That would consume too many spiritual herbs. Xu Ning couldn't upgrade more than a few at a time, so he could only wait and see. He needed more time.
Casually picking three leaves and tossing them out, Xu Ning saw the fortune of the Tiancheng Sect in his mind.
A massive purple pillar of fortune seemed to be flowing like a river, pulsing with energy. However, what made Xu Ning frown was that at the very top of the pillar, a hint of blood-red color had appeared, staining the tip.
Xu Ning was startled and immediately began to ponder. This was not a good sign.
The pillar of fortune actually represents the future trend. The bottom represents the present, and the top represents the future. The tip was the farthest point.
If it collapses and perishes, it starts from the top, signifying the end of the future. The destruction begins at the peak.
This was a conclusion Xu Ning had drawn from years of accumulated experience with the Sky-Gazing Art.
Looking at the blood at the top of the Tiancheng Sect's fortune pillar now, it meant that something unexpected would happen to the Tiancheng Sect in the near future. A crisis was coming.
Xu Ning quickly turned back to the thatched hut and sent a message to Luo Xiu, asking him to help research all the major historical events of the Ancient Chen Mountain Range. He needed context.
Then, Xu Ning asked the thatched hut, "Is there any way to obtain a long-term source of spiritual energy for cultivation? Something sustainable?"
The thatched hut replied, "Xu Ning, you can upgrade your spirit stones. After upgrading them to the legendary level, they can become spirit springs, continuously producing spiritual energy on their own."
Xu Ning nodded, then asked, "If I want to stay in the mortal realm for a long time, what do I need to prepare? What's required?"
The thatched hut explained, "A spirit spring is essential. The Spirit-Trapping Array requires a large amount of spiritual energy to maintain it, as do the spiritual herbs you cultivate, etc. You need to prepare a large number of spirit stones to feed the upgrade. One spirit spring probably won't be enough for everything."
Xu Ning nodded and immediately wrote to Luo Xiu, requesting that he gather all available spirit stones from the various forces under their influence.
In the end, a total of ten million low-grade spirit stones were sent from the networks, a staggering sum.
The various forces had large daily expenses and needed substantial working capital. These ten million spirit stones were funds that wouldn't affect their operations. It was a significant extraction.
At the same time, Luo Xiu also sent historical data about the Ancient Chen Mountain Range, compiled from various sources.
Xu Ning picked up the data and began to read it. The more he read, the wider his eyes widened in alarm.
Historically, the Ancient Chen Mountain Range had faced no fewer than ten deadly crises. Each time, the entire range was ravaged by death and destruction, all because it connected to the Demon Realm. The passage would periodically open.
Now, recalling the crimson hue on the pillar of fortune of the Tiancheng Sect, Xu Ning understood: the exit to the Demon Realm was about to open again. It was a cycle.
Putting down the documents, Xu Ning looked at the more than ten million spirit stones and pondered his resources.
One mid-grade spirit stone equals one thousand low-grade spirit stones. One high-grade spirit stone equals one hundred mid-grade spirit stones, or one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones.
One top-grade spirit stone equals one hundred high-grade spirit stones, or ten million low-grade spirit stones.
In other words, to upgrade to the legendary spirit spring level, one billion low-grade spirit stones would be needed. An astronomical number.
"This, this is too much! Thatched hut!" Xu Ning couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. It was impossible.
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The thatched hut explained, "Xu Ning, this isn't much when you consider the scale. Spirit stones aren't divided into Yuan-grade and Ling-grade. The only difference is the multiplication of the spiritual energy they contain."
"A mid-grade spirit stone contains a thousand times the spiritual energy of a low-grade one. It's usable even by Foundation Establishment or Golden Core cultivators. It's a significant amount."
"A high-grade one contains a hundred thousand times the spiritual energy of a low-grade one. It's usable by Nascent Soul and Deity Transformation cultivators. They are incredibly dense."
"I won't go into the higher grades. And what does a Spirit Spring represent? It represents the revival of spiritual energy on a continent! So ten billion low-grade stones isn't much in the grand scheme of things."
Xu Ning's expression changed drastically upon hearing this, and he blurted out, "The revival of spiritual energy? You mean the whole continent?"
The thatched hut confirmed, "That's right. At that time, you will gain the qualification to communicate with the continent itself. It will recognize you."
Xu Ning asked, "Communicate with the continent?"
