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

After all, he was different from ordinary people!

...

In the following days, Zhou Qing first infused fourteen Wood Attribute Spirit Stones into the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree.

Plus the two given by Jin Mantang earlier, it was just enough to meet the demands for condensing five thousand Spirit Seals.

"The conditions Sikong Yan wants help with can be achieved ahead of schedule." He murmured to himself.

Even he felt a bit surprised.

As for those Blood Phoenix Tribulation Crystals, he specially took out two and handed them to Luo Lingling: "Senior Sister, you can keep these to use when breaking through realms, make sure outsiders don’t see them."

"This is...?" Luo Lingling accepted the blood-colored crystal stones with confusion.

"Good stuff." Zhou Qing smiled mysteriously without further explanation.

Although Luo Lingling didn’t understand, she still carefully kept them.

During the upcoming days, Zhou Qing comprehended the Spirit Severing Realm insights provided by the Lu sisters while fully absorbing the Blood Phoenix Tribulation Crystals.

When, over a month later, the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree once again gathered an ethereal aura, he began the hurried process of recreating Spirit Seals.

Thus, until one day six months later, the secluded cultivation room suddenly shook violently.

Zhou Qing abruptly opened his eyes, surrounded by five thousand splendid Spirit Seals like a river of stars, each solid and tangible.

The aura around him was also several times richer, every move carrying profound Dao rhyme.

"This feeling is truly captivating!"

He lowered his head to look at his own palm, fingers slightly curling as he felt the surging power within, a gleam of excitement in his eyes.

Moments later, he retracted his aura, absorbed all the Spirit Seals back into his body, then tidied his robes before slowly pushing open the cabin door.

During these six months of secluded cultivation, Luo Lingling consistently served as a guardian, ensuring no one disturbed his cultivation.

Meanwhile, the massive Cloud Whale now seemed unusually empty, with only a handful of people aboard.

This made it easier for her to wander around with the old hen, so she wasn’t bored.

Thankfully, these six months passed peacefully without any unexpected events.

When Zhou Qing stepped onto the deck, Jin Mantang spotted him from afar, quickly jogging over with a face full of smiles: "Mr. Ji, you’ve finished your secluded cultivation?"

Zhou Qing nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the cloud layers below, asking: "Where are we now?"

Jin Mantang answered respectfully: "Thanks to your improvements to Cloud Whale’s array, our speed has greatly increased. According to the current pace, we should reach the Imperial City in about four months."

While speaking, a series of light footsteps sounded from a distance.

Luo Lingling strolled over leisurely, holding the old hen, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes upon seeing Zhou Qing emerge.

However, she said nothing, merely nodding slightly.

The old hen clucked timely, tilting its head to scrutinize Zhou Qing with its beady eyes, seemingly reassessing this long-absent master.

Suddenly, a guard ran up excitedly, unable to hide his enthusiasm.

He first respectfully saluted Zhou Qing, his eyes full of admiration, then turned to report to Jin Mantang: "Shopkeeper, a flying ship is approaching, it claims to be ’Mystic Sky’, requesting to establish contact with Cloud Whale!"

"Mystic Sky?"

Jin Mantang was initially stunned, then a glow of joy flashed in his eyes as he hastily said: "Quick! Establish transmission immediately!"

He turned to Zhou Qing to explain: "Mr. Ji, Mystic Sky is an escort ship of our Duobao Trading House, special for searching for lost caravans in emergencies, headquarters surprisingly sent them here!"

Zhou Qing nodded slightly, his gaze deep as he looked toward the horizon where sea meets sky.

Soon, a silver flying ship broke through the clouds, gracefully staying in sync with Cloud Whale.

The ship’s design was sleek, its hull engraved with intricate array patterns, evidently more advanced than the Cloud Whale.

When the flying ship steadied, the cabin door opened, and several figures stepped out.

Leading them was a middle-aged man in embroidered robe, his expression calm, eyes sharp, exuding a powerful aura of Divinity Transformation Realm Perfection.

"Jin Mantang?!"

The middle-aged man immediately recognized Jin, standing on deck, a look of surprise appearing on his face.

"You’re still alive?!"

Jin Mantang smiled bitterly and cupped his hands: "Shopkeeper Chen, it’s been a while."

The middle-aged man known as Shopkeeper Chen quickly approached, examining Jin Mantang from head to toe.

Then he glanced at the few survivors on Cloud Whale with a furrowed brow: "Headquarters found five tribute’s Soul Lamps extinguished, so sent me to search. Thought you all were already... "

Jin Mantang sighed deeply before suddenly recalling something: "That batch of goods... was it sent to the headquarters?"

Shopkeeper Chen gazed at Jin Mantang with a complex expression, his Adam’s apple moving a few times before finally nodding slowly.

"This matter... Headquarter indeed owes you. Of course, I only recently learned of the inside story."

"Never mind," Jin Mantang waved a hand, pulling a bitter smile at the corner of his mouth, "if it were me, I’d make the same decision."

Shopkeeper Chen sighed, patting his shoulder: "Thank you for understanding, surviving is already a blessing. Headquarters sent me originally to search for wreckage, bring back some clues, didn’t expect..."

As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily fell upon Zhou Qing and Luo Lingling.