Dastan could, on an intellectual level, understand Leyvi's reasoning and his sense of loyalty to his birthplace. But what he found utterly ridiculous was that now this Bodo, a cultivator of such clear potential, also wanted to accompany Leyvi to that backward place, seemingly tempted by the promise of some "heavenly food." The Howling Kingdom had plenty of Spirit Gourmet Maestros; why throw away a brilliant future for a few meals? He simply could not understand it.
It would never occur to Dastan that the reason Bodo so easily agreed was simply because Leyvi treated him with kindness and got along with him as a friend. That was it. For a person of Bodo's simple and honest nature, that was reason enough.
Later, as the celebration began, Leyvi and Anda brought out the last few of Tasya's heavenly dishes they had in reserve, supplemented by some from Valenia. Tamina contributed popular drinks and fine wines from the Howling Kingdom, all to celebrate Dastan's successful Nascent Soul breakthrough properly.
Usually, reaching the Nascent Soul Realm was an event that called for a grand celebration, marking a cultivator's first true step onto the path of immortality. But here, far from the opulent halls of his kingdom, this simple, heartfelt gathering would more than suffice. Dastan knew that once he returned to the Howling Kingdom, the Royal Family would host a magnificent festival in his honor. And given his status as the Crown Prince, the celebration would likely echo from one end of the nation to the other.
It was then that Leyvi, his curiosity piqued, challenged Dastan to a spar. He was eager to feel firsthand what it was like to face a genuine Nascent Soul Realm expert. The crown prince accepted the challenge readily but requested a week's delay. He explained that he needed time to grow familiar with the vast new power coursing through him and to adjust his martial skills to accommodate such a significant leap. Leyvi saw no problem with this and gladly agreed.
Early the next morning, as the first light of dawn brushed the horizon, Leyvi, Anda, and Ava set out together, with Bodo in tow. Valenia had wanted to follow, but Anda had instructed her to remain at the mine. Her task was to keep a watchful eye on the situation and report back immediately if anything unusual occurred.
Their goal for this trip was to harvest the treasures Leyvi had been patiently waiting for, located at the very site of Dastan's breakthrough: the Void Crystals.
Aside from the pressing need to refill his Scary Void, Leyvi had another, more ambitious plan for the crystals. He had confided in Anda about the Void Crystals earlier, and to his amusement, she had become even more excited by the prospect than he was.
On this particular matter, Anda, who managed Bara City alongside Layla, possessed far greater practical knowledge than Leyvi. She completely agreed with his idea to use the crystals to create a specialized ground for cultivators attempting to form their Nascent Soul. Such a place would not only save them the immense trouble of finding a suitable location in the future but could also become a significant and steady source of income.
This concept was not new, of course. Many powerful organizations offered a similar service, but the quality varied dramatically, depending entirely on the methods and resources they employed.
There were many Nascent Soul breakthrough grounds that relied on Array Formations to artificially create an area devoid of spiritual energy. These were usually the cheaper option, but they carried a risk of malfunction, as their stability was tied directly to the skill of the Formation expert who crafted them.
On the other hand, unique natural grounds that inherently lacked spiritual energy were far rarer and consequently much safer. These prized locations were almost always fortified with additional Formations as a failsafe. Such places were usually monopolized by powerful groups, and the rent they charged could cost a cultivator their entire fortune.
Yet, despite the exorbitant price, many cultivators aiming to form their Nascent Soul did not mind paying a premium. They vastly preferred these unique grounds for the profound peace of mind their inherent safety provided. After all, no one wanted an external accident to disrupt their critical breakthrough. Furthermore, even a sliver of worry or mental disturbance could negatively affect the delicate merging process, leading to catastrophic failure. The prevailing wisdom was simple: better to be safe than sorry.
In the end, however, not every peak Core Formation Realm cultivator could afford such a luxury. Those without powerful backgrounds or deep pockets often had no choice but to risk the cheaper, less reliable options.
Anda's plan for their future breakthrough ground was strategic. She intended to make it free for all citizens of Bara City, fostering loyalty and strength within their community. For non-citizens, she would charge a considerable fee, but one set deliberately lower than the exorbitant rates of their competitors. This would attract a steady stream of outside cultivators to the city. Understanding that not all talented cultivators had wealth, she also devised an alternative payment: those who were truly broke could pay with their labor, committing to work for Bara City for a set amount of time.