The thatched hut elaborated, "That's right. The continent will want you to help it upgrade, transforming the entire continent from its current mortal state into a cultivation world. At that time, the mortal world will also possess spiritual energy, and the cultivation world will no longer be distinguished from the mortal world. They will merge."
"However, this process will be extremely long, and one spirit spring certainly won't be enough to start it. It's a long-term project."
Xu Ning nodded, putting that thought aside. "Those are still too far off for me. Let's consider other things first. I need to deal with the immediate crisis."
Immediately, Xu Ning fed all ten million spirit stones into one, upgrading the previous mid-grade spirit stone to a top-grade one.
Holding the top-grade spirit stone, Xu Ning's hand trembled under the weight of the emanating spiritual energy. It was immense.
The spiritual energy within was on a completely different level compared to his own spiritual power. Xu Ning was finding it difficult to withstand the pressure just holding it.
This was only because Xu Ning's spiritual power was at its peak. Otherwise, his hand would have been crushed by the density.
It could be said that this level of item was simply beyond Xu Ning's current capabilities. He was not ready.
He quickly placed the top-grade spirit stone in the corner of the thatched hut for safekeeping. It was too dangerous to keep on him.
Xu Ning went straight out to the mountain where his master, Qi Ruifeng, resided. He needed to warn him.
Qi Ruifeng was quite surprised by Xu Ning's arrival, as this was the first time his adopted disciple had taken the initiative to seek him out without being called.
After Xu Ning arrived, he didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point. "Master, are you preparing to move the sect? We need to leave."
Qi Ruifeng was startled and quickly asked, "Why? What's wrong? We're safe here."
Xu Ning explained, "Master, do you still remember the Sky-Gazing Secret Technique I gave you before?"
Qi Ruifeng nodded. "I remember. You said it was powerful."
Xu Ning continued, "I have already achieved minor success in cultivating it and have seen the future. The Demon Realm Passage in the Ancient Chen Mountains is about to open. Destruction is coming."
Qi Ruifeng was shocked and immediately stood up. "Is this true? Are you certain?"
Xu Ning nodded gravely. "I don't know the specific reason for its opening, but the future is already set. I've seen the signs."
Qi Ruifeng pondered for a moment, then said, "It's most likely that Golden Core demon cultivator. I heard my grandmaster say that the Demon Realm Passage in the Ancient Chen Mountains has been sealed for a long time. After a period of time, the seal weakens naturally. Once it is attacked by external forces, it will break. That demon must have done it."
Upon hearing this, Xu Ning remembered the Golden Core demon cultivator who had attacked the Tiancheng Sect years ago.
He had heard from Fang Chenpei and the other Golden Core cultivators that the guy had used the Demon Descent technique and had already become a demon. If he was controlled by demonic forces, it was not impossible for him to attack the seal of the Demon Realm Passage to open it.
"Master, don't hesitate. Let's relocate the sect to the Red Sea Mountains. Although it's dangerous there with the human-demon conflict, we can easily acquire land and establish a new sect," Xu Ning stood up immediately, urging action.
Qi Ruifeng nodded without hesitation. "Alright, I'll listen to you. We'll move."
Xu Ning nodded. "Okay, then Master, arrange for the sect disciples to quietly evacuate the sect in batches. Don't cause a panic. Move secretly."
Qi Ruifeng agreed. "Okay, I'll go arrange it right away. We'll be discreet."
After saying that, Qi Ruifeng went to make the arrangements, leaving Xu Ning.
Xu Ning returned to the thatched hut and gave Luo Xiu several orders through their communication network.
The first was that all branches of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion in the Ancient Chen Mountains should immediately stop selling items. Instead, they should sell the news of the opening of the Demon Realm Passage, priced at five million spirit stones.
The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion currently had a great influence in various mountains and its reputation was guaranteed, so it should be able to sell the information. It was a valuable warning.
In the following days, Xu Ning checked the fortune of the Tiancheng Sect every day to deduce the specific time when the Demon Realm Passage would open. He monitored it closely.
As for why he didn't directly predict the future of the Ancient Chen Mountain Range, with Xu Ning's current abilities, predicting the entire mountain range would be too far-fetched. He couldn't even do it for half an hour. It was beyond his scope.
After several days of observation, Xu Ning, through the pillar of fortune of the Tiancheng Sect, determined the exact time of the sect's destruction: thirty days later. They had one month.
As for the exact time when the Demon Realm passage would open, it would probably be much earlier.