"Can't a person go to Skyveil alone?" Joe Di had just bought the jade slip, and hadn't yet examined its contents.
Hearing Joe Di's words, Felix Zheng's mouth dropped open. After a moment, he said, "Friend, you probably haven't learned much about Skyveil yet, have you? Skyveil lies at the far west of the Aurora Continent. Even for a Golden Core cultivator, going there alone is a life-or-death gamble. In other words, even if you make it, it's easy to lose your way. Every month, only one ship leaves from Wansha City for Skyveil, and that's only because the Skyveil is about to open. Otherwise, you might wait years for a ship to Skyveil."
So Wansha City actually had ships to Skyveil—this news was very useful to Joe Di.
"Then how many Spirit Stones does it take to go to Skyveil?" Joe Di guessed the price wouldn't be low; if it were, these people wouldn't bother forming a team with others.
Felix Zheng sighed, "If you stay in the common room, it's not too expensive—just ten thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones..."
"That expensive?" Joe Di exclaimed in surprise.
Ten thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones was a small sum for him now, thanks to his windfall at the Qi Trading House. But for ordinary cultivators, whether rogue or not, it was a huge amount.
Felix Zheng chuckled, "Still think it's expensive? That's actually very cheap. A lesser compartment costs five thousand high-grade Spirit Stones, and a slightly nicer private room is twenty thousand high-grade Spirit Stones. If you want a deluxe suite with several private cultivation chambers, that'll be at least forty thousand high-grade Spirit Stones. The five of us are sharing such a suite, so each pays only eight thousand eight hundred high-grade Spirit Stones."
Joe Di wasn't clueless. The so-called deluxe suite Felix Zheng mentioned was really just a room—albeit one prepared for wealthy cultivators, with a pet chamber, living room, cultivation chamber, and pill refining room all inside.
"Felix, I've heard Skyveil has quotas, and many sects compete for them. Why would ordinary people spend so many Spirit Stones to go to Skyveil?" Joe Di asked instinctively.
Felix Zheng asked in surprise again, "Aren't you heading to Skyveil for the Outer Veil?"
Joe Di realized he'd made another blunder. The reason he'd asked was simply because he had a Skyveil Pass. To make up for his earlier slip, he quickly explained, "I heard that before Skyveil opens, some rogue cultivators can get in. I just want to try my luck."
This was complete nonsense—Joe Di had never actually heard of such a thing.
"Haha, if you think that way, you'll be disappointed. Skyveil does have a rogue cultivator competition platform, but those slots are booked long in advance. Competing there is just for show. If you know nothing and go up against others, even if you win, you'll just die faster." This time, it wasn't Felix Zheng speaking, but Zane Wang.
He saw Felix Zheng and Joe Di talking for a long while, so he walked over. The other girl, Sherry Frost, and the woman named Celia Qi also joined them.
Felix Zheng said seriously, "Zane Wang is right. Forget about the rogue cultivator slots. Before Skyveil opens, there are auctions and treasure exchange events where you might win a spot, but I advise you not to set your sights on those. It's like booking a room for the trip to Skyveil—even if you have enough Spirit Stones, it's not wise for just anyone to reserve a room alone. Flaunting wealth only brings disaster and danger. Also, the ship to Skyveil doesn't care about fights; if something happens, you're on your own. I assume you're from a prominent family? You should understand these things."
Joe Di laughed, "That's right. My Di Family may not be one of the great cultivation clans, but we're not the sort of people you can push around."
"May I ask your name?" Hearing Joe Di mention his cultivation family, Felix Zheng seized the chance to ask.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Di Zi Mo." As Joe Di spoke, his spiritual sense swept over the jade slips he'd bought, and he learned what the Outer Veil was.
After the Skyveil secret realm opens, a vast area appears outside it—the Outer Veil. This place is filled with precious spiritual herbs and minerals. Once, someone even found something in the Outer Veil more valuable than anything inside the Skyveil secret realm.
"Zane Wang is from Trueblade Sect, and Sherry Frost is too. Celia Qi and I are from Rainbowspire Sect. Actually, Sherry Frost could've taken the Trueblade Sect ship to Skyveil, but since she went out for trials with us, she missed it and now plans to take the ship from Wansha City." Sensing Joe Di's intention to team up, Felix Zheng gave a more detailed introduction this time.