The long-term benefits were clear. Having more Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, even temporary ones, associated with Bara City would deter troublemakers across the entire vicinity. Furthermore, this strengthened position might finally allow her to force the stubborn sects and other groups within their territories to cease their underhanded tricks and pay their overdue taxes.
Or, she contemplated with a colder calculus, she could choose to be more ruthless. She could eliminate the most problematic groups entirely and directly seize control of all the cultivation resource grounds they had been allowed to manage, consolidating Bara City's power once and for all.
With the sheer volume of Void Crystals Leyvi had described, Anda felt a surge of confidence. They would be able to construct not just one, but multiple Nascent Soul breakthrough grounds. This would allow several cultivators to use the facilities simultaneously, preventing scheduling clashes and frustrating delays for everyone involved.
Of course, given the recent situation in Bara City, she knew it would be some time before any of their regular citizens were ready for such a breakthrough. However, a few of the leading ladies in the Bara Corps were nearing that pivotal moment. For them, having immediate access to these grounds would be an immense help, saving the city a tremendous amount of money in the process.
Originally, Anda had been fully prepared to pay the exorbitant market price on their behalf, ensuring they could break through safely and securely. Fortunately, with this discovery of Void Crystals, the city's treasury would no longer have to cough up such a fortune. What a great boon her husband had stumbled upon yet again!
While a Spiritual Vein was universally considered the ultimate cultivation resource, Anda personally felt the Void Crystals held greater immediate value. To truly leverage the Spiritual Vein for the higher realms, one first had to successfully reach the Nascent Soul Realm. What was the point of possessing the ultimate resource if one's cultivation remained forever stuck at the Core Formation stage? Therefore, anything that reliably paved the way to the next realm was, in her practical view, far more important.
For their journey, Anda sat comfortably atop the Leyvi Express, just as she had before. This time, however, Leyvi had forgone the simple invisible hand, having instead crafted an entire invisible sofa. It possessed a comfort that nearly matched a real one, a testament to one of the many shapes he had diligently practiced forming over the past six months.
Anda had suggested using the Celestial Cloud for this trip, but Leyvi had insisted on his Express. He was committed to squeezing in every possible moment of training.
"Dohoho! Brother Leyvi, where are we going?" Bodo asked, his voice brimming with happiness and excitement at being included in the trip.
Despite his massive frame, Bodo managed to keep up with Leyvi's explosive movements quite well. The two of them, however, were anything but quiet. Leyvi's bursts of speed thundered across the land, while Bodo's every step crushed the ground beneath him. The resulting commotion was almost comical. Only Ava moved with true grace, swift and silent, each step leaving behind nothing but a whisper of wind.
"We're going to dig up some treasures for my family. Great treasures!" Leyvi said with a grin.
"Great treasures? Is it fine to tell me about this, Brother Leyvi?" Bodo asked, sounding a bit unsure.
"Hahaha! Why wouldn't I tell you? You're joining our family, right?" Leyvi laughed.
"Brother Leyvi... you're so nice to me..." Bodo's voice trembled, and his eyes welled up. The tears quickly got swept away by the rushing wind.
"You're quite the emotional guy for someone your size, huh? Look at Ava, she's tiny, but I've never seen her cry. Big contrast! Hahaha!" Leyvi joked.
"Dohoho! I only cry when I'm happy," Bodo said proudly.
Ava rolled her eyes. Why is this sex fiend dragging my name into his nonsense? Leave me out of it. She sighed inwardly. Even Barbara fell into his fiendish claws. What a disaster. I should never have left her alone with this guy. Sorry, my friend... I failed to protect you.
"Ava, why don't you ride the Leyvi Express too? I can make another comfy sofa," Leyvi offered after noticing her changing expressions.
"Hmph! Sex fiend!" she shouted.
Leyvi was dumbfounded. Why am I getting yelled at? I'm just trying to be nice!
Anda, lounging on her invisible sofa, couldn't help but giggle. A mischievous smile curved her lips. "Sister Ava, why not accept his goodwill? The sofa he makes is as comfortable as a real one. Why waste your energy running for hours? We can relax together."
"Big Madam, I know what you and this sex fiend are planning!" Ava snapped. "Don't think I don't know about Spiritual Touch. Barbara told me everything! If I sit on his stupid sofa, he'll be able to feel my body like he's actually touching me, right? Sex fiend, you just want to feel my butt that badly, huh?"
Leyvi was completely speechless. Right... I forgot about that.
A wry smile crept across his face. Looks like he'd forever be branded as a sex fiend in her mind.