Next, Lingtian headed straight to the alchemy shop that belongs to the alchemy association. He wanted to buy the herb encyclopedia to understand more about the herbs needed for the Foundation Establishment pill.
The price was 10 crystal stones, a standard price that wasn't too expensive. The reason behind this was to enable cultivators to recognize the herbs if they ever encountered them in the wild.
The encyclopedia had simple images of the herbs, their names and usage, their different effects, and the environment where they grow and are likely to appear.
On his way back, Lingtian decided to drop by an inn for a satisfying meal and a glass of wine. He relished the simple joy of treating himself to a feast every now and then.
The bustling streets of the city faded away as he stepped into the Dragon's Ember, a renowned restaurant nestled in the heart of the city. The scent of exotic spices hung in the air, accompanied by the harmonious symphony of clinking utensils and muffled conversations. Soft lanterns bathed the room in a warm glow.
Seated at a corner table adorned with a simple yet elegant tablecloth, Lingtian perused the menu, his eyes lighting up at the diverse array of dishes. He ordered a selection of his favorites and leaned back, immersing himself in the comforting murmur of the establishment.
The Lantern Grove, with its warm lighting and rustic décor, exuded an inviting charm. Paper lanterns adorned with intricate patterns cast gentle shadows, creating an atmosphere he liked very much.
A friendly waiter, with a ready smile, took Lingtian's order. "Our specialty tonight is the Dragon's Delight—a combination of succulent meats and savory sauces. Would you like to try it, sir?"
Lingtian, intrigued by the recommendation, nodded in agreement. "Dragon's Delight it is. And bring a bottle of your finest wine."
After his food arrived, he tried to ignore his surroundings and enjoy himself, but he heard something that distracted him from the food.
"Have you heard?" a voice from a nearby table caught his attention. "There's talk of a secret realm opening in the boundless domain."
Lingtian leaned in, feigning indifference, but his ears were tuned to the intriguing conversation.
A group of cultivators gathered at the adjacent table, talking in hushed tones. With his spirit power and senses as a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator, he was able to hear everything they were saying without a problem.
"They say it's a secret realm hidden in the mystic forest. Some changes happening recently there made some powerful experts go and investigate. They tried to hide the news, but it was leaked somehow," one of them whispered.
"According to some old sects from the boundless Domain, the place where the signs of this secret realm are located is a mountain where a sect called the Blood Pagoda Sect occupied thousands of years ago."
"The northern region? Isn't this the region next to the Broken Moon Region to the south?" thought Lingtian as he contemplated what he just heard.
A secret realm was a phenomenon that happens naturally when space gets chaotic in a specific area, and there were two types of these secret realms.
The first type was a newly discovered one that has never surfaced before. This type has many natural treasures and precious spirit herbs that formed over the years, and there were no humans to harvest them, so they kept on growing and accumulating.
The second type was the secret realms that were used as the main ground of some sect or power before. In this type, the most sought-after thing inside is the inheritance of the said sect or power.
Both types were a treasure trove that many cultivators yearned for. He could imagine that a lot of experts from the surrounding domains would flock like a tide to try and get a piece of the cake.
And if what the last man said was true, then this was probably the second type, and just from the name, it was easy to tell that this sect was a demonic sect in the past.
But even if it was a demonic sect lost secret realm, it doesn't affect its value one bit, as even orthodox sects will not shy away from acquiring it.
From what Lingtian knew, the time from the moment the signs start to appear to the surfacing of the secret realm will take years. So there is plenty of time for cultivators to gather even if they were in different domains.
Adding to the fact that the entrances to the secret realms will be unpredictable in number and locations, it was virtually impossible for the strong powers to monopolize it, making even rogue cultivators interested as a chance like this was one in a lifetime for them to get powerful techniques and resources that they can only dream of normally.
Lingtian's head was filled with different thoughts and plans. If this news gets confirmed and he decides to go, he will have to raise his cultivation as fast as possible.
And due to the fact he needed to go to a whole different domain, many plans he made have to be canceled.
'I can let go of anything but the runic fundamentals...' he found himself in a difficult spot due to this. He didn't care about anything else in this domain except for his father and the book.
His father's problem was quite simple to solve; he could just take him with him. He was confident in protecting him and finding a place for him to settle, as the Northern Domain peak powers level was approximately the same as the Broken Moon Domain with the only difference being how huge the boundless domain was compared to the later, and Foundation Establishment realm cultivators like himself would find no problem in moving in.
'As for the book, I will get it the first thing after opening my fourth meridian and breakthrough to the mid-stage of the Foundation Establishment realm.' After thinking to this point and making a decision, a flash of resolve flashed in Lingtian's eyes.