Trueblade Sect and Rainbowspire Sect are both top-tier sects. Joe Di had tried applying to both, but his spiritual root qualifications weren't enough.
Joe Di remembered Sherry Frost—she must be from the Jing Clan, probably Sherry Jing's older or younger sister.
He felt a sense of familiarity because, back when he was in Sherry Jing's room, he'd seen Sherry Frost's silhouette pass by outside.
Joe Di was sure Sherry Frost had joined Trueblade Sect long ago, certainly before Sherry Jing joined Starstream School. Otherwise, reaching Foundation Stage in three years would have been nearly impossible.
The only reason he could reach the sixth level of Foundation Stage in a little over three years was because of the Graystone. Garrett not only had his help, but also had top-tier spiritual roots.
Perhaps sensing a bit of arrogance and ignorance typical of those from cultivation families, Sherry Frost wasn't very friendly to Joe Di—she didn't even bother to nod. Celia Qi, on the other hand, greeted him warmly, "Senior Zi Mo!"
Joe Di guessed Sherry Frost and Sherry Jing didn't get along. If they had, Sherry Jing wouldn't have stressed to him that her name was Jing, not Shuang. Since Sherry Frost ignored him, he saw no reason to pay her any attention either.
"Zi Mo, why don't we travel together?" Felix Zheng suggested again, sounding much friendlier than before.
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"That's exactly right. Although it's much more expensive than the common room, at least there's a private chamber—and the price is barely acceptable. Let's go together." Joe Di agreed to Felix Zheng's request without hesitation.
At least he felt Felix Zheng was right about one thing: if he booked a room by himself, he'd probably attract unwanted attention.
If it were anywhere else, Joe Di wouldn't be afraid. But in a place where fighting is allowed, it's better to stay low-key. If someone caught him off guard and summoned a Qi Family Soul Ancestor, he'd be in serious trouble.
"Great, Zi Mo, you're straightforward!" Felix Zheng said happily.
In a remote little market like this, it was hard to find a Foundation Stage cultivator willing to team up with them. The four of them had planned to share a large room if they couldn't find anyone else, but that would've meant each paying an extra one or two thousand high-grade Spirit Stones—a significant expense for them.
He had no idea Joe Di was only one step away from reaching mid-Foundation Stage. If he'd known, he certainly wouldn't have sought Joe Di out as a teammate.
......
Wansha City wasn't far from Rongbian Market. Taking Felix Zheng's high-grade magic vessel, they reached Wansha City in about half a day.
Outside Wansha City, a giant ship was docked—anyone arriving here would surely see it.
"That ship is the one heading for Skyveil. There's still several days before departure. We'll buy our tickets first, then pick up supplies in Wansha City. Otherwise, prices for the same items on board will be five to ten times higher." Felix Zheng, the strongest among them at Foundation Stage Level Two, usually took the lead in these matters.
"I'll go buy the tickets. Just give me your Spirit Stones—each person pays eight thousand eight hundred high-grade Spirit Stones." Felix Zheng explained further to Joe Di, "Each person pays an extra eight hundred because we all have to buy a common room ticket just to board the ship."
Joe Di guessed Felix Zheng was worried he wouldn't pay. Eight or nine thousand high-grade Spirit Stones was nothing to him now. Without a word, he handed Felix Zheng a large cloth bag containing eight thousand eight hundred high-grade Spirit Stones.
"You're generous, Zi Mo!" Felix Zheng gave him a thumbs up. After collecting Spirit Stones from the others, he headed to the ticket counter.
Joe Di saw the ticket prices posted outside the counter—some deluxe rooms really did cost forty thousand high-grade Spirit Stones, and that was the cheapest option.
He also understood why Felix Zheng and the others weren't recruiting teammates here—there were team-up notices posted everywhere. Apparently, finding teammates here wasn't easy.
Felix Zheng was efficient—he soon bought the tickets. Although many people were heading to Skyveil and Wansha City sent a ship every month, tickets weren't particularly hard to get.
He handed a common room ticket to Joe Di. "Zi Mo, the ticket for our deluxe room is with me—it's Room B31 on the second floor. Let's buy what we need in Wansha City first, then meet in Room B31 when it's time to board."